A traditional event in which a large boat carries misfortune through Minamiogawachi
Minamiogawachi no Osanyari
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Around August 15, for 3 days before and after
- Location
- The Minamiogawachi area of Higashi-Minowa, Minowa Town
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Minowa Town(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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional event passed down in Minamiogawachi, Minowa Town, in which a wooden boat is paraded to ward off misfortune.
About Minamiogawachi no Osanyari
Minamiogawachi no Osanyari is a purification festival passed down in Minamiogawachi, Higashi-Minowa, Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture.
The event involves standing a fresh-cut Japanese oak tree as a yorishiro, an object in which a deity is believed to reside, and is designated an intangible cultural property of the town.
Held around the Obon period, this traditional event has been passed down with the wishes of sending misfortune away from the community and praying for the health and safety of district residents.
Source: 南小河内のおさんやり - 信州の文化財 - 財団法人 八十二文化財団 / 区民の健康と安全祈願 南小河内で伝統行事「おさんやり」 | 信州・市民新聞グループ
Festival highlights
The highlights are the large boat made from timber such as oak and larch, and its procession.
In recent records, men dressed in white carried a boat about 9 meters long, 4 meters high, and weighing about 400 kilograms, and performed songs such as “Yoisore-bushi” along the way.
Another distinctive custom is to stand an oak tree upright at the end, rock the boat until it breaks apart, and take the fragments home as charms against misfortune.
A traditional event in which a large boat carries misfortune through Minamiogawachi
What to expect
In preparation for the event, branches of an oak tree are trimmed and firmly tied into the shape of a boat with rope to make a shiba-bune.
On the day, the completed boat is paraded through Minamiogawachi, followed after its return by ritual carrying motions and the scene of a tree being stood upright.
At the end, the boat is broken apart, and its fragments are displayed at the entrance to homes as charms against misfortune.
Source: おさんやり 柴舟づくり｜ニュース｜伊那谷ねっと
How to take part
In recent years, the event has been carried on mainly by the Bon Festival Executive Committee, made up of district officers and others.
There are records of district residents taking part in making the shiba-bune, but no information is provided about participation opportunities or application requirements for visitors.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The Minamiogawachi area of Higashi-Minowa, Minowa Town, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture.
- Train and bus
Ina-Matsushima Station on the JR Iida Line is listed as a station for access.
It is about 10 minutes from the station by car.
- By car
It is about 10 minutes by car from Ina-Matsushima Station.
Address Minamiogawachi, Higashi-Minowa, Minowa Town, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Around August 15, for 3 days before and after
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 / Minowa Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Even if an event is described as a cultural property, observation may not be permitted. Contact the relevant department responsible for cultural property protection before visiting.
As this is held as a local festival, follow on-site guidance and instructions from organizers so as not to obstruct the procession or the handling of the boat.
The custom of taking boat fragments home is described as applying to residents of the district; visitors may not be allowed to take them.
Origins and History of Minamiogawachi no Osanyari
Minamiogawachi no Osanyari is described as a cultural property dating to the Genna through Kan’ei periods of the Edo period.
Locally, this folk event is said to have a history of more than 200 years. It is said to have begun with prayers for health and freedom from illness, against the background of an outbreak of infectious disease.
Today, it is carried on mainly by the Bon Festival Executive Committee and is designated an intangible cultural property of the town.
Minamiogawachi no Osanyari at a Glance
Minamiogawachi no Osanyari is a traditional event to ward off misfortune, passed down in Minamiogawachi, Minowa Town.
A large wooden boat is paraded and then broken apart, with the fragments treated as charms against misfortune. This sequence of practices embodies a wish to send misfortune away from the community.
Anyone wishing to observe should check in advance with the department responsible for cultural property protection.
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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