Hakuba Trip Overview
In the middle of the cold winter, there is one festival that will surely keep you warm at night! The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, called ‘Dosojin Matsuri’ in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan, taking place each winter in the picturesque village of one of Nagano’s most popular ski resorts. This lively tour takes you to the Fire Festival in combination with a visit to the world-famous hot spring-bathing snow monkeys of Jigokudani – a day and night that will leave you with burning memories of the tradition, culture, and snow monkeys of Nagano!
Additional Info
Duration: 13 hours
Starts: Hakuba, Japan
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Hakuba, Nagano, Japan
In the middle of the cold winter, there is one festival that will surely keep you warm at night! The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, called ‘Dosojin Matsuri’ in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan, taking place each winter in the picturesque village of one of Nagano’s most popular ski resorts. This lively tour takes you to the Fire Festival in combination with a visit to the world-famous hot spring-bathing snow monkeys of Jigokudani – a day and night that will leave you with burning memories of the tradition, culture, and snow monkeys of Nagano!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, 6845 Heion, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun 381-0401 Nagano Prefecture
Established in 1964, Nagano’s world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world known to bathe in hot springs. With no barriers between you and the monkeys (don’t worry, they are very calm) this is a unique opportunity to observe these curious creatures in close proximity as the walk about you, wrestle with each other, endlessly groom, and of course, soak in their favorite hot spring! Your guide will introduce you to everything that makes them so unique and famous while giving you plenty of time to explore for yourself.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nozawa Onsen, Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun 389-2502 Nagano Prefecture
The Fire Festival of Nozawa Onsen, called ‘Dosojin Matsuri’ in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan. The tour is scheduled to arrive in Nozawa just after 18:00. Your guide will help orientate you with the village and set the meetup time and point before setting you free to enjoy the festivities!
Singing, drumming, fireworks and more start from 19:00 before it`s time for the main event! The town converges on a wooden shrine, defended by men the ages of 25 and 42, said to be in unlucky years and therefore the charged with the shrines defence from the other villagers, who storm the structure with flaming bales of hay intent on its destruction. Fueled by tradition, bravado, and lots of booze, the battle takes place with embers falling over the crowd and very little distinguishing onlookers from participants. After the gods have been deemed happy and ready to bless the villagers with good luck, harvest, and happiness, the shrine is set on fire at 22:00.
Duration: 4 hours
