Samegai Jizo Festival

About this event

The 'Samegai Jizo Festival,' held annually on August 23 and 24 across the Nakasendo Samegai-juku area in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, is a traditional festival held in conjunction with the historic Jizo-bon. The greatest highlight of this festival is the exhibition of 'tsukurimono' handmade by local residents. Said to have started during the Edo period as a substitute for pulling festival floats (hikiyama), 'tsukurimono' are unique displays reflecting the year's trends and have been passed down as a local tradition. The festival is bustling with goeika (Buddhist hymns), Bon Odori dancing, and floating lantern ceremonies, along with the once-a-year public unveiling (gokaicho) of the Samegai Jizoson statue. In addition, Baikamo light-up illuminations are held around the Jizo River during the same period, allowing visitors to enjoy magical summer nights. The festival attracts many people with its night stalls, food stands, and food trucks.

Venue

Nakasendo Samegai-juku

428 Samegai, Maibara-shi, Shiga 521-0035