A traditional Kikonai ritual in which participants carry the sacred object into the freezing sea
Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Mid-January every year / Every year
- Location
- The grounds of Sagawa Shrine, Beach, Misogi Plaza, and other locations
- Area
- Hokkaido・Kikonai Town(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
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Required number of participants
- 4 people (gyōshūsha)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A midwinter passed down in Kikonai Town, in which 4 ascetics carry the sacred object into the freezing Tsugaru Strait and pray for a good catch and a good harvest.
About Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival
The Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival is a traditional Shinto ritual passed down at Sagawa Shrine.
Four ascetics purify themselves with cold water, carry 4 sacred objects into the Tsugaru Strait, and pray for a good catch and a good harvest.
The festival takes place at Sagawa Shrine, Misogi Beach, and Misogi Park, alongside the Midwinter Misogi Festival event.
It brings together local beliefs and winter festivities in town.
Source: 寒中みそぎ祭り＆寒中みそぎフェスティバル｜イベント｜【公式】北海道の観光・旅行情報サイト HOKKAIDO LOVE!
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the seawater misogi, in which 4 ascetics carry the sacred object into the freezing Tsugaru Strait.
The festival reaches its climax as the ascetics, dressed in white, plunge into the sea and splash seawater over one another.
Misogi music and winter fireworks take place on the 14th, and a local products fair is held on the 15th, offering a chance to enjoy both sacred rites and community festivities.
A traditional Kikonai ritual in which participants carry the sacred object into the freezing sea
What to expect
The festival begins with the lodging-reporting festival rite on January 13, after which the 4 ascetics stay at Sagawa Shrine and perform water austerities.
Misogi hayashi music, tomimaki, mochi-throwing, and winter fireworks are scheduled for the 14th.
On the 15th, after the misogi procession, the ascetics carry the sacred object and perform seawater misogi, then return to the shrine to conclude the main festival rites.
How to take part
The central role in the ritual is played by 4 young men known as gyōshūsha.
From January 13, the gyōshūsha stay at Sagawa Shrine and perform water purification. On January 15, they enter the sea carrying the sacred object.
The method and requirements for general visitors to take part in the ritual itself have not been confirmed, but the Misogi Procession and water purification can be watched.
The ritual is performed by 4 young men serving as gyōshūsha.
From January 13, they stay at Sagawa Shrine and perform water purification; on the 15th, they carry 4 sacred objects as they undergo sea-water purification.
No application process or eligibility requirements for general participants have been announced. Those wishing to watch can do so at the venues for each event.
Source: 寒中みそぎ祭りことはじめ｜北海道木古内町観光情報 / 木古内町寒中みそぎ祭り - Wikipedia / 祭・イベント詳細： 寒中みそぎ祭・寒中みそぎフェスティバル｜（一財）都市農山漁村交流活性化機構（まちむら交流きこう）
Location and access
- Venue and address
The event takes place on the grounds of Sagawa Shrine, at Misogi Beach, Misogi Plaza, and other locations.
The shrine is located at 157-1 Kikonai, Kikonai Town, Kamiiso District, Hokkaido.
- Train and bus
Get off at JR Kikonai Station.
Misogi Beach is a 5-minute walk away, and Sagawa Shrine is a 10-minute walk away.
- By car
Misogi Beach is a seaside venue.
Address 157-1 Kikonai, Kikonai Town, Kamiiso District, Hokkaido (grounds of Sagawa Shrine), and other locations
Dates and season
- Season
Mid-January every year
- Frequency
Every year
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 Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions listed include Kikonai Onsen, Trappist Monastery, Shiriuchi Onsen, and Hachiro-numa Park.
Michi-no-Eki “Misogi no Sato Kikonai” is also introduced as a roadside station in the area.
If visiting alongside the festival, please check each facility’s opening status and hours.
Origins and History of Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival
The midwinter misogi is said to have begun in 1831.
According to the origin story, a shrine caretaker received a divine message saying, “Purify the sacred object,” then purified himself in the cold waters of the Sagawa River and bathed the sacred object in the sea.
The tradition continued in which the 4 ascetics purify themselves from January 13 and carry the sacred object into the sea on the 15th. In 2023, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Hokkaido.
Official information
Official information is available on Kikonai Town’s tourism information page.
A link is also provided to the announcement for the 196th Midwinter Misogi Festival and Midwinter Misogi Festival event in 2026.
Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival at a Glance
The Kikonai Town Midwinter Misogi Festival is a traditional Shinto ritual dating back to 1831, with prayers for a good catch and a good harvest.
The central rites are water austerities and seawater misogi performed by 4 ascetics, and the festival also features events such as winter fireworks and a local products fair.
In 2026, the festival was held from January 13 through the 15th at Sagawa Shrine, Misogi Beach, and Misogi Park.
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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