Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori

A festival event passed down in Kawamata, Nikko City, centered on Imamiya-sama on Mount Atago and designated a prefectural intangible folk cultural property. The young men’s group carries the sacred statue late at night, and a is performed as an offering the next day.

About Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori

Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori is a festival event held late at night on August 20 in Kawamata, Nikko City. It is designated a prefectural intangible folk cultural property.

The young men’s group takes the lead in welcoming the sacred statue of Imamiya-sama, enshrined near the summit of Mount Atago, to a temporary shrine at the foot of the mountain.

The next day, local people gather to visit and worship the mountain’s deities and Buddhas, and a shishimai is performed as an offering.

An event that conveys Kawamata’s religious traditions and the heritage of its young men’s group.

Source: 【川俣今宮様のオコモリ】｜文化財検索｜とちぎの文化財

Festival highlights

The highlight is the scene in which 3 younger members of the group climb the steep mountain path by the faint light of , carry the sacred statue of Imamiya-sama, and bring it down the mountain.

At the temporary shrine, lamps are lit and worshippers pray after offering okarako as a votive offering.

The following day, shishimai is performed as an offering in order at Mount Atago, Imamiya-sama, and Otsuka-sama, bringing the festival to its central scenes.

Kawamata’s late-night ritual connecting the shrine on Mount Atago with the temporary shrine

What to expect

In the early afternoon, a bonden is erected at the shrine on Mount Atago, and a temporary shrine is set up at the foot of the mountain.

From around 4 p.m., shishimai is dedicated at Takio Shrine, followed by an evening celebration at the young men’s lodging, with singing and dancing.

From around 10 p.m., a ritual procession carrying the sacred image is followed by prayers and a communal meal. The next day, people pay their respects to the deities and Buddhas at the mountaintop and dedicate shishimai.

How to take part

The late-night ritual of carrying the sacred statue is performed only by the young men’s group and is considered off-limits to women.

Meanwhile, many people of all ages and genders from the area gather at the young men’s lodging on the night of the 20th, and on the 21st, people from Kawamata and their relatives also gather on Mount Atago.

Whether general visitors may take part in the ritual depends on local arrangements and the instructions given on the day.

Location and access

Venue and address

Held around Mount Atago, in the Kawamata area (Kawamata, Nikko City).

The temporary shrine is at the foot of Mount Atago. The late-night ritual takes place at and around Imamiya-sama’s shrine near the summit.

Source: 川俣愛宕山／日光市公式ホームページ

Address Kawamata, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: Held from August 20 through the 21st.

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 Tochigi Prefecture / Nikko City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

The main late-night event uses a steep mountain path on Mount Atago, with participants moving through the darkness.

日光山輪王寺にある日本庭園

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Photo and data sources

写真：Irina Gelbukh / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Facility data source

Origins and History of Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori

The origins and founding year of Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori are unknown. However, Mount Atago is said to have long served as a sacred site for villagers, where mountain ascetic practices and festivals were held.

A ridge tag at Atago Shrine records the year Eisho 1 (1504).

The festival was designated a prefectural intangible folk cultural property in Heisei 9 (1997)January 21.

Official information

Tochigi Prefecture’s cultural properties search lists Kawamata Imamiya-sama no Okomori as a prefecture-designated intangible folk cultural property.

The owner or administrator is listed as the Kawamata Residents’ Association.

Nikko City’s official website also provides information about the connection between Mount Atago and the festival, as well as the shishimai performed as an offering the following day.