The huge-torch ritual of the Shoreisai Festival

At the Shoreisai Festival, which marks the end of the winter peak of Haguro Shugendo, young people from the Tōge district pull huge torches and read the coming year’s harvest and fishing prospects from the flames and the contest’s outcome. This is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property event passed down at Mount Haguro over the New Year.

About The huge-torch ritual of the Shoreisai Festival

The huge-torch ritual of the Shoreisai Festival is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property held at Dewa Sanzan Shrine in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture.

Passed down as the completion ritual for the “winter peak” of Haguro Shugendo, it is now mainly carried out by young people from the Tōge district.

Through the ritual of pulling the huge torches and the rite of kindling the New Year’s fire, the event connects local faith with everyday life.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the scene in which young people divided into upper and lower teams pull huge torches, raise them upright, and burn them.

The teams compete to see who can pull out and raise their huge torch the fastest, and whose torch burns best. The results are used to divine the coming year’s harvest and fishing prospects.

Rituals centered on fire and competition continue, including contests of ritual prowess featuring crow hops and rabbit leaps, the division of the land, and the relighting of the fire.

A New Year’s Eve fire festival on Mount Haguro, where wishes are entrusted to huge torches

What to expect

The event begins with the preparation of the huge torches on December 30, when young people from the Tōge district make 2 of them.

On the 31st, activities include scattering ropes, adjusting the torches, handling the ropes, a contest of ritual prowess, and pulling the huge torches.

After the New Year begins, the division of the land and the relighting of the fire follow. Once the results have been reported, the Matsuhijiri scatters the five grains on the earthen floor of the auxiliary hall, bringing the series of events to a close.

How to take part

At the heart of the festival are and young people from the Tōge district, along with the 2 Matsuhijiri who train during the winter peak.

Key roles, including preparing and pulling the great torches, are carried out by young people from the Tōge district.

Source: 羽黒山祭礼・行事・イベント | 出羽三山年中行事 | 羽黒町観光協会

Location and access

Venue and address

The summit of Mount Haguro, where Dewa Sanzan Shrine is located.

Train and bus

From Tsuruoka City, take a Shonai Kotsu bus bound for “Haguro-sancho” (Mount Haguro Summit). The ride takes about 50 minutes; get off at the last stop.

To climb from Zuishinmon Gate, get off at “Zuishinmon” and walk about 90 minutes to the summit.

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Event venue 山形県鶴岡市出羽三山神社

This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.

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Dates and season

Typically, the main events include preparing the great torches on December 30 and pulling them on December 31, followed after the New Year by the division of the lands and the transfer of fire.

The main events take place from December 31 through January 1.

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Yamagata Prefecture / Tsuruoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

The Great Torch Pull takes place after 11 p.m., followed by rituals such as the transfer of fire to kindle the New Year’s flame, making this an event that spans late night and the transition into the New Year.

The venue includes the at the summit of Mount Haguro and the support huts. Visitors should be mindful of the progress of the and areas where access is restricted.

山形県にある火山

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Photo and data sources

写真：Jun K / CC BY-SA 2.0(resized and reformatted)

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Origins and History of The huge-torch ritual of the Shoreisai Festival

The huge-torch ritual of the Shoreisai Festival was once held as the completion ritual for the winter peak of Haguro Shugendo.

The event is said to have been held as early as the medieval period. Related records also appear in the early modern-era “Haguro Sanzan Kojitsu Shūran-ki” and “Annual Events of Mount Haguro,” said to have been compiled in Jōkyō 4.

After Shugendo was abolished in the early Meiji period, the event was passed down in a form led by young people from the Tōge district.

Official information

Haguro Town Tourism Association, “Mount Haguro: Festivals, Rituals, and Events”

羽黒山祭礼・行事・イベント | 出羽三山年中行事 | 羽黒町観光協会