Futamado Shinmeisai Festival

Confirmed for Sunday, February 1, 2026!

This fire festival, a tradition preserved and passed down by the whole community for 400 years, is held on a grand scale as a coming-of-age event for adults in the Futamado area.
As dusk falls, a fire is lit on the decorated “Shinmei-san,” a structure about 20 m tall made from bamboo and wood.
The sight is simply spectacular.

Shinmei-san is said to have originated when Kobayakawa Takakage built a tower and enshrined Shinmei to pray for victory as he was ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to dispatch troops to Korea.
In particular, Shinmei-san in the Futamado district has been held every year on the second Sunday as a grand fire festival for about 400 years.
The roughly 20 m-tall Daimyojin, built from bamboo and pine, is vividly decorated by local residents with countless colorful paper ornaments and more.
At dusk, it is set alight, and as people gaze at the roaring flames, they put their hands together and pray for good health throughout the year, protection from fire, and safety at home.

○ Event-day schedule (tentative)
14:00 – Festival begins
15:30 – Children’s taiko parade
16:00 – Mochi throwing
17:30 – (tentative) Shinmei lighting