Hiwatari-sai (Fire-Walking Festival)

About this event

Hiwatari-sai is a rare traditional fire-walking ritual held in Sakuragawa City. Participants walk barefoot over the smoldering embers of firewood piled up and ignited within the shrine grounds to pray for sound health and protection from illness. According to local lore, taking home an ember from the festival and hanging it under the eaves of one's house prevents colds and sickness, and visitors and participants can be seen vying to collect the embers. The festival is held annually on the winter solstice (December 21 in leap years).

Venue

Kabasansanji Shrine (Kabasan Shrine) Motomiya / Oyamigu

809 Nagaoka, Makabe-cho, Sakuragawa, Ibaraki 300-4403