Ceremonial sumo at Senju Kannon-do: praying for health without declaring a winner
Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- August 16 / Every year
- Location
- Senju Kannon-do
- Area
- Saitama Prefecture・Chichibu 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
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- An offering of at least 1,000 yen to participate
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This sumo event is held at Senju Kannon-do in Ueno, Arakawa, Chichibu City, as an offering and prayer for good health. The distinctive format of 2 rounds with no winner is carried on.
About Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo
Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo is a ceremonial sumo event held at Senju Kannon-do in Ueno, Arakawa, Chichibu City.
Every year on August 16, sumo is offered as a prayer for good health on the festival day of Senju Kannon at the Funakawa district.
Each bout is held over 2 rounds, in a distinctive format that continues without declaring a winner.
Source: 千手観音信願相撲 | 秩父お祭りカレンダーPROJECT
Festival highlights
The highlight is the ceremonial sumo match with “no winner,” unlike a regular contest.
Each bout is held over 2 rounds: the wrestler who wins the first round loses the next, so the match ends without a winner.
This event offers a close-up view of the gyoji raising the gunbai and a sumo format that expresses the community’s wishes.
Ceremonial sumo at Senju Kannon-do: praying for health without declaring a winner
What to expect
At the event, sumo bouts are offered in conjunction with the festival day of Senju Kannon.
A bout does not produce a winner in the first round; instead, it continues for 2 rounds.
Participants offer sumo while praying for good health, and visitors can join a bout if they meet the requirements.
How to take part
General visitors can also take part in Shingan Sumo by making a monetary offering.
An offering of “at least 1,000 yen” is suggested for participation; participants offer sumo as a prayer for safety.
Those who wish to take part have an opportunity to join the event, rather than just watch.
Those wishing to take part can join Shingan Sumo by making a monetary offering at the venue.
An offering of at least 1,000 yen is suggested for participation.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Senju Kannon-do (1103 Ueno, Arakawa, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, Funakawa)
- Train and bus
Get off at Bushu-Nakagawa Station on the Chichibu Railway; it is a 10-minute walk.
Address 1103 Ueno, Arakawa, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
August 16
- Frequency
Every year
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 Saitama Prefecture / Chichibu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Those wishing to take part are advised to make a monetary offering of at least 1,000 yen.
The venue is Senju Kannon-do, which is within walking distance of the nearest station.
Please check locally how to join a bout and how to register on the day.
Nearby attractions
Nearby, you can buy locally grown vegetables at Roadside Station Arakawa.
Soba is also featured at Soba-dokoro Arakawa.
In addition, Mitsumine Shrine is suggested as a place to visit farther afield, combined with an overnight stay.
三峯神社
埼玉県秩父市にある神社
秩父まつり会館
埼玉県秩父市にある秩父夜祭を主題とする展示施設
Chichibu Shrine
埼玉県秩父市にある神社
Origins and History of Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo
The origins of Shingan Sumo are unclear, but it is thought to have begun by around the Bunsei era, before the fourth stablemaster Hanagago received the tsuji menjo.
Another theory is that it began during the Kansei era.
The current license was received from Hisamitsu Hanagago in Showa 32.
Official information
Chichibu City Hall’s Arakawa General Branch, Community Development Division, is listed as the contact for inquiries about the event.
The phone number is 0494-54-2114.
A related Chichibu City website is also listed.
Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo at a Glance
Senju Kannon Shingan Sumo is a sumo event offered on the festival day of Senju Kannon-do as a prayer for good health.
A defining feature is that each bout consists of 2 rounds with no winner declared.
Visitors are also invited to participate by making a monetary offering, offering a chance to experience the local prayers and distinctive sumo customs.
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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