A tug-of-war in a mountain village, entrusting prayers to a straw dragon and sending misfortune away
The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on February 8 / 1 time per year
- Location
- The toya in Oikura, Usumachi, Satoyamabe, and the Dosojin stone at the village boundary
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Matsumoto 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
- 2026/11/14
The O-Yōka event in Oikura, Usumachi, Satoyamabe, Matsumoto City, features a straw dragon and tug-of-war, with prayers for a bountiful harvest and freedom from illness and misfortune.
About The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe
The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe, is an O-Yōka event passed down in Oikura, Usumachi, Satoyamabe, Matsumoto City.
Held on February 8 to send misfortune away and pray for a bountiful harvest and freedom from illness and misfortune.
The tradition has been passed down by five households with the surname Okubo. In the afternoon, adults and children from the village gather at the toya, make a straw dragon, prepare food, and perform nenbutsu chanting and a tug-of-war.
Finally, the dragon is wrapped around the Dosojin stone as an offering, serving as protection for the village.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the “dragon,” made by twisting together straw brought by the men, and the tug-of-war, in which men and women compete in separate teams.
The dragon is carried into a tatami room and displayed in front of a hanging scroll bearing the words “Namu Amida Butsu.”
After the meal, people use the dragon as a substitute for prayer beads while chanting nenbutsu. It is said that if the women win the tug-of-war, that year’s bountiful harvest and freedom from illness and misfortune are assured.
At the end, the dragon is wrapped around the Dosojin stone.
A tug-of-war in a mountain village, entrusting prayers to a straw dragon and sending misfortune away
What to expect
Early in the morning on the 8th, each household smokes rice husks, chili peppers, hair, and other items, makes mochi, and offers it at the Dosojin stone on the village boundary.
Mochi is also offered to mountain tools and farm implements, and in the afternoon, adults and children from throughout the village gather at the toya.
The men make a dragon from straw, while the women prepare a vegetarian meal.
The dragon is displayed and food is offered. After everyone shares a meal, the event proceeds to nenbutsu chanting, tug-of-war, and the dragon’s dedication at the Dosojin stone.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Oikura, Usumachi, Satoyamabe, Matsumoto City
Address Oikura, Usumachi, Satoyamabe, Matsumoto City
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on February 8
- Frequency
1 time per year
Accommodation and hotels PR
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Nearby attractions
旧開智学校
長野県松本市にある明治時代の擬洋風建築の小学校校舎。2019年に近代学校建築として初めて国宝に指定された
松本城
長野県松本市にある城
松本市四賀化石館
長野県松本市にある博物館
写真：photo: Qurren ( talk ) Taken with Canon IXY 10S / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
松本市立考古博物館
長野県松本市中山にある博物館
松本市美術館
長野県松本市にある美術館
乗鞍岳
飛騨山脈南部の長野県松本市と岐阜県高山市にまたがる山
Origins and History of The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe
This event has been passed down for more than 300 years.
Oikura is a settlement northeast of Satoyamabe, on the border with Iriyama, where the tradition is preserved by five households with the surname Okubo.
The local history also includes a story that a samurai connected to the Takeda clan settled here in the late postwar period.
On February 8, 1996, it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Matsumoto City.
Official information
Matsumoto City’s cultural property guide introduces the O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe.
The page provides the pronunciation, location, cultural property designation, and details and origins of the event.
The guide was updated on December 20, 2021.
The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe at a Glance
The O-Yōka tug-of-war in Oikura, Satoyamabe, is a traditional event held on February 8 to send misfortune away and pray for a bountiful harvest and freedom from illness and misfortune.
The event proceeds from early-morning offerings to making a straw dragon, preparing a vegetarian meal, chanting nenbutsu, and a tug-of-war between men and women. Finally, the dragon is dedicated at the Dosojin stone.
It has been passed down by five households with the surname Okubo for more than 300 years and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Matsumoto City.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/14
