A spring ritual in Omachi that invokes hopes for a good harvest through rice-farming practices
Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- March 15
- Location
- Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Omachi 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual is a traditional event in Omachi City in which rice-farming practices are performed to divine the year’s harvest and pray for a good one.
About Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual
The Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual is a rice-farming ritual offered during the spring annual festival.
Young parishioners perform rice-farming actions and pray for a good harvest while divining how the crops will fare that year.
A distinctive feature is the imitation of the sequence of rice-farming tasks, from the first plowing and preparing the seedbed to sowing seeds and chasing away birds.
An intangible folk cultural property of Nagano Prefecture, passed down at Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine.
Source: 仁科神明宮作始め神事 - 信州の文化財 - 財団法人 八十二文化財団 / 国宝 仁科神明宮 ＜長野県大町市、日本最古の神明造＞トップ
Festival highlights
A highlight is the performance of rice-farming practices in a small area set up to represent a rice paddy.
Performances include two-person teams wielding wooden hoes, sowing seeds, and driving away moles.
Harrowing with a black ox is also part of the program.
A tradition has also been passed down of divining whether that year’s crops will be abundant or poor from the sound of a tub containing rice seeds being struck.
Source: 3/15古式作始めの神事行われました | 大町市観光協会
A spring ritual in Omachi that invokes hopes for a good harvest through rice-farming practices
What to expect
In the ritual, participants imitate rice farming—from the first plowing and preparing the seedbed to sowing seeds and chasing away birds—in a plot of land about one tsubo in size, representing a rice paddy.
Two-person teams wield hoes, and performances also include chasing moles and harrowing with a black ox.
At the end, talismans for warding off insects and moles, among other good-luck charms, are distributed to those in attendance.
The event represents the work of rice farming through performances and divination, and expresses hopes for a good harvest.
How to take part
The ritual is performed by young parishioners.
Because of the nature of this cultural property, visitors are advised to contact the relevant cultural-property protection authority before visiting to ask about viewing.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine (Shamiyamoto, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture).
- Train and bus
Take a bus for 20 minutes from Shinano-Omachi Station on the JR Oito Line, then walk for 15 minutes after getting off.
Address Shamiyamoto, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
March 15
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 / Omachi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As this is a ritual passed down as a cultural property, viewing may not be permitted.
Visitors are advised to contact the relevant cultural-property protection authority before visiting.
Around the venue, please follow guidance and instructions from the people involved so as not to disrupt the progress of the ritual.
Nearby attractions
Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine
長野県大町市にある神社
Origins and History of Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual
The Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual is performed in the manner of the Kinen-sai at Ise Jingu.
It has been passed down as a ritual that divines the year’s harvest through an imitation of rice farming and prays for a good harvest.
The ritual is designated an intangible folk cultural property of Nagano Prefecture.
Its date of origin and specific historical changes have not been established within the scope of available information.
Official information
仁科神明宮公式サイト：国宝 仁科神明宮 ＜長野県大町市、日本最古の神明造＞トップ
Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual at a Glance
The Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine Sakihajime Ritual is a rice-farming ritual offered during the spring annual festival on March 15.
Young parishioners perform actions such as the first plowing, sowing seeds, and chasing away birds; through this imitation of rice farming, they divine the year’s harvest and pray for a good one.
The venue is Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine in Shamiyamoto, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, accessible by bus and on foot from Shinano-Omachi Station.
Please check in advance whether viewing is permitted.
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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