Katashina Saruoi Festival

Festival highlights

A highlight is the throwing of sekihan, with the village divided into east and west.

Roles such as Sakaban and Hitsuban are assigned, and the East and West Zashiki also perform songs.

At the end, a performer dressed in white as a monkey appears and, pursued by the Sakaban and Hitsuban, circles the shrine buildings three times.

The festival has a distinctive structure, with sekihan, songs, and the monkey performer’s movements unfolding in sequence.

A festival in Hanasaki featuring sekihan throwing and a monkey performer being pursued

What to expect

At the festival, roles such as Sakaban and Hitsuban are assigned first.

The Hitsuban throw sekihan at one another, and the East and West Zashiki perform songs. Then a performer dressed in white as a monkey appears.

Pursued by the Sakaban and Hitsuban, the monkey performer circles the shrine buildings three times.

The festival unfolds through events associated with each role and the monkey performer’s movements.

Location and access

Venue and address

Hotaka Shrine, Hanasaki, Katashina Village

Address Hanasaki, Katashina Village

Dates and season

Season

On the Day of the Monkey during lunar calendar: September each year (at the time of designation)

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Origins and History of Katashina Saruoi Festival

According to tradition, a monkey living at Saruiwa at the foot of Mount Hotaka ravaged crops in the fields. The villagers discussed making the monkey a god and chased it around; this is said to be how the festival began.

The festival is described as having continued for approximately 300 years.

In 1978, it was selected as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken, under the name “Katashina Saru Festival,” and was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on December 27, 2000.

Katashina Saruoi Festival at a Glance

At the Katashina Saruoi Festival, Hanasaki is divided into east and west, and events include throwing sekihan, songs performed by the eastern and western groups, and a monkey performer circling the shrine buildings three times. It is an intangible folk cultural property.

It is said to originate in a legend about a monkey at the foot of Mount Hotaka, and is described as having continued for approximately 300 years.

It was selected in 1978 as an intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken, and designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2000.