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

大善寺玉垂宮の鬼夜

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.

Address (Japanese)	830-0073　福岡県久留米市大善寺町宮本1463-1　大善寺玉垂宮
Address	Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine, 1463-1 Miyamoto, Daizeinji Town, Kurume City, Fukuoka
Telephone Number	0942-27-1887（大善寺玉垂宮社務所）
Contact	Tamataregu Shrine Office
Open	1pm - 11:30pm on January 7 (Lighting of torches takes place at around 9pm)
Car Park	Available; 300 vehicles
Access	By train: A 5 minute walk from Nishitetsu “Daizenji” Station By car: 15 minutes from the Hirokawa Interchange off the Kyushu Expressway