🏮 Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri

野沢温泉道祖神まつり

Nozawaonsen, Nagano (Babahara Shrine) · Every year on 15 January

123 days to go
Rooms around Nozawaonsen, Nagano fill up while the festival is on.

The Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri is held every year from January 13 to 15 in Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture. It is designated a nationally important intangible folk cultural property and is counted as one of Japan's three great fire festivals. It is a festival praying for a good harvest, the warding off of evil, and the healthy growth of first-born children, and is a traditional event deeply rooted in the local community. The main event is on the night of January 15. On the previous day, the 14th, men in their unlucky years (yakudoshi) build the shrine hall through the night, and households where a first child has been born customarily dedicate a hatsu-doro (first lantern). On the day itself, a fierce back-and-forth unfolds in front of the shrine hall between those trying to set it alight and those trying to prevent it. The highlight is the battle over setting fire to the shrine hall; about one hour after the fire is lit, the ropes supporting the wooden framework burn through, and when the central shelf falls, a tremendous pillar of fire rises up, a moment of great force.

Getting there

From JR Iiyama Line Togarinozawaonsen Station, take the Nagaden Bus bound for Nozawa Onsen for about 20 minutes, get off at the final stop and walk 10 minutes. Alternatively, about 30 minutes from the Joshinetsu Expressway Toyoda-Iiyama IC.