A Kaminoyama autumn enlivened by handmade scarecrows and a showcase of creativity
Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Event status
- Cancelled
- Season / frequency
- Every autumn (past event period) / Every year (the festival ended after 2024)
- Area
- Yamagata Prefecture・Kaminoyama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An autumn festival in Kaminoyama that celebrates handmade scarecrows and has been passed down through the years. Originating as a school scarecrow contest, it has featured displays, voting, and awards for creations from the local area and beyond. It will not be held in 2026.
About Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival
The Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival is an autumn festival featuring handmade scarecrows brought together from Kaminoyama and beyond.
It grew out of an activity in which students competed with scarecrows displayed in rice fields, and has been carried on as a community event.
The venue was lined with distinctive creations, offering a chance to appreciate the ingenuity of the community and participants through their scarecrows.
Source: かみのやま温泉全国かかし祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
One of the highlights is the display of diverse scarecrows created by local groups, schools, and others.
The subjects vary widely, from familiar people and local themes to reflections of current affairs, and each creator gives even similar scarecrows a distinct expression.
When the festival was held, the works also competed with one another, and special awards based on visitor votes and an award ceremony on the final day were among its distinctive features.
A Kaminoyama autumn enlivened by handmade scarecrows and a showcase of creativity
What to expect
At the venue, visitors first walk around to see the scarecrows brought together from inside and outside the city, enjoying the subjects and the creators’ ingenuity behind each work.
Visitors who paid a cooperation fee received a pamphlet and ballot and could vote for their favorite creations.
An award ceremony for the works was held toward the end of the event, making the festival enjoyable not only for viewing the exhibits but also for choosing favorites.
Location and access
- Address
Kaminoyama City
Host municipality 山形県上山市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
It will not be held in 2026.
The Kaminoyama City Tourism and Products Association decided in 2024 not to hold the event from this autumn onward, citing an expected shortage of scarecrows needed to continue due to the declining birthrate, aging population, and decrease in makers.
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 Yamagata Prefecture / Kaminoyama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
上山城
山形県上山市にあった城
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
斎藤茂吉記念館
山形県上山市にある文学博物館・人物資料館
写真：Halowand / CC BY 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
蟹仙洞
山形県上山市にある美術館
写真：Hasegawa.mayu / CC BY-SA 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival
The festival is said to have begun when students at Kaminoyama Agricultural High School decorated rice fields with scarecrows and competed by class.
With ryokan owner Sato at its center, the school scarecrow contest—which was due to be discontinued—was continued and developed, and it has been carried on as a festival since 1971.
The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of COVID-19. From 2021 onward, it was also held on a smaller scale as “Scarecrow Exhibition 9 Days.”
Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival at a Glance
The Kaminoyama Onsen National Scarecrow Festival is an autumn festival that has been held in Kaminoyama since 1971, featuring handmade scarecrows on display and judged.
Originating as a school scarecrow contest, the festival has showcased local creativity through displays, visitor voting, and award ceremonies.
Citing factors such as a decline in the number of creators, organizers decided in 2024 to end the festival after that autumn, and it will not be held in 2026.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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