A Bon event in Yoshihara Kamaya, welcoming ancestors with coastal torches and calls
Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Around sunset every year on August 13 / Every year
- Location
- Coast of Yoshihara Kamaya Town
- Area
- Ishikawa Prefecture・Nomi City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Age restrictions
- Centered on children
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Torches glowing by the sea and children’s calls bring to life a moment of welcoming ancestors for , a tradition passed down in Yoshihara Kamaya Town.
About Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai
Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai is an annual event for welcoming ancestors during Obon that has been passed down in Yoshihara Kamaya Town, Nomi City, for generations.
Around sunset, children transfer fire from the main fire to their torches and walk along the coast, calling out “Oshorai” and “Bonmukai.”
The event was once held in coastal areas elsewhere in the Kaga region, but today it is carried on in Yoshihara Kamaya Town.
An intangible folk cultural property rooted in the community, with significance in honoring ancestors.
Source: 吉原釜屋盆迎えおしょうらい - 能美市
Festival highlights
A highlight is seeing children gathered on the coast walking with torches in hand.
The flame is passed down from the main fire, as people make their way along the shore at dusk calling out “Oshorai” and “Bonmukai.”
In Yoshihara Kamaya Town, the event has been passed down in a form where fire set to a pile of driftwood is transferred to the torches.
This event brings together the coastal scenery and local beliefs about welcoming ancestors during Obon.
Source: 吉原釜屋町(よしはらがまやまち) - 能美市
A Bon event in Yoshihara Kamaya, welcoming ancestors with coastal torches and calls
What to expect
The event begins with fire being transferred to torches from a main fire made by piling up driftwood.
Afterward, children walk along the coast carrying torches and calling out “Oshorai” and “Bonmukai.”
They are said to walk along the shore as far south as the border with Ōhama Town.
Children from the town and their guardians gather on the coast to welcome their ancestors for Obon as a community.
How to take part
Children are at the heart of the event, with children from the town and their guardians gathering on the coast.
The children transfer fire from the main fire to their torches and walk along the coast, calling out as they go.
As this is a local tradition for welcoming ancestors during Obon, please check in advance how participation is handled and whether general visitors may carry torches.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The coast of Yoshihara Kamaya Town, Nomi City.
The event takes place along the shore from the coast of Yoshihara Kamaya Town south to the border with Ōhama Town.
- By car
The Nomi-Near Smart IC on the Hokuriku Expressway is a gateway to Yoshihara Kamaya Town.
Address Coast of Yoshihara Kamaya Town, Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Around sunset every year on August 13
- 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 Ishikawa Prefecture / Nomi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The event takes place on the coast around sunset and involves handling torch flames.
When watching, follow local guidance so you do not obstruct the children walking along the shore or the passage of the torches.
As the event takes place on the coast, take care with your footing and be mindful of your surroundings.
Check the specific viewing locations and event-day precautions before the event.
Nearby attractions
いしかわ動物園
石川県の動物園
松井秀喜ベースボールミュージアム
石川県能美市の野球博物館
Origins and History of Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai
Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai is an annual event that has been passed down in the local community for generations as a way of welcoming ancestors for Obon.
It is said to have once been held in other coastal areas of the Kaga region as well, but today Yoshihara Kamaya Town is the only place where it is carried on.
People in Yoshihara Kamaya Town continue to connect with one another through this traditional event.
Today, it is preserved alongside the region’s history as a cultural property designated by Nomi City.
Official information
Nomi City introduces Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai.
You can learn about the event, its origins, its significance in honoring ancestors, and its status as an intangible folk cultural property.
Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai at a Glance
Yoshihara Kamaya Bonmukae Oshorai is an event for welcoming ancestors during Obon that has been passed down along the coast of Yoshihara Kamaya Town, Nomi City.
Around sunset, children transfer fire from the main fire to their torches and walk along the shore as far south as the border with Ōhama Town, calling out as they go.
This intangible folk cultural property honors ancestors and preserves a custom that once extended across coastal areas of the Kaga region.
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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