Attractions and events in Okumikawa
Our tours make it possible to visit some of Okumikawa's most amazing places and unique festivals.
We can help you discover the magic of small festivals and see why "this place, this time, these people" is so important. Many of our local festivals and events have deep histories, and some are even designated National Significant Intangible Folk Culture Assets.
Events and festivals
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Mt. Horaiji Dengaku - a historic and very local prayer ceremony
Request for a tourDengaku ceremonies around Japan pray to Gods for harvest, luck, and many other things. Each dengaku is special and has its own atmosphere depending on the locals and the history.
The Mt. Horaiji Dengaku is a Designated Cultural Asset, with origins from 800+ years ago, and many dances and ceremonies performed by locals. Will you be lucky and catch the arrow fired at the mountain?
Event date: 3rd Jan each year
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Yuyaonsen Hanamatsuri - a perfect introduction to this unique mountain ceremony
Learn moreHanamatsuri has history going back over 700 years, and only happens in the area deep in the mountains of Okumikawa, Hanamatsuri is a National Significant Intangible Folk Culture Asset rich in cultural and spiritualhistory.
The Yuyaonsen Hanamatsuri is performed by locals from nearby Toei, taking only 2 hours instead of 3 days. It's a perfect way to experience Hanamatsuri for the first time and get to know deep mountain spirituality.
Event dates: Each Saturday in February (cancelled when raining)
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Mt. Horaiji Fire Ceremony - walk over hot (warm) coals at this Yamabushi (mountain monk) ceremony
Request for a tourSee the head monk of Mt. Horaiji and Yamabushi pray to a fierce looking Buddhist god of protection by walking over fiery coals. The festival involves lighting a massive fire and burning charms while making prayers.
After the Yamabushi have finished, the coals are cooled for all of the guests to try walking over the coals, being blessed as they cross over. It's far less scary than you may think!
Event date: Each year third Sunday in November
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Hakusan Matsuri - an ancient ceremony on top of a mountain
Request for a tourDating back to the early days of organised groups of mountain monks roaming Japan, this ceremony is like travelling back centuries. Join us to hike up the mountain to enjoy the ceremony with locals in the sharp cold of Winter. At this festival you can truly experience how deep mountain spirituality mixed with Buddhism and Shinto.
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Damine Dengaku - a historic, local, fun and sometimes crazy prayer ceremony
Request for a tourWith a deep history of improvised dances ending in kicking burning logs, symbolic axes, and songs with too many words in one line, the Damine Dengaku is a very special and fun ceremony to see at the beautiful Damine plateau.
Split into two parts, day and night, this ceremony is for the locals to pray to the Gods, performed at the local Kannon temple.
Event dates: 10th Feb each year
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Damine kabuki - a popular kabuki performance by locals to thank the Gods for saving their village
Request for a tourLegend says the gods caused a mid-Summer snow storm to stop a government official from punishing the village, and ever since that time Damine has performed kabuki as thank you for the protection.
The performers are now from a wider area, but locals still flock to the temple to see the stage light up once a year, with a special performance by children later in the day.
Event date: 11th Feb each year
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Mt. Horaiji New Years temple visit and climb - an atmospheric and solemn way to ring in the new year
Request for a tourEach New Year's Eve, the forest of Mt. Horaiji is filled with 108 timed chimes of the Bell Tower's bell. Locals and visitors alike climb the tower and ring the bell to welcome the new year. Join us on a midnight hike up the steps to the temple, where we ring in the new year. We volunteer to help organise the bell rings, so there is enough time to relax in the atmosphere, ring the bell a few times, and maybe even hear Shingon Buddhism chanting!
Event date: 31st Dec/1st Jan
Attractions
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Mt. Horaiji Summit Circuit
See our tour hereAbove the stone steps and main temple hall of Mt Horaiji, a loop track covers the rocky and rugged parts of the mountain near the summit, and the forest that clings to the ridges.
The circuit takes about 2.5-3 hours and includes a number of scenic lookouts as it crosses the unique geology of volcanic rock and ash.
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Mt. Horaiji Stone Steps
Request for a tourA highlight of our area and a key part of many of our tours, these beautiful and historic hand-carved stone steps are over 800 years old.
The steps climb the mountain through mossy and green forest, with the temple's main gate nestled within the trees along the way.
We have set tours for these steps, and often include them in custom tours.
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Chiiwa Valley
Request for a tourThe Chiiwa valley has some amazing sights within a short hike including the famous cat-shaped cave, the "heaven gate" natural bridge, and the main pool with crystal-like water. The volcanic ash rock of the area gives it a special atmosphere that contrasts the wild and natural forest.
Getting here can be difficult for visitors, so our tours make it easy.
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Atera Nanataki waterfalls
Request for a tourAs part of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, these falls have been protected as an official Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument for nearly 100 years.
The falls have a total height of 62m, with most of this visible from the bottom and a viewing platform close to the highest drop.
A man described as "the Merlin of Japan" (Abe no Seimei) used these falls for meditation over 1,000 years ago.
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Abandoned Okusa Train Station
Request for a tourLong ago a train line ran through the valleys around Mt. Horaiji, deep into the mountains nearby. Some of the tunnels and train stations from this old train line are still accessible and the atmosphere is incredible! This particular station is picturesque and was featured in the first shot of the first major advertisement for the Ghibli park in Nagoya.
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Mochizuki Kaido
Request for a tourThis charming (and very narrow) road is one of the historical ways of getting around the area, from the time before cars. The road runs along the train line through forest and tiny tunnels, with impressive views of the river. It's great the see on a cycling tour to the Chiiwa Valley.
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Damine Castle
Request for a tourThis reconstructed wooden castle is perched on the side of a plateau on the side of a river valley, with amazing views of the rugged remnants of a volcano from 15 million years ago. The castle features a small museum and a feudal period lookout tower.
The story of this castle is a tragedy of revenge that will make the hairs on your neck stand up.
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Nagashino Castle remains and museum
Request for a tourThis castle was the target of a huge siege by 15,000 samurai. One of the most heroic and impressive feats of the Warring States Period came from the defenders trying to save their castle, and in the museum on the site you can see the story and artefacts from the time.
If you're interested in Japanese samurai history, let us take you through the incredible story of our city's hero, Torii Suneemon.
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Shitaragahara Battlefield and museum
Request for a tourAfter Nagashino Castle was besieged, the call for help from Torii Suneemon brought the three most important samurai in Japan's history to this battlefield where they decimated a powerful and feared army in the first 'modern' battle in Japan's history, with the use of new tactics.
On the site of the battlefield you can see recreations of the cavalry-blocking fences, and feel the scale of the battle.
