An embankment festival carrying on prayers for flood control and the lively spirit of the community
Oguchi Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- May 5
- Location
- Fukuzawa Shrine; Oguchi Plaza; in front of the Bunmei West Embankment Monument
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Minamiashigara 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
The Oguchi Festival is a local event in Madarame, Minamiashigara City, that began with prayers for the protection of the Sakawa River embankment and has been passed down through the festivities at Fukuzawa Shrine, children’s sumo, and stalls. You can explore both its flood-control history and its deeply rooted local traditions.
About Oguchi Festival
The Oguchi Festival is a local celebration linked to the history of flood control and protecting the Sakawa River embankment.
It began in 1726 (Kyoho 11), when Tanaka Kyugu and others founded Bunmeisha, enshrining the Chinese flood-control deity Yu the Great, to commemorate completion of repairs to the Oguchi and Iwase embankments.
At the Oguchi embankment in Madarame, Minamiashigara City, the festivities at Fukuzawa Shrine, children’s sumo, and stalls at Oguchi Plaza have been held over the years.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the festivities at Fukuzawa Shrine, sumo bouts by children, and stalls lining Oguchi Plaza.
The article describes more than 100 stalls selling things such as plants and trees, bringing a lively atmosphere to the plaza.
It also says that the Kishi Federation holds a in front of the Bunmei West Embankment Monument, while memories of flood-control works spanning the Oguchi and Iwase embankments form part of the festival’s background.
An embankment festival carrying on prayers for flood control and the lively spirit of the community
What to expect
The festival includes festivities at Fukuzawa Shrine and children’s sumo.
More than 100 stalls selling things such as plants and trees line Oguchi Plaza, creating a lively local event.
A shinto ritual is also held in front of the Bunmei West Embankment Monument.
According to the article, all these events begin at 10 a.m.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Fukuzawa Shrine; Oguchi embankment in Madarame, Minamiashigara City / Oguchi Plaza / in front of the Bunmei West Embankment Monument
Address Oguchi embankment, Madarame, Minamiashigara City
Dates and season
- Season
May 5
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 / Minamiashigara City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
The article features the Bunmei East Embankment at the Oguchi embankment, the Bunmei West Embankment at the Iwase embankment, and Oguchi Plaza as places associated with the festival.
The Bunmei embankment stretches from Oguchi Plaza to the New Oguchi Bridge. On the right bank of the Sakawa River, the Sakawa River cycling route runs for about 9 kilometers from Fujimichō Bridge in Odawara City to the Oguchi Riverside Sports Ground in Minamiashigara City.
These are described as nearby places where visitors can trace the festival’s flood-control history.
Origins and History of Oguchi Festival
The Oguchi Festival traces its origins to 1726 (Kyoho 11), when repairs to the Oguchi and Iwase embankments were completed and Bunmeisha, enshrining Yu the Great, was founded.
During the festival, common people were asked to bring stones. They would bury them in the embankment and tamp them down, then pile up and store any stones left over.
This tradition continued until the 1950s.
The article records that the festival was never interrupted, even during the Meiji Restoration or the Pacific War, and continues to be passed down by the local communities of Oguchi and Iwase.
Oguchi Festival at a Glance
The Oguchi Festival is the festival of Bunmeisha, which enshrines Yu the Great and was founded in 1726 to commemorate repairs to the Sakawa River embankment.
Around the Oguchi embankment in Madarame, Minamiashigara City, the festivities at Fukuzawa Shrine, children’s sumo, and stalls at Oguchi Plaza are featured.
The festival has been passed down locally, rooted in a tradition of bringing stones to reinforce the embankment and in the community’s efforts to prepare for floods and strengthen local bonds.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/12
