A Fukuchiyama Setsubun ritual to quell fire and chant “Oni wa uchi”
Hoshizume Matsuri (Chinka Festival) and Setsubun Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- February 3
- Location
- Ohara Shrine
- Area
- Kyoto Prefecture・Fukuchiyama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
At Ohara Shrine, the Chinka Festival quells the fire pit and prays for protection from fire, while the Setsubun Tsuina ceremony features a distinctive chant.
About Hoshizume Matsuri (Chinka Festival) and Setsubun Festival
The Hoshizume Matsuri (Chinka Festival) and Setsubun Festival are held at Ohara Shrine in Miwa-cho, Fukuchiyama City.
A square timber-framed fire pit is set up in the . Once the flames have risen, they are extinguished in a fire-quelling ritual that prays for protection from fire.
At night, a Setsubun Tsuina ceremony is held in the , with the distinctive chant “Oni wa uchi, fuku wa soto” (“Demons in, good fortune out”).
Festival highlights
A highlight is the square timber-framed fire pit set up in the shrine grounds.
The act of extinguishing the fire pit once its flames have risen reflects the ritual’s prayers for quelling fire and preventing fire-related disasters.
Later, the Tsuina ceremony is held in the honden, where you can hear the distinctive chant “Oni wa uchi, fuku wa soto” (“Demons in, good fortune out”), which differs from the usual Setsubun chant.
A Fukuchiyama Setsubun ritual to quell fire and chant “Oni wa uchi”
What to expect
The event consists of the daytime Chinka Festival and the nighttime Tsuina ceremony.
At the Chinka Festival, a fire pit in the grounds of Ohara Shrine is made to blaze, then extinguished to pray for protection from fire.
At night, a Setsubun Tsuina ceremony is held in the honden, with the chant “Oni wa uchi, fuku wa soto” (“Demons in, good fortune out”).
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ohara Shrine, 191-1 Ohara, Miwa-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Train and bus
From Ayabe Station on the JR San'in Main Line, take the municipal bus (Kawai-Ohara Line) for 20 minutes to the “Ohara” stop, then walk 5 minutes. The municipal bus does not run on Sundays or public holidays.
- Parking
2 large buses, 30 regular cars; free
Address 191-1 Ohara, Miwa-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
February 3
Accommodation and hotels PR
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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 Kyoto Prefecture / Fukuchiyama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
If traveling by public transport, note that the municipal bus does not run on Sundays or public holidays.
From Ayabe Station on the JR San'in Main Line, take the Kawai-Ohara Line bus to “Ohara,” then walk 5 minutes from the stop.
Parking is listed as free, with space for 2 large buses and 30 regular cars.
Nearby attractions
The nearby Ubaya is listed as 0.1 km in a straight line from Ohara Shrine.
As nearby attractions, Shizushi Limestone Cave Park is 2.7 km away in a straight line, and Shoryakuji Temple is 5.9 km away.
Nearby listings also include Shofukuji Temple, Hosono Pass, Shisuigaoka Park, and Konohan'an (the former Okahana family residence).
日本の鬼の交流博物館
京都府福知山市の大江山麓にある博物館
福知山城
京都府福知山市にある城跡
福知山市動物園
京都府福知山市の動物園・水族館のスポットです。
Official information
Listed in the event guide on the official Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation website.
Hoshizume Matsuri (Chinka Festival) and Setsubun Festival at a Glance
The Hoshizume Matsuri (Chinka Festival) and Setsubun Festival are Fukuchiyama City events featuring a daytime fire-quelling ritual at Ohara Shrine, praying for protection from fire, and a nighttime Setsubun Tsuina ceremony.
A distinctive feature is the ritual of extinguishing the square timber-framed fire pit once its flames have risen, along with the chant “Oni wa uchi, fuku wa soto” (“Demons in, good fortune out”).
The Chinka Festival is listed as starting at 10:30 a.m., and the Tsuina ceremony at 7 p.m.
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
