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A Blazing Good Time at the Oto Matsuri Festival
Published by Vanessa Boiser, Writer
Country: Japan 
The Experience
Japan is famous for preserving old and elaborate traditions, and passing them down to younger generations to experience and enjoy. Some traditions may appear completely nonsensical like the phalluses paraded around at Kanamara Matsuri, but most can be traced back to deep and committed beliefs, like the burning torches touted at the Oto Matsuri Festival.
Every year in Shingu City in the Wakasa Prefecture, the Oto Matsuri Festival is celebrated at dusk. Signifying the close of winter, the celebration begins with a purifying meal of white coloured foods like tofu, fish, miso soup and rice. This theme continues through to the outfits of local "Noboriko", and tops off the visual ambiance of the Oto Matsuri Festival. Prior to the ceremony, Noboriko prepare by bathing themselves in saltwater on a beach in Ojigahama, before donning all-white clothes specially worn only for the rite. The Oto Matsuri Festival costume consists of white underclothing, tights and a rope tied around the waist 7 times. It also makes it easier for them to spot when they come barreling down the hill with flaming torches later that evening.
The Oto Matsuri festival is one of the two great fire festivals in Japan. After a few drinks of sweet saki for courage, the Noboriko head out to set their wishes ablaze for the year. The procession from town to the cliff top Kamikura Shrine is filled with pleasantries from families and roadside shops. Before going up to the Kamikura shrine, the Noboriko will visit three great shrines to pray. These shrines are the Hayatama shrine, Asuka shrine and the Moushinji shrine. Along their way to the shrines and as they enter the gates of the Kamikura Shrine, the starting point of Oto Matsuri Festival, they touch torches with each other as a sign of good luck and admiration for each other's bravery while saying, "Let's go together!" in Japanese.
After climbing a steep flight of 538 steps to the top of the Kamikura Shrine, the Noboriko briefly stop to pray and then run back down the same stairs in a blazing stampede. The same fire lights all the participants’ torches. When the guard opens the Kamikura gates, the Noboriko proceed to run as fast as they can to the lower gate. From afar, it looks like a whole strip of fire going down the side of the mountain, a spectacular moment to see! Also, if you want your wish to be granted but cannot participate in the Shingu Fire Festival, you may ask someone to bear a torch with your special prayer for you.
Every year in Shingu City in the Wakasa Prefecture, the Oto Matsuri Festival is celebrated at dusk. Signifying the close of winter, the celebration begins with a purifying meal of white coloured foods like tofu, fish, miso soup and rice. This theme continues through to the outfits of local "Noboriko", and tops off the visual ambiance of the Oto Matsuri Festival. Prior to the ceremony, Noboriko prepare by bathing themselves in saltwater on a beach in Ojigahama, before donning all-white clothes specially worn only for the rite. The Oto Matsuri Festival costume consists of white underclothing, tights and a rope tied around the waist 7 times. It also makes it easier for them to spot when they come barreling down the hill with flaming torches later that evening.
The Oto Matsuri festival is one of the two great fire festivals in Japan. After a few drinks of sweet saki for courage, the Noboriko head out to set their wishes ablaze for the year. The procession from town to the cliff top Kamikura Shrine is filled with pleasantries from families and roadside shops. Before going up to the Kamikura shrine, the Noboriko will visit three great shrines to pray. These shrines are the Hayatama shrine, Asuka shrine and the Moushinji shrine. Along their way to the shrines and as they enter the gates of the Kamikura Shrine, the starting point of Oto Matsuri Festival, they touch torches with each other as a sign of good luck and admiration for each other's bravery while saying, "Let's go together!" in Japanese.
After climbing a steep flight of 538 steps to the top of the Kamikura Shrine, the Noboriko briefly stop to pray and then run back down the same stairs in a blazing stampede. The same fire lights all the participants’ torches. When the guard opens the Kamikura gates, the Noboriko proceed to run as fast as they can to the lower gate. From afar, it looks like a whole strip of fire going down the side of the mountain, a spectacular moment to see! Also, if you want your wish to be granted but cannot participate in the Shingu Fire Festival, you may ask someone to bear a torch with your special prayer for you.
When to Go to Oto Matsuri
Odds n' Ends
During the Oto Matsuri Festival, hotels in Shingu City are much cheaper than usual since the festival is still well within the winter season. For this reason, it is recommended to bring warm clothing as the temperature may drop to 32 F in the evening. Japan is coldest in February.
Since the festival involves Japanese and foreigner males accustomed to drinking sweet sake before the run down hill, it may be wise to watch from a good distance to prevent from getting hit unnecessarily by drunken participants. The Oto Matsuri Festival can get rowdy and crowded.
In the morning before the Oto Matsuri Festival, you may wish to try local restaurants in Shingu City that serve excellent seafood cuisine. If you are adventurous enough to brave the cold, have a dip in one of the hot spring resorts that may also be found in Shingu.
Since the festival involves Japanese and foreigner males accustomed to drinking sweet sake before the run down hill, it may be wise to watch from a good distance to prevent from getting hit unnecessarily by drunken participants. The Oto Matsuri Festival can get rowdy and crowded.
In the morning before the Oto Matsuri Festival, you may wish to try local restaurants in Shingu City that serve excellent seafood cuisine. If you are adventurous enough to brave the cold, have a dip in one of the hot spring resorts that may also be found in Shingu.
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