A horseback procession through Suwagata and the pulling of a large Onbashira
Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- October. It is held once every 7 years, in autumn of the same Year of the Tiger or Year of the Monkey as the Suwa festival. / Once every 7 years
- Location
- Suwa Shrine (Suwa ) and the Nishiharuchika Suwagata district
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Ina 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession at Suwa Shrine are carried on in Suwagata, Nishiharuchika, Ina City. Local people take part in the nagamochi, horseback procession, , and sato-biki of the Onbashira.
About Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession
The Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession are local festivities carried on at Suwa Shrine in Suwagata, Nishiharuchika, Ina City.
Large trees felled in the mountains are brought as Onbashira and erected at the shrine’s four corners. The offerings include a horseback procession, nagamochi, and lion dance.
The Onbashira are considered yorishiro, vessels for the gods, and the sacred body of Suwa Myojin; they are also said to represent the rebuilding of the shrine buildings.
The festival and the horseback procession during the sato-biki are designated Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Ina City.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the colorful horseback procession and the sato-biki, in which local people work together to pull the Onbashira.
The horseback procession includes roles ranging from the path-clearer to the last participant, the Kutsukago, and features acrobatics along the way.
The Onbashira is a large tree 12–13 meters long and about 20 centimeters in diameter, and is offered at Suwa Shrine along with the nagamochi and horseback procession.
Lion dance is also performed, making this a festival that brings together several traditional events.
Source: 伊那市西春近諏訪形の御柱 | い～な 上伊那
A horseback procession through Suwagata and the pulling of a large Onbashira
What to expect
The event is described as progressing from the nagamochi to the horseback procession and then the pulling of the Onbashira.
In the horseback procession, the leader rides a horse, while participants in roles such as the path-clearer form a line and proceed, performing acrobatics along the way.
The nagamochi and horseback procession are offered at Suwa Shrine at the end, and in the afternoon the Onbashira is pulled along the same route.
Residents of Suwagata District, young and old, work together to pull the Onbashira.
How to take part
The residents of Suwagata District are responsible for pulling the Onbashira.
In the event as described, residents of all ages from the district turn out to pull the Onbashira, and many roles in the horseback procession are performed by local adults.
There have been cases in which a local elementary school student served as the leader of the horseback procession.
Whether general visitors can join the procession or take on a role should be checked in the event information at the time.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Suwa Shrine (Suwa Jinja).
The event is held in the Suwagata district of Nishiharuchika, Ina City.
- Train and bus
The Suwagata district is west of Akagi Station on the Iida Line.
Address Suwagata, Nishiharuchika, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
October.
It is held once every 7 years, in autumn of the same Year of the Tiger or Year of the Monkey as the Suwa festival.
- Frequency
Once every 7 years
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 Nagano Prefecture / Ina City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The pulling of the Onbashira and the horseback procession take place on the roads around Suwa Shrine and in the Suwagata district.
Please be mindful of local residents and their movements as you watch, and avoid obstructing the procession or the pulling route.
The Onbashira is a large tree 12–13 meters long and about 20 centimeters in diameter, pulled by residents of the district.
Check the latest information before your visit for the dates, viewing locations, traffic restrictions, and other details.
Origins and History of Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession
Suwagata’s Suwa Shrine is said to have been founded during the Oei era (1394–1427).
It is said that the Onbashira Festival may have begun around that time, but there are no reliable records.
In Suwagata, the Onbashira Festival is said to be held in autumn of the same Year of the Tiger or Year of the Monkey as the Suwa Grand Shrine festival.
The Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession are intangible folk cultural properties passed down in the community.
Official information
The Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession are presented as Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Ina City.
The festival’s archival video was produced as a cultural record to pass on the festivals and events of Kamiina to future generations.
You can watch footage of the Onbashira Festival’s sato-biki, tate-onbashira, and horseback procession.
Specific information about the event year and where to apply must be checked separately.
Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession at a Glance
The Suwagata Onbashira Festival and Horseback Procession are local events held once every 7 years and carried on at Suwa Shrine in Suwagata, Nishiharuchika, Ina City.
The program includes nagamochi, a horseback procession, lion dance, and the sato-biki of the Onbashira, culminating in offerings at Suwa Shrine.
The festival is distinguished by the strength of the entire district turning out to pull a large tree and by the pageantry of the procession, featuring a leader on horseback and acrobatics.
Although there are no reliable records of its origins, it has been passed down as an intangible folk cultural property with a long history.
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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