The Onbashira Festival at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine

A pillar-raising festival passed down in Iriyama-be, Matsumoto, and preserved by . Through the wood-shaping rituals and the raising of 4 sacred pillars, you can experience the faith and traditions rooted in the community.

About The Onbashira Festival at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine

The Onbashira Festival at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine is a pillar-raising festival passed down in Iriyama-be Daiwago, Matsumoto.

It is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city and is organized mainly by the shrine's parishioners.

The pillars are raised in the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of the Rooster, with preparations and events leading up to the raising beginning 2 years beforehand.

Source: 入山辺大和合神社の御柱祭り - 松本市ホームページ

Festival highlights

Highlights include the varied wood-shaping work carried out before the pillars are received as sacred trees, and the ceremony in which the 4 pillars are raised one by one at the end.

The bark is stripped, the four sides are shaved, and the tip is shaped into a triangular pyramid in a process called kanmuri-otoshi. The base is rounded and thickened in a process called otokozukuri.

It is also said that at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine, no one rides on the pillars once they have become sacred trees.

Iriyama-be's Onbashira Festival: shaping the wood and welcoming sacred trees

What to expect

The festival begins with a symbolic ritual of offering hand-clapping and betrothal gifts at the base of the pillars, then proceeds to felling, bark stripping, and shaving the four sides.

After wood-shaping processes such as kanmuri-otoshi and otokozukuri, the pillars undergo a ritual in front of the shrine's sasa gate and become sacred trees.

The 4 pillars are then raised one by one. The raising ceremony is complete once all of them are standing.

How to take part

The festival is organized mainly by the parishioners of Daiwago Shrine.

The heads of households and young men in the tradition's home area form an organizing committee. Under the leadership of the head of the Onbashira representatives, people take on roles such as hauling the pillars and serving as kiyari singers according to their age.

Please check individually whether members of the general public can take part as participants in the rituals.

Location and access

Venue and address

Daiwago Shrine (6333 Iriyama-be, Matsumoto, Nagano).

The festival is held in Iriyama-be Daiwago, Matsumoto.

Train and bus

It is a 30-minute drive from Matsumoto Station on the JR Shinonoi Line.

The listed route by bus is a 2-minute walk from the Honmura bus stop on the Iriyama-be Line.

By car

It is a 30-minute drive from Matsumoto Station.

Source: 入山辺大和合神社の御柱祭り - 信州の文化財 - 財団法人八十二文化財団 / ⛩大和合神社｜長野県松本市 - 八百万の神

Address 〒390-0222 6333 Iriyama-be, Matsumoto, Nagano

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Dates and season

Season

It is held in the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of the Rooster.

Each event leading up to the raising of the pillars takes place from 2 years beforehand.

Frequency

Every 7 years

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 / Matsumoto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

The Onbashira Festival is a local festival centered on the shrine's parishioners.

As some cultural properties may not be open to visitors, visitors are advised to check in advance with the relevant cultural property protection department.

At ritual and wood-shaping sites, follow the instructions of those involved and be considerate about entering restricted areas and taking photographs.

Nearby attractions

The Iriyama-be district, where the venue is located, lies in the mountainous eastern part of Matsumoto City and is dotted with cultural heritage sites such as mountain castle ruins, dosojin roadside deities, and shrines and temples.

The district includes the nationally designated historic site of Castle Ruins, as well as Yamabe Castle Ruins, Kirihara Castle Ruins, Mizuban Castle Ruins, and Miyahara Castle Ruins.

It is an area where you can trace Iriyama-be's history while experiencing its nature and local culture.

Source: 入山辺地区 - 松本市ホームページ

Museums · 美術館の汎用イラスト（AI生成 · 実際の施設ではありません） — Illustration for reference

飛騨山脈南部の長野県松本市と岐阜県高山市にまたがる山

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Photo and data sources

写真：Alpsdake / Public domain

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Origins and History of The Onbashira Festival at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine

It is unclear when or how the festival began, but it is believed to be an event with a long history.

It has been regarded as a custom of the Edo period and passed down through generations.

The pillars are welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of the Rooster, and local shrine parishioners share roles in upholding the rituals.

Official information

The Matsumoto City Cultural Properties Division introduces the Onbashira Festival at Iriyama-be Daiwago Shrine as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.

You can find information on the festival's location, the pillar-raising cycle, wood-shaping rituals, and the tradition that no one rides on the pillars once they have become sacred trees.

The Matsumoto City Cultural Properties Division's Cultural Properties Section is listed as the contact.