Warding off plague in Kami-Nagatoro with straw sandals and Arakawa River water
Yanase no Oshōjin
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- A Sunday in late July each year / Every year
- Location
- Kami-Nagatoro district (Suwa Shrine and the Arakawa River surroundings)
- Area
- Saitama Prefecture・Nagatoro Town(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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
- Required number of participants
- Sengori is performed by 10 people.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Yanase no Oshōjin, passed down in the Kami-Nagatoro district of Nagatoro Town, is an event comprising Fusegi, which protects the settlement from plague, and Sengori, which purifies with water from the Arakawa River. The local community’s wishes are expressed through the bamboo bearing straw sandals and the water-splashing performed by 10 people.
About Yanase no Oshōjin
Yanase no Oshōjin is an event to ward off plague, held in the Kami-Nagatoro district of Nagatoro, Nagatoro Town.
It consists of “Fusegi,” which prevents plague spirits from entering the settlement, and “Sengori,” a purification ritual using water from the Arakawa River.
It is also connected with the worship of Ōyama Afuri Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture, and has been passed down as a local folk event.
Source: 梁瀬のお精進 | 長瀞町役場
Festival highlights
A highlight is Fusegi, where bamboo poles bearing large straw sandals are set up at the boundaries of the settlement.
The sandals have holes in them, expressing the wish to keep plague spirits out of the settlement.
Another central feature, Sengori, involves 10 people lining up in the Arakawa River and repeatedly splashing water.
Warding off plague in Kami-Nagatoro with straw sandals and Arakawa River water
What to expect
The event begins with Fusegi, where small straw sandals or large straw sandals are placed at the settlement boundaries.
After that, the event moves on to Sengori, which involves the Arakawa River. 10 people line up and perform 10 consecutive rounds of splashing water, repeated 10 times.
Water is splashed a total of 1000 times as an act of purification using water from the Arakawa River.
How to take part
必要人数：センゴリは10人で行います。
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kami-Nagatoro district, Nagatoro, Nagatoro Town.
The event area includes the settlement boundaries of the Kami-Nagatoro district, Suwa Shrine, and the Arakawa River surroundings.
- Train and bus
Kami-Nagatoro Station is listed as the reception point for the viewing course.
- By car
Directions to Nagatoro Town include taking National Route 140 from the Hanazono Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
- Parking
Nearby paid parking is listed.
Source: 長瀞の夏祭り 簗瀬のお精進と特大わらじコース | 長瀞町観光協会公式サイト / 町へのアクセス | 長瀞町役場
Address Kami-Nagatoro district, Nagatoro, Nagatoro Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
A Sunday in late July each year
- 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 Saitama Prefecture / Nagatoro Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As this event uses water from the Arakawa River, take care around the riverbank when viewing, and do not obstruct the event or the movements of local people.
Past viewing courses recommended comfortable clothing and shoes, a hat, rain gear, and something to drink.
Nearby attractions
Nagatoro, a place of scenic beauty in Nagatoro Town, is a cultural property in the same town as the festival.
It is designated and open to the public as a place of scenic beauty spanning Nagatoro Town and Minano Town.
The event’s viewing course also offers a visit to the Iwadatami rock formations after the event, making it possible to enjoy the surrounding scenery in connection with the festival.
Source: 文化財一覧 | 長瀞町役場
埼玉県立自然の博物館
埼玉県長瀞町にある自然史博物館
長瀞町郷土資料館
埼玉県長瀞町にある博物館
Origins and History of Yanase no Oshōjin
The origins and founding year of Yanase no Oshōjin have not been confirmed.
The event was designated in Showa 57July 19 and is currently listed among Nagatoro Town’s folk cultural properties.
It is said to be connected with the worship of Ōyama Afuri Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture, and has been passed down in the Kami-Nagatoro district as a local event to ward off plague.
Official information
The Nagatoro Town Office’s “Yanase no Oshōjin” page provides information about the event, its location, when it is held, and its designation date.
The Nagatoro Town Board of Education’s phone number is also listed as a contact.
Yanase no Oshōjin at a Glance
Yanase no Oshōjin is a folk event to ward off plague that continues in the Kami-Nagatoro district of Nagatoro Town.
The main features are Fusegi, where bamboo poles bearing straw sandals are set up at the settlement boundaries, and Sengori, where 10 people splash water in the Arakawa River.
毎年7月下旬の日曜日に行われます。
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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