Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri

春日若宮おん祭

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Religious & SpiritualNara
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe nighttime procession on December 17 is
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: JPY
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri in Nara

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is a December festival at Nara's Kasuga Taisha shrine complex, held continuously since 1136 to pray for peace, harvests, and harmony. Its main event, the Sento Gyoretsu, is a torchlit procession of participants in Heian and Kamakura-period costume, accompanied by rare surviving forms of bugaku, kagura, and folk performing arts along the route.

In 1136, during a time of famine and disease, the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi ordered a ritual at Nara's Wakamiya shrine within the Kasuga Taisha complex, praying for the safety of Yamato province, a good harvest, and social harmony.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The nighttime procession on December 17 is the festival's signature moment, with priests, mounted officials, and costumed retainers walking Nara's Sanjo-dori by torchlight before reaching the shrine's temporary sanctuary

02

The mystery stays covered

Watching the sequence of dances performed there, some tracing back over a thousand years to continental court traditions, offers a rare chance to see forms that have all but disappeared elsewhere in Japan

03

The city starts moving

The event is unhurried and ceremonial rather than a spectacle built for applause, so visitors who linger through the full sequence of otabisho performances see far more than those who watch only the procession

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Sento Gyoretsu costumed procession along Sanjo-dori

Water and renewal

Living ritual

otabisho performances of bugaku

The sacred route

Living ritual

and dengaku at a temporary shrine altar

The local code

Living ritual

hereditary performers maintain forms designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Heavy winter coat, gloves, and warm footwear, since the procession and dances run late into a cold December night largely outdoors with standing room only.

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

JPY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.69 N, 135.80 EOpen in Google Maps

Nara, Nara, Japan

Nearest airportITM — Osaka Itami
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Nara via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Nara, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearHeavy winter coat, gloves, and warm footwear, since the procession and dances run late into a cold December night largely outdoors with standing room only.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Japan and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri?

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is listed for December · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri take place?

The festival is listed in Nara, Japan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Nara, Nara, Japan

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLjapan.travel
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
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