A Dosojin and stage festival in Misato, carried on by children
The Dosojin Festival of Misato
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- and New Year. Depending on the district: August 14, August 14 and the 15th; January 1; the 2nd day of January and Monday; and other dates. / Held during Obon and New Year
- Location
- Nire-Sumiyoshi district, Kaminagao district, and Kitakokura district
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Azumino City(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
- 2026/10/21
The Dosojin Festival of Misato is held during Obon and New Year, mainly by children’s groups. In Nire-Sumiyoshi, Kaminagao, and Kitakokura, different local events have been passed down, including pulling out stages, playing festival music, singing bird-scaring songs, and raising decorated sacred pillars.
About The Dosojin Festival of Misato
The Dosojin Festival of Misato is held during Obon and New Year in the Nire-Sumiyoshi, Kaminagao, and Kitakokura districts of Misato, Azumino City, mainly by children’s groups.
As a Dosojin festival, it has been passed down in different forms in each district, including stage dedications, festival music, bird-scaring songs, and decorated sacred pillars.
In Nire-Sumiyoshi, a stage decorated with wooden puppets and other ornaments is dedicated at Sumiyoshi Shrine, while in Kaminagao, the procession visits several Dosojin sites.
Source: 三郷の道祖神祭り - 信州の伝承文化 - 信州の文化財 - 八十二文化財団 / 三郷の道祖神祭り | 信州デジタルコモンズ
Festival highlights
In Nire-Sumiyoshi, a stage decorated with , lanterns, and wooden puppets is pulled out from in front of the Dosojin stone monument and dedicated at Sumiyoshi Shrine.
In Kaminagao, stages are pulled out from the Dosojin sites in Higashimura, Nishimura, and Kitamura, then visit all 3 in turn and gather in front of the Dosojin site in Kitamura.
In Kitakokura, children walk around the district early on New Year's Day, calling for the raising of the sacred pillar. Adults then raise the decorated pillar to the accompaniment of kiyari work songs.
A Dosojin and stage festival in Misato, carried on by children
What to expect
Events differ by district.
In Nire-Sumiyoshi, children carry on the making of wooden puppets and the festival music, then pull a decorated stage from the Dosojin stone monument to Sumiyoshi Shrine and dedicate it there.
In Kaminagao, stages visit 3 Dosojin sites, and in January, the procession goes around singing bird-scaring songs at the top of its voice.
In Kitakokura, children call for the raising of the pillar early on New Year’s Day, and adults raise the sacred pillar to the accompaniment of kiyari work songs.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Misato-On and Ogura, Azumino City / Nire-Sumiyoshi district, Kaminagao district, and Kitakokura district
Event venue 長野県安曇野市 楡
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Obon and New Year.
Depending on the district: August 14, August 14 and the 15th; January 1; the 2nd day of January and Monday; and other dates.
- Frequency
Held during Obon and New 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 Nagano Prefecture / Azumino City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
穂高神社
長野県安曇野市にある神社
貞享義民記念館
長野県安曇野市にある貞享騒動の記念館
Origins and History of The Dosojin Festival of Misato
The Dosojin Festival of Misato is said to have been held since the Edo period.
The events still passed down in Nire-Sumiyoshi, Kaminagao, and Kitakokura feature rituals that differ by district while building on long-standing customs.
A historical feature of the festival is that children’s groups take the lead in carrying on traditions such as making wooden puppets, playing festival music, singing bird-scaring songs, and raising pillars.
The festival is introduced as a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Official information
Shinshu Cultural Properties, “The Dosojin Festival of Misato” / Shinshu Digital Commons, “The Dosojin Festival of Misato”
The Dosojin Festival of Misato at a Glance
The Dosojin Festival of Misato is a prefecturally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property, passed down mainly by children’s groups in Misato, Azumino City.
In Nire-Sumiyoshi, a stage decorated with wooden puppets, tōrō, and other ornaments is dedicated at Sumiyoshi Shrine. In Kaminagao, stages visit Dosojin sites as bird-scaring songs are sung.
In Kitakokura, you can see district-specific Dosojin customs, such as raising a decorated sacred pillar early on New Year’s Day.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/21
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