Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances

The Kotoyoka observance, held in 8 districts of Matsumoto using straw figures of horses, centipedes, dragons, and oversized sandals to ward off misfortune. Distinctive local customs have been passed down alongside prayers and offerings to Dosojin.

About Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances

The Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances are annual events passed down in 8 districts of Matsumoto, intended to drive away from the settlements spirits that bring misfortune.

Straw horses, dragons, centipedes, and oversized sandals are made and hung at village boundaries or sent beyond the settlements.

Nukaebushi, offerings of rice cakes to Dosojin, and prayers are also part of the observances, which have been passed down in distinctive forms in each district.

It has been selected by the national government as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース / 松本のコトヨウカ行事 - 松本市ホームページ

Festival highlights

Highlights include the straw figures, which differ by district, and the ways they are used to ward off misfortune.

Some districts send a straw horse beyond the settlement, others drag a centipede to the village boundary, and another hangs a large straw sandal at the boundary—each with its own distinctive form.

In Oikura, men and women hold a tug-of-war using a straw dragon as the rope, while in Ryoshima, people chant prayers as they hang a large straw sandal at the northern and southern boundaries.

Source: 松本・両島で伝統行事「お八日念仏と足半」巨大な草履、無病息災願う - 松本経済新聞

A winter tradition in Matsumoto: warding off misfortune with straw figures and prayers

What to expect

Details vary by district, but the observance often follows a sequence of fumigating doorways at dawn with chili peppers or rice husks in a practice called Nukaebushi, offering rice cakes to Dosojin, making straw figures, chanting prayers, and dedicating or sending the figures off at village boundaries.

During the prayers, people sit in a circle, strike a gong, pass prayer beads or a straw rope around, and chant “Namu Amida Butsu.”

The completed figures are hung or dragged, and in some districts they are burned.

How to take part

The event is mainly organized by residents and preservation societies in each district.

In 2026, around 30 people in the Ryoshima district took part in the preparations and Buddhist chanting, including members of the preservation society, as well as fifth- and sixth-grade students from Kamata Elementary School and their parents.

Please check the information for each district to find out whether general visitors may join the preparations or rituals.

Location and access

Venue and address

It is held in 8 districts of Matsumoto: Iriyama-be Umayadokoro, Kamite-machi, Narao, Funatsuki, Nakamura, Oikura in Satoyama-be, Ryoshima, and Imai Shinden.

Locations include Usumachi and Oikura in Satoyama-be, Matsumoto City, and other places.

Address Usumachi and Oikura in Satoyama-be, Matsumoto City, and other locations

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Dates and season

It is usually held around February 8, or on a nearby Sunday.

The date varies by district. In 2026, the “O-yōka Nenbutsu and Ashinaka” event in the Ryoshima district was held on February 11.

The 2026 schedule for all 8 districts has not been announced in one place, so you’ll need to check each district’s plans before visiting.

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 Nagano Prefecture / Matsumoto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

This is not an event held at a single venue; it takes place separately in several districts of Matsumoto.

The details and locations vary by district: straw figures may be dragged, hung at village boundaries, or burned. Before choosing where to visit, check the district and what will take place there.

As these events involve local prayers and Dosojin, follow the guidance of local people when observing, and take care not to disrupt their work or rituals.

Nearby attractions

Museums · 美術館の汎用イラスト（AI生成 · 実際の施設ではありません） — Illustration for reference

飛騨山脈南部の長野県松本市と岐阜県高山市にまたがる山

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Photo and data sources

写真：Alpsdake / Public domain

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Origins and History of Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances

Kotoyoka is a custom observed throughout Japan on the 8th of February and December. In eastern Japan, it has traditionally been considered a day when spirits such as gods of misfortune and yokai visit.

In Matsumoto, the custom has been passed down in a regional form combining straw figures, Nukaebushi, offerings of rice cakes to Dosojin, and prayers.

The Ryoshima observance is said to have continued since the early Edo period, and the Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances received national selection in 2000.

Official information

The Matsumoto City Cultural Properties Division provides information on the events in all 8 districts and their cultural-property designation under the name “Matsumoto Kotoyoka Observances.”

The National Cultural Properties Database includes an explanation of the observances as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.