Hoko-in’s Hadaka Matsuri, where participants cross the wintry Kuise River to ward off misfortune
Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/02/03Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually February 3 / Every year
- Location
- Hoko-in Temple (Hidarime Fudo)
- Area
- Gifu Prefecture・Ogaki City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h–2 h 30 min · bullet train + connecting 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 fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Set at Hoko-in Temple and the Kuise River, this traditional Setsubun event sees bare-chested men purify themselves and pray for protection from misfortune and good fortune.
About Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri
The Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri is a traditional event held at Hoko-in Temple (Hidarime Fudo) in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture.
Men reaching an unlucky age cross the Kuise River wearing six-shaku fundoshi loincloths to ward off misfortune and pray for good fortune and health.
The event is distinctive in that it unfolds in the and along the river, and is associated with Hoko-in’s Fudo deity.
It is held every year on Setsubun.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the “ River Crossing,” when bare-chested men cross the Kuise River to purify themselves.
The men enter the river with the Shin-otoko, dressed in a sacred paper talisman from the Fudo deity, at the center. After the river crossing, lucky俵 bales containing wooden swords are thrown.
The Mameuchi ceremony takes place throughout the day in the temple grounds, offering a different view of Setsubun from the river crossing.
The river crossing usually begins at around 2:30 p.m.
Source: 節分会はだか祭 宝光院（ひだりめ不動） ｜イベント｜岐阜県観光公式サイト 「岐阜の旅ガイド」
Hoko-in’s Hadaka Matsuri, where participants cross the wintry Kuise River to ward off misfortune
What to expect
The event begins with the Daihannya prayer service and the Mameuchi ceremony, followed in the afternoon by the opening ceremony of the Hadaka Matsuri.
Wearing six-shaku fundoshi loincloths, the men run around the area near Hoko-in, shouting as they go. After activities in the temple grounds, they head to the Kuise River.
After crossing the river, which is about 20 meters wide, participants return to the temple grounds. Events then continue, including the Shin-otoko Transfer, in which the Shin-otoko is carried through the grounds, and activities involving lucky俵 bales.
How to take part
General participation on the day is said to be possible, and men who wish to participate register at a nearby waiting station.
Participants are given a lucky bag, a headband, and a six-shaku fundoshi loincloth.
Participants are instructed to bring their own white tabi socks and sarashi cloth for wrapping around the waist.
After participating, a meal is served at the shrine office. After lunch, participants tie on their fundoshi and wait.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hoko-in Temple (Hidarime Fudo) / 1-39-1 Noguchi, Ogaki, Gifu 503-0985
- Train and bus
A 15-minute walk from Tomoe Station on the Yoro Railway Yoro Line.
On the day of the event, a shuttle bus operated by Meihan Kintetsu Bus runs from Ogaki Station to Hoko-in Temple (Noguchi-cho).
The event takes about 20 minutes.
- Parking
There is no parking.
Address 1-39-1 Noguchi, Ogaki, Gifu 503-0985
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The event was scheduled for February 3 (Tuesday) in 2026.
It is usually held on February 3, which falls on Setsubun.
The Mameuchi ceremony is held throughout the day, and the Misogi River Crossing is scheduled to begin at around 2:30 p.m.
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 Gifu Prefecture / Ogaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include Hoko-in Temple (Hidarime Fudo), the Yoro Railway, Miwa Sake Brewery, and the Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi Memorial Museum in Ogaki City.
The Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no Chi site, Sumiyoshi Lighthouse, and Funamachi Port are nearby places where you can experience Ogaki’s history and culture.
Masu Kobo Masuya, the Minoji road, and the former Ogaki-juku Honjin site are also listed as nearby points of interest.
If you visit these places alongside the festival, check each facility’s opening status and visitor conditions.
大垣八幡神社
岐阜県大垣市にある神社
大垣城
岐阜県大垣市にあった城
大垣市守屋多々志美術館
岐阜県大垣市にある美術館
大垣市歴史民俗資料館
岐阜県大垣市の博物館
大垣市郷土館
岐阜県大垣市にある博物館
御首神社
岐阜県大垣市荒尾町にある神社
Official information
You can find information about Hoko-in Temple on the official Gifu Prefecture tourism website.
Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri at a Glance
The Setsubun-e Hadaka Matsuri is a traditional event held at Hoko-in Temple in Ogaki, where men cross the Kuise River to ward off misfortune.
Along with the Misogi River Crossing, the event includes the Mameuchi ceremony, a procession carrying the Shin-otoko, and activities involving lucky俵 bales.
The event was scheduled for February 3 (Tuesday) in 2026. You can get to the venue by shuttle bus or the Yoro Railway.
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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