Festivals and Events｜

Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine’s “Oniyo” (Fire Festival)

Visitors Guide

Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine’s “Oniyo” is a “tsuina” (a ceremony to drive away evil spirits) fire festival. It has been a tradition of the shrine for about 1,600 years and is also one of Japan’s Three Major Fire Festivals! At 9pm on the seventh day that a “devil fire” has been guarded at the temple, it is transferred to six enormous torches measuring one meter in diameter and 15 meters (49 feet) in length. These torches are then carried around the shrine grounds by a crowd of men in loincloths and burn up in the dark. Onlookers are said to be blessed with good luck if some of the embers or ash from the torches falls on them!
*About the Festival: Government-Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset
*The festival takes place even in foul weather.
Reference・Photo provider：「Fukuoka Sightseeing Information　CROSSROAD Fukuoka」