A winter festival of prayer passed down in Ohara, where runners dash through as cold water is poured over them
Ohara Water-Splashing Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year in February / Held annually
- Location
- Ohara shopping district and other locations
- Area
- Iwate Prefecture・Ichinoseki City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 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
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation
- Age restrictions
- Locals: mainly men at yakudoshi age. Non-locals: men of any age.
- Last updated
- 2026/11/13
The Ohara Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional event in which bare-chested men run through as people lining the route pour cold water over them, praying to prevent fires, enjoy good health throughout the year, and keep their families safe. The festival dates back to the Edo period and is also called the “strange festival of the land” because it is held in the bitter cold of February.
About Ohara Water-Splashing Festival
The Ohara Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional event passed down in Ohara, Daito-cho, Ichinoseki City.
Bare-chested men run through as people lining the route pour purifying water over them, praying to prevent fires, enjoy good health throughout the year, and keep their families safe.
The festival dates back to the Edo period and is held in the bitter cold of February, which is why it is called the “strange festival of the land.”
It was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Iwate Prefecture in 2017.
Festival highlights
According to the 2026 information, the morning program included a costumed dance, a purification ceremony for the offering of a large , an offering procession, and prayers to ward off misfortune and prevent fires at Hachiman Shrine.
In the afternoon, processions continue with flag performances, ladder climbing, floats, , and more.
Taiko performances are held on a special stage, and shishi-odori deer dancing is performed at each venue. During the water-splashing, the bare-chested men run through 5 sections.
A winter festival of prayer passed down in Ohara, where runners dash through as cold water is poured over them
What to expect
At the event, men observing their unlucky year receive prayers at Hachiman Shrine before heading into town.
At the signal of the flag-cutting, the bare-chested men and their helpers run along the main street as people lining the route pour purifying water over them.
The full course is divided into 5 sections spanning more than 500 meters, and they regroup at each section before continuing.
After the run, they purify themselves in a nearby river and, on the way back, receive a final sprinkling of water in front of the Nengakai office to conclude the event.
How to take part
Locally, the water-splashing participants are mainly men reaching their yakudoshi (an age traditionally considered unlucky).
It is said that men from outside the area can also take part, regardless of age, if they have the stamina and willingness to participate.
Groups from workplaces and other participants from outside the area also join, making this a participatory event that helps support the festival.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ōhara Shopping Street and other locations / Ōhara, Daitōchō, Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture
- Train and bus
From Surisawa Station on the JR Ōfunato Line, take a municipal bus to the Bus Center; the ride takes about 15 minutes.
- By car
45 minutes by car from Ichinoseki IC on the Tōhoku Expressway / 40 minutes by car from Ichinoseki Station on the Tōhoku Shinkansen
- Parking
Free parking is available some distance from the venue / Parking is also available for a 500-yen cooperation fee.
Address Ohara, Daito-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year in February
- Frequency
Held annually
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 Iwate Prefecture / Ichinoseki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions listed in the official tourism guide include the Ashi Tozan Memorial Museum, Komorijuku of Takano Choei, Nameiwa Gorge, the main hall of Sokei Kumano Shrine, Kankufuji Temple, the Ichinoseki City Folk Museum, and the main hall of Surisawa Hachiman Shrine.
Ohara Civic Center and Michi-no-Eki Daito are also listed among the facilities on the area map.
Distances and walking times between the festival venue and the various facilities are not provided, so travel times are not listed.
太陽と風の家
岩手県一関市の石と賢治のミュージアム内にある博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
石と賢治のミュージアム
岩手県一関市にある博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
花と泉の公園
岩手県一関市にある植物園
写真：花と泉の公園 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Ohara Water-Splashing Festival
It is said that the festival began after the Great Meireki Fire of 1657, with the day designated as an unlucky day, and served both as a prayer to prevent fires and as a way to spread fire-prevention awareness.
Later, prayers to ward off misfortune for people in their unlucky years were added, and today the focus is on warding off misfortune and praying for safety in various aspects of life.
The information says that in recent years, more participants have been praying for a year of good health and the fulfillment of great wishes.
It was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Iwate Prefecture in 2017.
Official information
The organizers are Ichinoseki City and the Daito Ohara Water-Splashing Festival Preservation Society.
For inquiries, contact the Preservation Society office at Ohara Civic Center at 0191-72-2282.
The official Ichinoseki tourism website provides basic information about the festival and application details.
Ohara Water-Splashing Festival at a Glance
The Ohara Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional event in which bare-chested men run through the town of Ohara as people pour purifying water over them, praying to prevent fires, ward off misfortune, and enjoy good health throughout the year.
The event proceeds from the offering of a large shimenawa and prayers at Hachiman Shrine to a procession of taiko floats and mikoshi, followed by water splashing across 5 sections.
The festival dates back to the Edo period and was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Iwate Prefecture in 2017.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/13
