Oto Matsuri ①
Oto Matsuri at Kamikura Shrine in Shingu: racing down 538 steps with torches
Oto Matsuri will be held at Kamikura Shrine in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, on February 6, 2027. Around 2,000 participants, known as noboriko, wear white clothing and thick straw ropes and race down 538 steep stone steps carrying torches. Designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, the festival restricts access to the shrine grounds on the day. If you are planning to watch, check how and where viewing is permitted before making plans.
- Venue
- Kamikura Shrine
- Admission & participation
- Admission is listed as free. However, on the day of the festival, access to the shrine grounds is restricted to authorized people and others with permission.
HIGHLIGHTS
Event highlights
Participants in white clothing descend steep stone steps with torches at the festival at Kamikura Shrine
Oto Matsuri is an annual festival held at Kamikura Shrine on the evening of February 6. Those taking part in the prayers are known as noboriko and wear white clothing secured with thick straw ropes. The festival is also listed as an annual event at Kamikura Shrine in the Kumano Hayatama Taisha annual events guide.
At the heart of the festival is the sight of the noboriko carrying blazing torches and racing down all 538 steep stone steps. The white clothing and straw ropes worn by around 2,000 participants, their torches and the steep stairway together create the distinctive scene of Oto Matsuri.
Oto Matsuri is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Alongside its place as a religious ceremony and a cultural property, a key sight is the participants carrying torches as they descend the stone steps.
In 2027, the festival will take place on Saturday, February 6. The event details list the hours as 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., while the Kumano Hayatama Taisha annual events guide gives the time as “from dusk.” Both refer to the festival schedule. If you are considering watching in person, check the latest information, including how viewing is arranged.
EVENT INFORMATION
Dates & participation
Official title御燈祭り
| Dates | 2027-02-06 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Kamikura Shrine |
| Admission and participation | Free |
| Address | |
| Event hours | 19:00~21:00 |
Fees & admission details
Admission
- Admission information
- Free
- Although admission is listed as free, on the day of the festival only noboriko, shrine staff and people with permission may enter the shrine grounds.
Hours, admission rules, and ticket availability are subject to change. Please check the official website before heading out.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE & TICKETS
Official website & tickets
Official website detailskumanohayatama.jpOfficial website detailskumanohayatama.jpOfficial website detailskumanohayatama.jpACCESS
How to get there
Step-by-step guide
What to check before setting out
- 01
Ask about viewing arrangements
Ordinary visits to the shrine grounds are prohibited from noon. No viewing locations or arrangements for the general public are listed, so check in advance.
- 02
Choose how to get there
The shrine is listed as about a 20-minute walk from Shingu Station on the JR Kisei Main Line, or about a two-hour drive from Kamitonda IC.
- 03
If driving, check parking and traffic restrictions
The tourist car park closes at 3:00 p.m. Parking is prohibited on nearby roads, and vehicle traffic restrictions apply from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Detailed access info
About a 20-minute walk from Shingu Station on the JR Kisei Main Line. By car, the drive from Kamitonda IC is listed as about two hours.
Check access restrictions, viewing arrangements and traffic controls
On the day of the festival, ordinary visits to Kamikura Shrine are also prohibited from noon, and access is limited to noboriko, shrine staff and people authorized by the shrine. The information provided does not specify viewing locations or arrangements for the general public. Do not assume that you can watch from within the shrine grounds; first check where viewing is permitted and what guidance will be in place that day.
The listed contact is the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine Office, at 0735-22-2533. If you are considering attending, ask in advance whether there are places to watch from outside the shrine grounds as well, then plan your travel accordingly.
By public transport, Kamikura Shrine is about a 20-minute walk from Shingu Station on the JR Kisei Main Line. By car, the drive from Kamitonda IC on the Kisei Expressway is listed as about two hours. The walking time is from the station and does not indicate how long it takes to reach a viewing location.
If travelling by car, the tourist car park closes at 3:00 p.m. The information also lists a temporary riverside car park near Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Parking is prohibited on roads around Kamikura Shrine, and vehicle traffic restrictions apply from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Check parking arrangements and restrictions, and plan your journey according to how you intend to watch the festival.
Kamikura Shrine
Google Maps search result for the venue name. Please also check official sources for the address, specific hall/room, and entrance location.