Nitadori no Saitogi

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the wooden tower, over 9 shaku tall and built in a crisscross pattern, going up in flames as sparks rise into the night sky.

As drums echo, men who have purified themselves with cold water shake the blazing saitogi structure and watch to see whether the sparks fly toward the stone steps or the shrine.

Another distinctive feature is that the event combines divination by fire with the quieter reading of offerings of frozen five grains.

A winter ritual in Ninohe where sparks and five grains foretell the year’s harvest

What to expect

According to the 2026 information, the program included the Saitogi Prayer Ritual at 5:30 p.m., the offering of sacred sake at 6 p.m., and a kagura offering at 6:30 p.m., followed by prayers for the young men taking part in the Hadaka-mairi, purification with cold water, and the Hadaka-mairi saitogi.

Finally, a proclamation is made about whether the year’s harvest will be good or poor.

The direction of the sparks and the condition of the okomori are used to forecast the year’s harvest.

How to take part

Viewing is possible in years when the event is held open to the public.

In some years, a limited number of participants are recruited for the central parts of the event, including the Hadaka-mairi procession and purification with cold water.

Since some years it is held only as a religious ritual, check the recruitment details and capacity for that year in advance if you wish to participate.

For those wishing to participate in 2026, the process was to fill out an application form and apply by email or fax to the Ninohe City Tourism Association.

The application deadline is February 16, 2026, and conditions such as eligibility and capacity are adjusted each year.

Even if you only plan to watch, it’s a good idea to check whether the event will be open to the public before visiting.

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

Nitadori Hachiman Shrine (37 Hayashi-no-shita, Nitadori, Ninohe City)

Train and bus

Ninohe Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen is the nearest station.

By car

It is about 15 minutes by car from Joboji IC and about 20 minutes from Ichinohe IC on the Hachinohe Expressway.

Address 37 Hayashi-no-shita, Nitadori, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

It is usually held on day 6 of lunar month 1, in conjunction with the spring grand festival at Nitadori Hachiman Shrine.

An event was announced for February 22 (Sunday) in 2026, with prayers scheduled from 5:30 p.m., a kagura offering from 6:30 p.m., the Hadaka-mairi saitogi from 8 p.m., and the harvest divination proclamation from 9 p.m.

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Tips for your visit

The event takes place on a winter night in northern Iwate, so dress for snow and subzero temperatures.

It is a good idea to bring thick winter clothing, waterproof and insulated shoes, gloves, and other warm gear.

Even if it is warm near the fire, you will be outdoors for a long time, so watch out for snow underfoot and flying sparks, and follow local guidance while viewing the event.

Nearby attractions

Nearby places of interest include Tendaiji Temple in the Joboji area, Basenkyo Gorge along the Mabechi River, and the ruins of Kunohe Castle.

Tendaiji Temple houses a standing statue of Sho-Kannon designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and from Basenkyo Gorge you can see the Male God Rock and Female God Rock.

These are local attractions where you can explore Ninohe City’s history and natural surroundings alongside the saitogi.

Origins and History of Nitadori no Saitogi

Nitadori no Saitogi is an annual divination event held in conjunction with the spring grand festival at day 6 of lunar month 1, and local accounts say it has continued for over 400 years.

It uses 2 different methods—the direction of the sparks and the condition of offerings made from frozen five grains—to forecast the coming year’s harvest and weather.

On March 11, 2010, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.

Official information

For event information and participation applications, you can check the Ninohe City Tourism Association’s information.

The Ninohe City Tourism Association is listed as the contact, with the phone number 0195-27-2540.

Event access and participant recruitment vary by year, so check the latest information before visiting.

Nitadori no Saitogi at a Glance

Nitadori no Saitogi is a traditional annual divination ritual in Ninohe City that forecasts the year’s harvest from sparks rising from a blazing wooden tower and an okomori made from the five grains.

Taiko drums, kagura, the Hadaka-mairi procession, and purification with cold water shape the nighttime ritual. You can watch as the event carries out 2 kinds of divination: one by fire and one by grain.

Viewing and participation arrangements vary from year to year, so prepare for winter weather and check the event details before visiting.