Aoshima’s traditional event, where a thousand talismans are used to pray for community prosperity and a good harvest
Aoshima Senja-mairi
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year, on a Sunday around July 20, near the start of Doyo / Every year
- Location
- Suwa Shrine
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Ina City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 50 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Senja-mairi, passed down in Aoshima, Ina City, is an event in which a thousand talismans are dedicated at local shrines, temples, and Dosojin roadside deities, with prayers for community prosperity and abundant harvests.
About Aoshima Senja-mairi
Aoshima Senja-mairi is a traditional event held every year in Aoshima, Ina City.
Praying for community prosperity and abundant harvests, the 9 groups determine their assigned areas after the and dedicate the talismans they receive at shrines, temples, and Dosojin roadside deities throughout the city.
A 2017 account states that it has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Ina City.
Festival highlights
One distinctive feature is the use of a total of a thousand talismans.
The 9 groups draw lots to determine the areas they are responsible for, then dedicate their respective talismans at shrines, temples, and Dosojin roadside deities throughout the city.
At Chusenji Temple in Nishi-Mino, Ina City, residents are reported to have posted slips bearing the words “Senja-mairi.”
Aoshima’s traditional event, where a thousand talismans are used to pray for community prosperity and a good harvest
What to expect
The event begins with local district and shrine officials performing a shinji at Suwa Shrine.
The 9 groups then draw lots to determine their assigned areas and receive talismans.
The talismans are taken to shrines, temples, and Dosojin roadside deities throughout the city, where the groups post slips bearing the words “Senja-mairi.”
Location and access
- Venue and address
Suwa Shrine, Aoshima, Misuzu, Ina City
Address Aoshima, Misuzu, Ina City
Dates and season
- Season
Every year, on a Sunday around July 20, near the start of Doyo
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Nagano Prefecture / Ina City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Aoshima Senja-mairi
Aoshima Senja-mairi is said to have begun when residents, long troubled by flooding of the Mibu River, prayed for the safety of their community.
Today, it is introduced as a traditional event in which people pray for community prosperity and abundant harvests.
It has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the city and has been held every year on a Sunday around July 20, near the start of Doyo.
Aoshima Senja-mairi at a Glance
Aoshima Senja-mairi is a traditional event held every year in Aoshima, Ina City.
Against the backdrop of residents’ prayers for community safety in response to flooding of the Mibu River, the 9 groups determine their assigned areas and dedicate a thousand talismans at shrines, temples, and Dosojin roadside deities throughout the city.
The event is held to pray for community prosperity and abundant harvests, and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the city.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
