A Nozawa Onsen Night Festival Led by Lantern Light and Dance
Yuzawa Shrine Lantern Procession
The 2026 edition of Yuzawa Shrine Lantern Procession has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/08 〜 2026/09/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on September 8 and the 9th / Every year
- Location
- The hot spring town of Nozawa Onsen and the area around Yuzawa Shrine (the procession sets off from in front of the Nozawagumi Soudai Office)
- Area
- Nagano Prefecture・Nozawa Onsen Village(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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This traditional event sees lantern light brighten the hot spring town, while dances, , and fireworks fill the night in Nozawa Onsen.
About Yuzawa Shrine Lantern Procession
The Nozawa Onsen Lantern Festival and Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival are traditional local events held every year on September 8 and the 9th.
Illuminated lanterns brighten the hot spring town, and on the night of September 8, the procession heads to Yuzawa Shrine.
The Sarutahiko dance, lion dance, and Sanju-roku Kasen dance are offered, followed by the Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival on the 9th.
Local people, including Nozawagumi, the Sanyako group, and the Yuzawa Shrine Preservation Association, carry on the festival tradition.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the procession making its way through the hot spring town alongside a variety of illuminated lanterns.
Along the way, the Sarutahiko dance and lion dance are performed, while the Sanju-roku Kasen dance takes place in the grounds of Yuzawa Shrine.
The scene in which the at the shrine gate is cut during the Sarutahiko dance, opening the path for the gods to pass, is also a traditional highlight.
The fireworks lighting up the night sky and the festival atmosphere that lasts until late at night are also part of what makes this night festival special.
A Nozawa Onsen Night Festival Led by Lantern Light and Dance
What to expect
On the night of September 8, the procession sets off from in front of the Nozawagumi Soudai Office and heads to Yuzawa Shrine with illuminated lanterns.
Along the way, you can watch the Sarutahiko dance and lion dance, and enjoy the Sanju-roku Kasen dance in the .
During the Sarutahiko dance, the shimenawa at the shrine gate is cut, opening the path for the gods to pass.
Events such as fireworks continue afterward, followed by the Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival on the 9th.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The procession sets off from in front of the Nozawagumi Soudai Office and heads to Yuzawa Shrine.
Events take place in the hot spring town and around Yuzawa Shrine.
Event venue 長野県野沢温泉村 野沢温泉の温泉街
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, the festival was held from September 8 through the 9th, with the night festival on September 8 and the Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival on September 9.
The 2026 event period has ended.
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 / Nozawa Onsen Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the night festival, the procession moves through the hot spring town and dances take place in the shrine grounds; the festivities continue until late at night.
When watching, please follow local guidance and avoid obstructing the lantern procession or performances.
The events differ between September 8 and the 9th, so it’s a good idea to check which day the event you want to see is held before visiting.
Origins and History of Yuzawa Shrine Lantern Procession
The festival is believed to have been held as early as the middle to late Edo period.
Today, local people—including Nozawagumi, the Sanyako group, and the Yuzawa Shrine Bugaku Preservation Association—continue the tradition.
The lantern-lit procession, performances, and Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival continue as a series of events, sharing the history and culture of Nozawa Onsen.
There is limited information available about the festival’s precise origins and how it changed over time.
Official information
See the Nozawa Onsen Tourism Guide’s “Nozawa Onsen Lantern Festival and Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival” page for event details and dates.
Yuzawa Shrine Lantern Procession at a Glance
The Nozawa Onsen Lantern Festival and Yuzawa Shrine Annual Festival are traditional events combining a procession guided by lantern light with the Sarutahiko dance, lion dance, and Sanju-roku Kasen dance.
On the night of September 8, the procession travels from the hot spring town to Yuzawa Shrine, while fireworks brighten the night sky.
The Yuzawa Shrine annual festival takes place the following day, the 9th, offering a chance to experience festival traditions passed down through the community.
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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