Shinshu Sarashina Obasute Moon Viewing Festival 2026

About this event

Chikuma City will hold the 'Shinshu Sarashina Obasute Moon Viewing Festival 2026' for four days from Friday, September 25 to Monday, September 28, 2026. Celebrating its 43rd year, this festival leverages the history and cultural value of 'Sarashina/Obasute, the Village of Literature and Famous Moons', and is held annually around the Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon in collaboration with local residents centered in the Obasute district and related organizations. During the period, various events are prepared for both children and adults to enjoy. On Saturday, September 26, the 'Obasute Night Market' will be held at the Chikuma City Japan Heritage Center. Also, from September 15 to September 29, the 'OBASUTE Moon Walk' will feature footlights illuminating the Obasute rice terraces starting at sunset, allowing visitors to enjoy moon-viewing strolls starting from the Japan Heritage Center. From September 14 to September 20, a hiking course will be set up from Obasute Station through the rice terraces to Yashiro Station on the Shinano Railway. At Chouraku-ji Temple, illuminations will be held from September 19 to September 28, offering a mystical atmosphere. From September 25 to September 28, 'Autumn Obasute Terraced Rice Paddies Walk' will be held, visiting famous and historic sites around the Obasute terraced rice paddies and Chouraku-ji Temple with a professional guide. Furthermore, on September 28, the '2026 Obasute Literature Lecture' and the '2026 Omokagezuka Festival' will be held at Chouraku-ji Temple, inviting Mr. Katsuyuki Yaba as a lecturer to learn about 'Issa and Obasute'. On October 18, the '43rd Shinshu Sarashina Obasute Moon Viewing Festival National Haiku Convention' will take place at the Chikuma City General Tourist Information Center, including a lecture talk show. In addition, a variety of events are scheduled, such as the 'Tommy Pianica Soul Concert' at Chouraku-ji Temple on September 25, the 'Highway Walk and Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing Music Festival' at Ryudoin Temple on September 27, the 'Chuei Yoshikawa Guitar Live' at Chouraku-ji Temple on the same day, and 'Let us all watch the full moon rise from Mt. Kyodai!' at Sarashina no Sato Observation Hall. Under the terraced rice field rental program, rice harvesting will take place on September 26 and threshing on October 10.

Venue

Obasute Terraced Rice Fields

Hachiman, Chikuma, Nagano 387-0023