On a Higan night, a straw hut’s fire and children’s songs offer solace to ancestors
Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- The equinox day of the March Higan
- Location
- Around Miyanodaira, Towada-Oyu
- Area
- Akita Prefecture・Kazuno City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 40 min–4 h 10 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
- 2026/11/11
This event is held on the central day of the spring Higan in Miyanodaira, Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City. A straw hut built in a rice paddy is lit, and children sing traditional verses.
About Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana
Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana is an event held in Miyanodaira, Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, during the spring Higan to welcome and send off the spirits of ancestors and offer them solace.
On the central day of Higan, people gather in a local rice paddy from the evening and build a straw hut using straw, hemp stalks, and other hut-building materials.
At night, the hut is lit, and children sing traditional verses.
This is an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kazuno City, with the Miyanodaira Residents’ Association involved in its preservation.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the moment the straw hut built in the rice paddy catches fire, flames rising into the night sky.
The children gather around the hut and sing loudly: “Ojino-banaa, on a night of lights, carrying dumplings on our backs, look—look!”
The songs sung around the fire reflect the event’s role in offering solace to the spirits of ancestors.
Another distinctive feature is the use of readily available materials such as straw and hemp stalks.
On a Higan night, a straw hut’s fire and children’s songs offer solace to ancestors
What to expect
The event begins with people gathering in a rice paddy on the central day of the spring Higan.
Once the straw hut is built, the participating children gather around it and loudly sing traditional verses after it is lit.
Past records describe children practicing songs of supplication before the fire was lit, while those gathered watched the flames and listened to the songs.
This is a series of rites for honoring ancestors through fire.
Location and access
- Venue and address
秋田県鹿角市十和田大湯字宮野平／電車・バス：JR 十和田南駅から車で約15分／車：東北自動車道 十和田インターチェンジから車で約15分
Address Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
The equinox day of the March Higan
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 Akita Prefecture / Kazuno City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
大湯環状列石
秋田県鹿角市にある縄文時代の配石遺跡
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市先人顕彰館
秋田県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
鹿角市歴史民俗資料館
秋田県鹿角市にある博物館
写真：掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana
Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kazuno City.
The city designation date is Showa 61 January 16. It is located in Miyanodaira, Towada-Oyu, and is managed by the Miyanodaira Residents’ Association.
The event is said to welcome and send off the spirits of ancestors during the spring Higan, offering them solace by lighting a straw hut and singing traditional verses.
Official information
The Kazuno City official website’s “Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana” guide provides information on the event’s purpose, timing, area, and access.
Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana at a Glance
Miyanodaira no Ojina Obana is an event held on the central day of the spring Higan in Miyanodaira, Towada-Oyu, Kazuno City, to offer solace to the spirits of ancestors.
In the evening, a straw hut is built in a rice paddy. When it is lit at night, children gather around it and sing traditional verses.
Through fire and song, you can experience the local folk culture preserved by the Miyanodaira Residents’ Association.
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
