Kikonai’s prayers and winter fervor, carried on in the freezing sea
Kanchu Misogi Festival & Kanchu Misogi Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Sagawa Shrine, Beach, and Misogi Park
- Area
- Hokkaido・Kikonai(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation fee
- Free admission
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
The Kanchu Misogi Festival, passed down in Kikonai, is a traditional ritual in which the practitioners purify themselves with cold-water ablutions and cleanse the sacred objects in the freezing Tsugaru Strait. For 2026, the Kanchu Misogi Festival was also listed from January 13 through the 15th.
About Kanchu Misogi Festival & Kanchu Misogi Festival
The Kanchu Misogi Festival is a traditional ritual in Kikonai designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Hokkaido.
Four young men enter Sagawa Shrine as practitioners and purify their minds and bodies through mizugori, a cold-water ablution.
During the ritual, the sacred objects are cleansed and prayers are offered for abundant catches and harvests.
The Kanchu Misogi Festival is also held alongside the ritual, bringing the tradition and local festivities together.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the climactic moment when the practitioners carry 4 sacred objects and plunge into the icy Tsugaru Strait.
Spectators watch as the practitioners plunge into the sea, sending up white spray.
Winter fireworks and local specialties such as “Hakodate Wagyu” are also featured during the festival, letting visitors experience both the sacred ritual and the lively town atmosphere.
Kikonai’s prayers and winter fervor, carried on in the freezing sea
What to expect
According to the 2026 schedule, a report ceremony after the practitioners’ seclusion was planned for January 13, followed on the 14th by Misogi , the scattering of good-fortune prizes and rice cakes, and a winter fireworks display.
For the 15th, the schedule listed the Misogi Local Products Fair, fishing boats sailing with large fishing flags, sea-water purification, and cold-water ablutions, as the Kanchu Misogi Festival and its accompanying festivities unfolded.
The winter fireworks display was listed as about 1,000 fireworks, starting at 7:10 p.m.
How to take part
参加費：入場無料
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sagawa Shrine, Misogi Beach, and Misogi Park / 155-1 Kikonai, Kikonai-cho, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaido
- Train and bus
About a 5-minute walk from JR Kikonai Station
- Parking
300 spaces, free
Address 155-1 Kikonai, Kikonai-cho, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaido
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 Hokkaido / Kikonai (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Kikonai Onsen, Trappist Monastery, Shiriuchi Onsen, and Hachiro-numa Park.
Recommended roadside stations include Roadside Station Misogi no Sato Kikonai and Roadside Station Shiriuchi.
Distances to facilities, walking times, and opening status are not provided.
Origins and History of Kanchu Misogi Festival & Kanchu Misogi Festival
The Kanchu Misogi Festival is described as a ritual that has continued for over 190 years, since 1831.
In November 2023, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Hokkaido as a traditional culture passed down locally.
The source does not explain its earlier origins or how the festival’s form has changed over time.
Official information
公式サイト：Official website
Kanchu Misogi Festival & Kanchu Misogi Festival at a Glance
The Kanchu Misogi Festival is a traditional Kikonai ritual in which 4 practitioners purify their minds and bodies with cold-water ablutions, then carry sacred objects and plunge into the Tsugaru Strait.
For 2026, events were listed from January 13 through the 15th, including a report ceremony after the practitioners’ seclusion, Misogi Hayashi, winter fireworks, and a local products fair.
The venues are Sagawa Shrine, Misogi Beach, and Misogi Park, about a 5-minute walk from JR Kikonai Station.
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
