A festival entrusting hopes for a good harvest to the flames of the hashiramatsu passed down by children
Minamikamo no Hashiramatsuko
The 2026 edition of Minamikamo no Hashiramatsuko has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/02Ended
- Season / frequency
- around the end of July. It was formerly held on July 28, and in recent years it has been held on a Sunday close to that date.
- Location
- Minamikamo Community Improvement Center–Mount Ōtsuka
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Kijimadaira Village(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 50 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/24
Minamikamo Hashiramatsuko, passed down in the Minamikamo district of Kijimadaira Village, is a fire-festival ritual performed by children, who each take on a different role. They compete to light 2 hashiramatsu pillars and divine the fortunes of the crops.
About Minamikamo no Hashiramatsuko
Minamikamo Hashiramatsuko is a fire-festival ritual held in the Minamikamo district of Ogo, Kijimadaira Village.
Children use flint to light 2 hashiramatsu pillars, and the speed at which they burn is used to divine the fortunes of the crops.
In Minamikamo, it has been passed down as a “Hashiramatsuko performed only by children”: children take on not only the role of lighting the fires, but also roles such as beating the to signal the start and taking part in the procession.
Source: 【2026年度は終了】木島平村の無形民俗文化財「柱松子」開催について – めぐる木島平【公式】木島平村観光振興局 / おでかけ情報：文化財・民俗芸能：南鴨柱松子 | 木島平村 公式ウェブサイト | 自然劇場木島平
Festival highlights
The highlight is the contest to see which of the 2 hashiramatsu pillars can be lit first.
The winner is the hashiramatsu pillar that catches fire first. If the upper one wins, it signifies peace throughout the land; if the lower one wins, it signifies a bountiful harvest.
In Minamikamo, an okame beats the taiko to signal when to light the fires, and children also play roles such as tengu.
A festival entrusting hopes for a good harvest to the flames of the hashiramatsu passed down by children
What to expect
During the event, a procession sets out for the festival site on Mount Ōtsuka, led by a priest and followed by children and district officials.
At the festival site, 2 hashiramatsu pillars are erected, and children take on different roles as they compete to light them with flint.
Roles include Matsumiko, fire-lighters, okame, and tengu, while the taiko signals when to light the fires.
Source: 木島平村 南鴨｜北信濃神楽採訪
Location and access
- Venue and address
From the Minamikamo Community Improvement Center to Mount Ōtsuka
- Address
911 Ogo, Kijimadaira Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
- Parking
Parking is limited, so please follow the instructions of each district when parking.
Source: 【木島平村】大塚山 柱松子 | イベント情報 | Go NAGANO 長野県公式観光サイト
Address 911 Ogo, Kijimadaira Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
2026年8月2日（日）15:00から17:00頃まで。
The event starts at the Minamikamo Community Improvement Center and takes place on Mount Ōtsuka.
The 2026 event information period has ended.
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 Nagano Prefecture / Kijimadaira Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
For 2026, parking was limited, and visitors were instructed to follow the directions of each district when parking.
Origins and History of Minamikamo no Hashiramatsuko
Minamikamo Hashiramatsuko is said to be a ritual originating in the “contest of spiritual powers” performed by ascetic practitioners.
This folk cultural property preserves an old form of mountain ascetic practice. In Heisei 17, it was designated a Nationally Selected Cultural Property as part of the “Hashiramatsu Events of Northern Shinano,” together with Uchiyama Hashiramatsuko and others.
It was suspended for a time from Showa 35, but was revived in Heisei 5 through the enthusiasm of district residents and continues today.
Official information
Kijimadaira Village official website, “Minamikamo Hashiramatsuko”
Minamikamo no Hashiramatsuko at a Glance
Minamikamo Hashiramatsuko is a fire festival in which children take the lead in competing to light 2 hashiramatsu pillars. The result is used to divine peace throughout the land and a bountiful harvest.
The event originates in a contest of spiritual powers performed by ascetic practitioners. It was revived in Heisei 5 after being suspended from Showa 35.
In the event today, children take on roles including playing the taiko and participating in the procession.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/24
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