🏮 Koga Chochin Zao Momi Matsuri

古河提灯竿もみまつり

Koga, Ibaraki (Nikko Kaido Yokoyama Town) · Every year on the 1st Saturday of December

82 days to go
Rooms around Koga, Ibaraki fill up while the festival is on.

The Koga Chochin Saomomi Matsuri is held every December in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture. Groups from across the city carry lanterns attached to the tips of bamboo poles nearly 20 meters long and try to extinguish each other's flames, a fierce event known as one of Kanto's strange festivals. The festival traces its origins to the Shichigo Meguri, a ritual at Nogi Shrine in Nogi, Tochigi Prefecture, which was part of Koga domain territory in the Edo period. It began in the deep night of December 3, when people waiting for the return of a procession bearing a sacred spear to the shrine jostled together holding lanterns to fend off the cold; in earlier times it was called Okaeri. With the abolition of the domains and establishment of prefectures in the Meiji era, the prefectural border divided the area, and the custom was passed down in Koga in its own form. At the present venue, a yagura about 10 meters high is set up, and the sight of the groups clashing and vigorously rubbing their bamboo poles together is stirring. In addition to a children's parade and children's division, the adult division features competitive momi and free momi, filling the year-end night sky with excitement.

Getting there

About 1 minute on foot from the west exit of Koga Station on the JR Utsunomiya Line, or about 5 minutes by taxi from the east exit of Shin-Koga Station on the Tobu Nikko Line. By car, about 30 minutes from Kuki IC on the Tohoku Expressway, among other routes. Traffic restrictions are in place near the venue on the day.