The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival in Oshu: flames and prayers that last through the night
Somin-sai
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Event status
- Cancelled
- Season / frequency
- From the night of the 7th day of the lunar New Year until the early morning of the 8th / Used to be held annually
- Location
- Myokenzan Kuroishi-ji Temple
- Area
- Iwate Prefecture・Oshu 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A traditional event at Kuroishi-ji Temple in Mizusawa, Oshu City, known for prayers around the flames and a contest to seize the Somin bag.
About Somin-sai
The Somin-sai is a festival rooted in the faith of Somin Shorai, passed down at Myokenzan Kuroishi-ji Temple in Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture.
From the night of the lunar New Year into the early morning, various events were held to pray for bountiful harvests, good health, and protection from calamities.
Events combining religious faith and local customs, including Hadaka-mairi, the fire ritual Shiba-to-ki Nobori, and the contest to seize the Somin bag.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival is recorded as a representative example of the Somin-sai festivals of Iwate.
Source: 黒石寺蘇民祭とは／奥州市公式ホームページ / 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
Major highlights are Shiba-to-ki Nobori, climbing a burning pine log, and the contest to seize the Somin bag.
During Shiba-to-ki Nobori, participants sing the Yamauchi-bushi song while being showered with sparks, praying to ward off misfortune.
Toward the end of the festival, young men wearing only loincloths struggle to seize a bag containing talismans of Somin Shorai. The person who ends up holding the part near the bag’s neck is declared the winner.
This series of rituals, held through the winter night, creates the festival’s distinctive tension.
Source: 蘇民祭 – 妙見山 黒石寺
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival in Oshu: flames and prayers that last through the night
What to expect
The festival begins with Hadaka-mairi, in which participants purify themselves in a river and visit the temple halls. It proceeds with Shiba-to-ki Nobori, in which a fire is lit, and Betto Nobori, during which the head priest burns goma offerings.
Next comes Onigo Nobori, when 2 boys who are 7 years old by traditional counting are carried on adults’ backs to the main hall.
After the Onigo Nobori ceremony, a contest begins to pull talismans from the Somin bag, and the festival concludes when the winner is determined.
Each event used to proceed from night into the early morning, with bells signaling the transitions.
How to take part
In the past, people who were not local residents could also participate in events at the Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival if they registered at the on the day.
However, participants were required to observe 1 week of abstinence and purification and to approach the event with an understanding of its religious nature.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival has not been held since its Reiwa 6February event, and no information has been provided about general participation in 2026.
At past festivals, a method of registering to participate at the temple grounds on the day was announced.
Those taking part had to observe abstinence and ritual purification from 1 week before the festival and follow the rules of the religious ceremony.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin Festival is not being held in 2026, so there are currently no available procedures for participating.
Source: 蘇民祭 - Wikipedia
Location and access
- Venue and address
Myokenzan Kuroishi-ji Temple (Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture).
Event venue 岩手県奥州市 妙見山黒石寺
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival was traditionally held from the night of the 7th day of the lunar New Year until the early morning of the 8th.
In 2024, the date was changed to the night of the 8th day of the lunar New Year, and the festival was held on a shortened schedule from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Kuroishi-ji Temple has announced that it will no longer hold the festival from Reiwa 7 onward, and there is no announcement of a 2026 event.
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 / Oshu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
In the past, the festival took place at night and into the early morning during the bitterly cold season, and included fire-related events and intense contests to seize items.
Participants were expected to observe abstinence and ritual purification and to understand the requirements of a religious ceremony, so visitors should also take care not to disrupt the rules or proceedings at the festival site.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin Festival ended after its 2024 edition, so take care not to plan a visit on the assumption that the festival will be held.
Nearby attractions
えさし藤原の郷
岩手県奥州市江刺にある平安時代のテーマパーク
写真：Kano / Public domain(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
奥州市牛の博物館
岩手県奥州市前沢にある博物館
写真：Okayamakunio / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
胆沢城
岩手県奥州市にあった古代城柵
写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
菊田一夫記念館
岩手県奥州市にある資料館
写真：Ty19080914 / CC BY-SA 4.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
駒形神社
岩手県奥州市にある神社
写真：Saigen Jiro / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Somin-sai
The beliefs behind the Somin-sai are linked to the tale of Somin Shorai found in a fragment of the “Bingo Fudoki.”
There is no established consensus on the origins of the Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival. The “Kuroishi-ji Kakisho” (Record of Kuroishi-ji Temple), dating to An’ei 2 (1773), contains records of rituals on the night of the 7th day of the New Year and ceremonies involving fire.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival is said to have a history of more than 1,000 years, and the Somin-sai festivals of Iwate were selected by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Heisei 7.
Due to the aging population and a shortage of people to carry on the tradition, the festival events ended after the Reiwa 6February event.
Official information
Official information about the Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival is available on the Myokenzan Kuroishi-ji Temple and Oshu City official websites.
Myokenzan Kuroishi-ji Temple has announced that it will not hold the festival from Reiwa 7 onward.
The Oshu City official page provides information about the festival’s origins, events, history, and the circumstances surrounding its end.
Somin-sai at a Glance
The Somin-sai is a traditional event at Kuroishi-ji Temple, rooted in the faith of Somin Shorai, with prayers for bountiful harvests and good health.
Hadaka-mairi, the fire ritual Shiba-to-ki Nobori, Onigo Nobori, and the contest to seize the Somin bag were held from night into the early morning, carrying on local beliefs and ancient rites.
The Kuroishi-ji Somin-sai Festival ended after its 2026 event, bringing more than 1,000 years of history to a close.
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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