Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri

Overview & Highlights

The Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri is a traditional fire festival held in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This event, which has been passed down since the late Edo period, is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The festival serves as a vital ritual to ward off evil spirits and pray for the healthy growth of children. The most striking feature is the intense fire ritual on the night of January 15th, where flames dance around a massive shrine, creating a breathtaking spectacle of light and heat against the dark winter sky.

History & Cultural Background

The history of this festival dates back to the late Edo period. It developed within the local community of Nozawa Onsen as a ritual to pray for good health, protection from misfortune, and bountiful harvests. Traditionally, men in their