1 Nakasu Miyayama, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture (Kamisha Honmiya)
Rating
Cost per person
¥2,500
The Suwa Grand Shrine Onbashira Festival is a unique and awe-inspiring event held every six years (years of the Tiger and Monkey) at the Suwa Grand Shrine in Nagano Prefecture. This festival involves the replacement of the shrine's main hall and the erection of massive fir trees, called Onbashira, at the four corners of the shrine. The next festival is scheduled for 2028. The festival is divided into two main parts: Yamadashi (mountain procession) in April, where the trees are felled and transported, and Satobiki (village procession) in May, where the trees are erected at the shrine. Key highlights include the Kiotoshi (log-riding) and Kawagoshi (river crossing) events, where brave participants ride the logs down steep hills and across rivers. Visiting during the festival offers a chance to witness a vibrant and historically significant tradition.