Suwa Onbashira Festival

Update:2019/09/30

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When Onbashira takes place (once every 6 years, or every 7 by traditional Japanese reckoning), all 200,000 souls in the Suwa region participate as it is an immensely revered festival here. It is also reveled by upwards of 2 million visitors who come to see the spectacle of men riding massive logs as they are slid down perilous slopes. The logs, 17 meters in length and weighing 12 tons, are then manhandled 10 kilometers from the mountains to one of 4 shrines. There they are erected into the corner posts of the new shrine buildings, with some men defying death by riding the logs as they are stood into position. This 1200 year old festival is celebrated as one of the major “masculine” festivals in Japan.

Location Ankokuji-2030 Miyagawa, Chino, Nagano 391-0013, Japan Map
TEL 0266-27-1111
FAX 0266-27-1339
Business hours Apr 1 - Jun 15 (held in every 6 years)
Holiday Suwa Taisha (Shrine) Kamisha Honmiya; Kamisha Maemiya; Shimosha Harumiya; Shimosha Akimiya, Suwa City By Train: 15 min taxi ride to Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya/Maemiya from Kamisuwa Station (JR Chuo Line) By Car: 2 km / 5 min from Suwa IC

Temples and Shrines

Festivals

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