🏮 Kuroishiji Somin Sai

黒石寺蘇民祭

Oshu, Iwate (Kuroishiji Temple) · Every year in late January

Traditional performing artsSnow festival

131 days to go
Rooms around Oshu, Iwate fill up while the festival is on.

Kuroishidera Somin Festival is a festival with over 1,000 years of history, held at Myokenzan Kuroishidera in Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, from the seventh day of the old lunar new year through the early morning of the following day, to pray for a bountiful harvest and good health. As one of the 'Somin Festivals of Iwate,' it was selected in 1995 as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be taken by the national government, but due to a shortage of bearers, it was discontinued after the February 2024 holding. The festival's name derives from the legend in which the deity Hayasusanowo no Kami (Susanoo) took in the impoverished Somin Shorai as a guest and later bestowed upon him a chigaya ring. Kuroishidera is said to have been founded by Gyoki Bosatsu in 729 (Tenpyo 1), and the 1773 'Kuroishidera Kakiage' already records the festival rites of that time, which used demon masks and firewood. Major events include the 'Hadaka Mairi' (naked pilgrimage), in which participants purify themselves in the Ruritsubo River and visit the Yakushi Hall and Myoken Hall; the 'Saitoginobori' (firewood climbing), in which young men climb while being showered with sparks in the snow below freezing; the 'Kishinobori' (demon child climbing), in which seven-year-old boys carry demon masks on their backs and visit the Yakushi Hall; and the fierce 'Sominbukuro Soshutsusen' (Somin bag scramble), in which naked young men compete to grab the Somin bag, a talisman against epidemics. These solemn ancient rites have been passed down.

Getting there

From JR Mizusawa Station, take a bus for about 20 minutes, get off at 'Kuroishidera-mae', and walk immediately. Alternatively, about 20 minutes by car from Mizusawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Parking available (about 100 spaces).