A traditional fire festival that sends balls of fire soaring into the night sky over Wakasa
Matsuage
The 2026 edition of Matsuage has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/22Ended
- Season / frequency
- Late August to early September
- Location
- Matsuge sites in the villages of Kuchinada and Nakanada districts, Obama City (riverbanks and riverbeds)
- Area
- Fukui Prefecture・Obama City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 50 min–3 h 20 min · 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Matsuge, passed down in Kuchinada and Nakanada districts and other areas of Obama City, is a traditional Wakasa fire festival in which fire is thrown toward a moji atop a tall pole.
About Matsuage
Matsuge is a fire festival passed down in the upper and middle reaches of the Minami River, mainly in Kuchinada and Nakanada districts of Obama City.
Held in places such as riverbanks in each village, it is regarded as a folk event closely connected to local life.
This traditional event along the Wakasa Kaido is also passed down in the former Natasho Village, now part of Oi Town.
Festival highlights
A highlight is watching participants throw a lit jin toward the moji set atop a heavy pole about 15–25 meters high.
A jin is a hammer-shaped implement made by bundling pine roots and other materials. Participants throw the burning implements and compete to ignite the moji.
In some versions, fireworks are set inside the moji, adding to the spectacle of flames and fireworks.
A traditional fire festival that sends balls of fire soaring into the night sky over Wakasa
What to expect
At the event, a heavy cedar pole is first erected on the riverbank, and an inverted-cone-shaped moji made from bamboo, straw, or other materials is attached to its top.
Participants light a jin made by bundling pine roots and throw it toward the moji.
They keep throwing until the fire reaches the moji, while spectators watch the fire-festival techniques passed down in each village.
How to take part
The event is described as one in which local residents take on the role of throwing lit jin.
In 2026, a separate pole for children was set up in the Ueda district of Obama City, apart from the one for adults, and children took part too.
Visitors can enjoy watching the fire festival as it unfolds in riverside areas and other such locations.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Matsuge sites in the villages of Kuchinada and Nakanada districts, Obama City.
The event is also celebrated in the former Natasho Village, now part of Oi Town.
- Train and bus
It is a 30-minute drive from Obama Station.
- By car
It is a 30-minute drive from Obama Station.
Address Kuchinada and Nakanada districts, Obama City, Fukui Prefecture (as well as the former Natasho Village, now part of Oi Town)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, Matsuge was held at night on August 22 at riverbank sites such as Shimoda, Obama City.
It is usually held from late August to early September, with events held in each village in Kuchinada and Nakanada districts.
Dates and venues vary by village, so be sure to check the information for the day before visiting.
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 Fukui Prefecture / Obama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Matsuage is a fire festival in which lit jin are thrown into the air, and it is held on riverbanks or in riverside areas.
The 2026 event was held at night, with blazing fireballs and fireworks among its highlights.
Keep away from the fire and throwing equipment, and follow the event proceedings and local guidance while watching.
Nearby attractions
山川登美子記念館
福井県小浜市にある文学館
御食国若狭おばま食文化館
福井県小浜市にある博物館
福井県立若狭歴史博物館
福井県小浜市にある博物館
Origins and History of Matsuage
The origins of Matsuge are unclear. One theory is that it adopted elements of the fire festival at Mount Atago in Kyoto; another is that the Bon festival’s send-off fires gradually became a game.
A saying that links the successful lighting of the fire with a good harvest has also been passed down, and it is thought that the event took on an additional role as a harvest divination ritual.
In some parts of Nakanada District, the event is held on the 210th day of the year, suggesting how it became established as a rural fire festival.
Official information
The official Obama City tourism website, Miketsukuni Wakasa Obama, provides information on when Matsuge is held, the areas where it takes place, how the event is conducted, its origins, and access.
The official information introduces it as an event held in the Minami River basin, including Kuchinada and Nakanada districts and the former Natasho Village, now part of Oi Town.
Matsuage at a Glance
Matsuge is a fire festival passed down in Kuchinada and Nakanada districts and other areas of Obama City, where fire is thrown high into the night sky.
A major highlight is the distinctive contest in which participants throw jin toward the moji atop a tall pole and compete to set it alight.
It is usually held from late August to early September, and a nighttime event on August 22 was reported 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
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
