Okuhida-Onsengo ＞ Events
Events
The cherry trees of Okuhida-Onsengo begin to blossom around the end of April each year. This is about 1 month later than in the flatlands. The cherry blossoms of Tochio-Onsen Horadani are especially beautiful. During the period of the cherry blossom festival, the paths lined with cherry trees and the public open-air spa "Kojin-no-yu" are lit up with paper lanterns in celebration of the late-coming spring of Okuhida-Onsengo.
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On the Hida side of the Northern Japan Alps, which lie within the Chubu Sangaku National Park, there is a mountain opening festival called "Banryu-sai (Banryu festival)" .
This Banryu-sai festival is an annual event held to mark the arrival of spring in this snowy region.
The purpose is to commemorate the great work of the holy monk Banryu, who opened up Mt. Yarigatake and Mt. Kasagatake by erecting Buddhist monuments on their peaks.
It is also signifies the hope for safety in the Northern Japan Alps.
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This is a festival held in thanks of the bounty of hot springs in the Hirayu-Onsen area.
Prayer sticks with people’s wishes written on them are burned on the grounds of the Hirayu shrine and water brought from each of the hot springs is boiled in a giant pot.
The priest sprinkles the hot water over the crowd of pilgrims and prays for their good health and prosperity in business.
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June 26th of every year is designated "open-air spa day", on which certain of the abundant open-air baths within the Okuhida-Onsengo are made open to free use. This famous event is one reason why Okuhida-Onsengo is renowned as the "Kingdom of Open-air spa". By visiting the various specified open-air baths and collecting stamps at each, you can receive an original souvenir present (One day only) .
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This is a traditional summer event for the Fukuji Onsen Area.
During the event period, there are nightly performances of the Hembetori lion dance, which has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage of the town.
This dance is said to have originated with the Emperor Murakami, who once visited this place to rest from his journey and, seeing the villagers troubled by a plague of snakes, performed a dance in supplication to the gods to drive the snakes away.
The festival also includes performances of the traditional Torigei dance, passed down through generations, and the holding of the Ema Market and evening stalls.
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