Suwa Taisha Onbashira Festival

The Onbashira Festival of Suwa Taisha is a grand festival held at regular intervals, in which parishioners haul pillars from the mountains and erect them at the four corners of the shrine buildings.

About Suwa Taisha Onbashira Festival

The Onbashira Festival of Suwa Taisha, officially called the “Shikinen Zōei Onbashira Taisai,” is the shrine’s largest ritual.

Held in the Years of the Tiger and the Monkey, the festival involves hauling giant fir trees down from the mountains and erecting them at the Upper and Lower Shrines of Suwa Taisha.

It is passed down as a proud local tradition, with parishioners from the Suwa region serving the festival.

Source: 御柱祭とは | 御柱祭 ONBASHIRA in SUWA / 御柱祭 - 諏訪市公式ホームページ

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the powerful spectacle of enormous Onbashira being hauled solely by people, without using vehicles or rollers.

During Yamadashi, events include Kiotoshi, in which the logs are pulled down a steep slope, and river crossings. During Satobiki, horse-mounted processions, nagamochi floats, kasa dancing, and more enliven the route.

The festival culminates in Tate-Onbashira, when the pillars are erected at the four corners of the shrine buildings.

Source: 式年造営御柱大祭 - 信濃國一之宮諏訪大社

A ritual held once every 7 years, in which giant trees are hauled by people and erected at Suwa’s shrines

What to expect

The festival proceeds by selecting the giant trees to become Onbashira, felling them, and hauling them from the mountains down to the settlements.

After Yamadashi comes Satobiki, followed by Kanmuri-otoshi, in which the tips of the Onbashira are shaped, and Tate-Onbashira, when they are erected at the four corners of the shrine buildings.

The construction of the Hōhōden and the Hōhōden Senzasai, a ritual in which the sacred object is transferred to the new Hōhōden, are also important rites that form part of the Onbashira Festival.

How to take part

Festival duties are carried out mainly by from the Suwa region.

Please check the information for each festival cycle to see whether general visitors can take part in hauling the Onbashira or in Tate Onbashira.

Location and access

Venue and address

The Upper Shrine events are held mainly in Hara Village and the cities of Chino and Suwa, while the Lower Shrine events are held mainly in Shimosuwa Town.

The four shrines of Suwa Taisha—Honmiya, Maemiya, Harumiya, and Akimiya—are involved.

Source: 諏訪大社の御柱祭 - 信州の伝承文化 - 信州の文化財 - 八十二文化財団

Event venue 長野県諏訪市・茅野市・下諏訪町上社は原村

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

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Dates and season

The Onbashira Festival is held in the Year of the Tiger and the Year of the Monkey. Its main events are Yamadashi in April and Satobiki in May.

The dates for the Upper Shrine and Lower Shrine events in 2028 have been announced for the next festival.

Source: 次回御柱祭について | 御柱祭 ONBASHIRA in SUWA

Origins and History of Suwa Taisha Onbashira Festival

Although its origins and history are unclear, the Onbashira Festival is said to have continued since the early Heian period, and records of it also appear in documents from the Muromachi period.

It is said that by 804, a system had been established for the entire province of Shinano to contribute its efforts to the festival.

In the past, the rebuilding covered a wide range of structures, including shrine buildings and gates. Today, it centers on rebuilding the Hōhōden and hauling and erecting the Onbashira.

Source: 諏訪大社の御柱祭 | 下諏訪町

Official information

Official information is available on the official Onbashira Festival website and the Suwa Taisha website.

The Suwa City official website also provides an overview of the Onbashira Festival and its schedule.

Visit the official website