An old-style Chikuma festival featuring offerings of rice cakes made from newly harvested grain and a procession of to-nin
The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year
- Location
- Takemizuwake Shrine
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Chikuma 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
At Takemizuwake Shrine in Chikuma City, to-nin chosen from among the offer rice cakes made from newly harvested grain and other sacred offerings before the deity. This is an old-style local festival, featuring the Oneri procession with a treasure ship and a samurai parade.
About The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine
The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine is a ritual centered on to-nin, who are chosen from among the shrine parishioners. They offer rice cakes made from newly harvested grain and other sacred offerings before the deity to express gratitude for the harvest.
It has been passed down by parishioners from the former seven villages, including the Yawata, Sarashina, and Goka districts of Chikuma City.
Also known as the Oto Festival or Oneri, it is said to be a ritual that brings people and the gods together through food.
This local tradition has been held every year for more than 400 years.
Source: 武水別神社の頭人行事 - 信州の伝承文化 - 信州の文化財 - 八十二文化財団 / 武水別神社の頭人行事（大頭祭）｜日本遺産ポータルサイト
Festival highlights
A highlight is the Kenbihin Hoshin-sai, commonly known as Oneri, in which the five officers, led by the to-nin, travel from Sainomori Shrine to Takemizuwake Shrine.
The procession includes elaborate parade floats, such as a treasure ship and a samurai parade. It is also said that mandarins and everyday goods are thrown from the treasure ship to people along the route.
The to-nin have a ranking that runs from the fifth-ranked to-nin up to the third-ranked Oto, and each presents sacred offerings in turn.
A distinctive feature is that only the Oto holds the night procession.
An old-style Chikuma festival featuring offerings of rice cakes made from newly harvested grain and a procession of to-nin
What to expect
Each year, 5 to-nin are selected to prepare offerings and sacred items according to their respective roles.
During the Kenbihin Hoshin-sai, a procession travels from Sainomori Shrine to Takemizuwake Shrine; the night after the offerings are presented, the offerings are piled up.
In preparation for the festival, the to-nin observe food restrictions and live separately around a fire used only for them. On the day of the festival, they present sacred offerings before the deity.
Preparations carried out throughout the year, including spring rice planting, the Yaeshimenawa Festival, and mochi-making, are also part of the event.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Location and access
- Venue and address
Takemizuwake Shrine (3012 Yawata, Chikuma City, Nagano Prefecture).
- Train and bus
24 minutes on foot from Obasute Station, or 35 minutes on foot from Yashiro Station on the JR Shinonoi Line.
2 minutes on foot from the Yawata bus stop.
Source: ⛩武水別神社｜長野県千曲市 - 八百万の神
Address 3012 Yawata, Chikuma City, Nagano Prefecture
Dates and season
- Frequency
Every year
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 / Chikuma City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
長野県立歴史館
長野県千曲市にある博物館
Origins and History of The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine
This is an old-style toya ceremony handed down at Takemizuwake Shrine.
The to-nin offer rice cakes made from newly harvested grain for 10 years in total: 1 year as the head to-nin, followed by 9 years as an assistant to-nin.
The families who served as Oto were called the Oto-suji and are said to have gained high status in the local community.
It was originally held in Shimotsuki, but is now observed in December.
Official information
The National Database of Designated Cultural Properties introduces the To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine as an “intangible folk cultural property requiring measures such as the creation of a record.”
The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine at a Glance
The To-nin Festival of Takemizuwake Shrine is a traditional event in which to-nin chosen from among the shrine parishioners of Chikuma City offer rice cakes made from newly harvested grain and other sacred offerings before the deity.
Traditions passed down include the Oneri procession, featuring a treasure ship and a samurai parade, offerings made by each to-nin, and preparations carried out throughout the year.
This local religious observance has continued for more than 400 years, and the long-term roles of the families who serve as to-nin are another distinctive feature.
The announced end date for the 2026 event varies by source.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/10/19
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