A morning rite of sending off spirits, passed down in Sannohe, where children tow straw boats
Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year August 16 / Every year
- Location
- Sannohe Beach
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Miura City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi is an spirit-sending rite held every August 16 in Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City. Adults make Oshorobune boats from wheat straw and bamboo, and children tow them out to sea. The event is also designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
About Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi
Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi is an Obon spirit-sending rite passed down in Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City.
The later Obon season runs from August 13 through the 16th. The spirits of ancestors welcomed during this period are sent off together from Sannohe Beach early on the 16th.
The event has been passed down as a local tradition in Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City, centered on a group of children known as Seitokko, and is now carried on under the leadership of adults in a preservation association.
It is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the Oshorobune, made by each of the 3 local districts.
Each boat is about 5–7 meters long, with wheat straw tied to a bamboo frame and decorations of flowers, origami, and five-colored segakibata flags.
Around 8 a.m., the 3 boats are launched. Children hold onto the planks and swim in a line to tow them, while accompanying boats travel alongside.
From building the boats on the beach to setting off and towing them offshore, the event reflects the division of roles within the community.
A morning rite of sending off spirits, passed down in Sannohe, where children tow straw boats
What to expect
The event begins late at night or around dawn, when Seitokko gather Obon offerings from temples and cemeteries and carry them to Sannohe Beach.
Around 6 a.m., adults build boats from wheat straw and bamboo, then decorate them with Oshorosama and offerings brought from local homes.
Around 8 a.m., the boats are launched, and after the children tow them offshore, accompanying boats bring them back to the beach.
Today, the Oshorobune are hauled ashore and burned.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sannohe Beach, Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City
- Train and bus
Keikyu Misakiguchi Station, about a 25-minute walk
Address Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City
Dates and season
- Season
Every year August 16
- Frequency
Every 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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Miura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The event begins early in the morning. The boats are built around 6 a.m. and set out to sea around 8 a.m.
The event may be postponed or canceled due to weather.
The event takes place on the beach, and the children’s towing involves movement in the water, so follow local guidance and safety instructions.
Nearby attractions
海南神社
神奈川県三浦市にある神社
Origins and History of Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi
In Sannohe, a tradition has been passed down of entrusting a boat with the spirits of ancestors welcomed during the later Obon season and sending them off.
The event has been sustained by Seitokko, an age group made up of boys from the first year of elementary school through the third year of junior high school, with each district taking on specific roles and local households taking turns serving as yado, where they look after the children.
It is said that until the 30s of the Showa era, a beach hut was built on the shore where Seitokko stayed overnight during Obon.
In Heisei 23March 9, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Official information
Contact: Miura City Hall, Culture and Sports Division (Cultural Affairs)
Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi at a Glance
Sannohe no Oshoro Nagashi is an Obon spirit-sending rite held every August 16 in Sannohe, Hatsuse-machi, Miura City.
Adults and children make 3 Oshorobune from wheat straw and bamboo, load them with offerings and Oshorosama, and the children swim as they tow the boats offshore.
The event is sustained by the Seitokko age group and a local preservation association, and was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Heisei 23.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
