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Onsen Matsuri (Kinosaki Onsen Festival)

Guide

Onsen Matsuri (Kinosaki Onsen Festival)

7 min read

Event Overview

The Onsen Matsuri is a significant annual event held to honor Dochi Shonin, the founder of Kinosaki Onsen. It is a time to express gratitude for his legacy and pray for the continued prosperity of the hot spring town. The festival brings the historic streets of Kinosaki Onsen to life with traditional processions, religious ceremonies, and a lively atmosphere filled with food stalls.

Highlights & How to Enjoy

The most captivating part of the festival is the series of traditional processions. The "Town Bathhouse Procession" (from Shosho Shrine to the various public baths) and the "Dochi Shonin Child Procession" (from the station to the public baths) offer a majestic and rare sight. Additionally, at Onsen-ji Temple, you can witness the special opening of the "Eleven-Headed Kannon Statue," a designated Important Cultural Property, providing a profound spiritual experience.

As evening approaches, the banks of the Oigawa River become lined with numerous food stalls, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere. A special highlight is the free access to certain public baths (Soto-yu) during the festival, allowing you to enjoy the local hot spring culture even more deeply and affordably.

Schedule

The festival takes place over two days. Please note the following schedule:

  • 10:30: Town Bathhouse Procession (Shosho Shrine to various public baths)
  • 15:00–17:00: Treasure Hunt! (Onsen-ji Yakushido)
  • 13:00–21:00: Food and souvenir stalls open
  • 10:00: Founder's Memorial Prayer & Child Procession (Station to various public baths)
  • 12:00: Memorial Service for Founder Dochi Shonin (Onsen-ji Temple)
  • 12:40: Founder's Memorial Service (Onsen-ji Temple)
  • 13:30: Mochi-maki (Flying Mochi Ceremony) with prizes (Onsen-ji Temple)
  • 10:00–15:00: Food and souvenir stalls open

Venue & Access

The event is held throughout the Kinosaki Onsen town area in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, primarily around the Oigawa River and Onsen-ji Temple.

  • *Parking**: Public and private parking lots are available around the hot spring town.
  • *Access**: The most seamless way to enjoy the festival is by using public transportation to reach the town and then exploring the various venues on foot.

Practical Tips

During the festival, certain public baths offer free entry. For example, Jizo-yu is free from 7:00 to 23:00, and Yanagi-yu and Mandara-yu are free from 15:00 to 23:00. We recommend checking the specific times for the processions and ceremonies in advance to ensure you don't miss these historic moments.

What to Bring & Etiquette

  • *Clothing**: If you plan to watch the processions or visit the public baths, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a change of clothes.
  • *Payment**: We recommend carrying cash for food stalls and small purchases. Please check the official website for more details.
  • *Reservations**: No advance reservation is required to watch the processions, but please allow extra time as the streets can become quite crowded.