那須塩原　夏のイベント情報

~What is the Nishinasuno Friendship Festival?~ The "Nishinasuno Friendship Festival," along with the "Opening Anniversary Festival" and the "Industrial Culture Festival," is one of the three major festivals of Nishinasuno and is beloved by the townspeople. Do you know how our town's proud summer festival, the Nishinasuno Friendship Festival, came into being? The first Nishinasuno Friendship Festival was held in 1983. It was about 100 years after the opening of the Nasu Canal. Nishinasuno Town is a town of pioneers. In the Meiji era, Nasunogahara, which was called barren land, was gradually developed by many pioneers. Thanks to them, Nishinasuno Town became a town through which the Nasu Canal flows, providing great benefits to agriculture and the development of the region. Let's pass on the great achievements of our pioneers who brought water to the uninhabited wilderness and transformed it into a fertile village to the next 100 years. With that in mind, the Nishinasuno Friendship Festival was born at the suggestion of the then-mayor, Saburo Takano. Nishinasuno, a town founded on pioneering, had many newcomers, and at that time (around 1983), the connections between townspeople were still weak. The "Friendship Festival" that was born in this context embodied the desire to "create a fun festival by working together as a townspeople!" Even now, after merging to become Nasushiobara City, the Friendship Festival is still cherished and passed down from parent to child. In Nishinasuno, a town where people live fulfilling lives and blessed with beautiful nature, the Friendship Festival will be held again this year. Let's all work together to liven up the area in front of Nishinasuno Station so that the "Nishinasuno Friendship Festival," a source of pride for Nishinasuno, can be passed down to the next 100 years! ○Date and Time: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 15:00-21:00 ○Location: In front of the west exit of JR Nishinasuno Station (pedestrian zone)

At the annual grand festival held on July 28th, the traditional ritual of "Saito Oogomaku," which has been passed down for generations, is solemnly performed in a specially constructed training hall in the mountains. Amidst chanting by mountain ascetics and Buddhist monks, worshippers entrust their wishes to piles of goma wood and offer them to the blazing flames, praying for good health, safety for their families, protection from evil, and the well-being of their loved ones. Following the goma ritual, a "fire-walking practice" is held, in which participants walk across the purified firebed, and anyone can take part. This is a valuable experience that is enjoyed by many people every year, as it purifies the mind and body through the power of fire and allows them to take a new step forward.

We will be holding the Shiobara Onsen Inn Fireworks again this year, coinciding with "Inn Day" on August 10th. This year, our fifth year, we aim to create a night that will bring smiles to the faces of all visitors to the hot spring town and make them feel, "I'm glad I came to Shiobara," and "I want to come again," with the objectives of improving guest satisfaction, preserving this summer tradition, creating a lively atmosphere in the hot spring town, and promoting community participation. Furthermore, through this project, we hope to foster pride and affection for the town by bringing together local residents and businesses to liven up the hot spring town, leading to the creation of a sustainable hot spring town that can be passed on to future generations. ○ Venue Furumachi and Monzen districts, centered around Shiobara Onsen Exchange Plaza ○ Events Fireworks, pedestrian zone, traditional music and stage events, prayer lights

The Nasu Shiobara City Bon Odori Festival, a summer tradition, will be held again this year. Two years ago, we introduced a "Bon Odori Festival with Children as the Main Participants," a first in the history of this festival. This year, we will hold the "Children's Bon Odori Festival (Children's Group Division)" on the first day of the festival. In addition, there will be food stalls at the venue. Let's all dance, eat, and enjoy the summer! ○ August 8th (Sat) Children's Group Division August 9th (Sun) General Group Division ○ Venue Kuroiso Elementary School Schedule

Every two years, the Nasuno Hometown Fireworks Festival, a traditional fireworks display held on the banks of the Nakagawa River, has been taking place for 40 years. We aim to create a fireworks festival where locals and visitors from afar can look up at the same night sky and feel proud of their town. On the day of the event, starbursts and creative fireworks will light up the Nakagawa night sky for approximately two hours. Numerous food stalls and food trucks will also be present, allowing families, friends, and loved ones to enjoy themselves as they please. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival. We have prepared a special program befitting this milestone night and look forward to seeing you there.

What is the Ancient Hot Spring Festival...? Shiobara Onsen is a historic hot spring resort boasting a 1200-year history since its opening. In its long history, a major earthquake struck Shiobara in 1659 during the Edo period, causing a landslide that buried Motoyu, the birthplace of Shiobara Onsen, and the hot springs stopped flowing. The local lord and the people of Shiobara prayed at the hot spring shrine for its restoration, and their prayers were answered, as the hot springs began to flow again. From this time on, people began to share the water from Motoyu with the hot spring shrines in each district to express their gratitude for the hot springs and to pray for the long-lasting prosperity of Shiobara, and this is said to be the beginning of the Hot Spring Festival. On the day of the festival, the "sacred hot spring water" drawn from the original hot spring source will be offered to Shiobara Hachimangu Shrine, the guardian shrine of Shiobara. From there, a procession of distributed hot spring water will parade through the area to offer to the hot spring shrines and sources in each district, and the ancient and elegant "distribution ceremony" will be held at Yuppo no Sato. ○ Sacred Hot Spring Water Drawing Ceremony [Original Hot Spring] 11:00 AM ○ Sacred Hot Spring Water Offering [Shiobara Hachimangu Shrine] 12:00 PM ○ Distribution Procession [Shiobara Branch Office to Yuppo no Sato] 1:20 PM ○ Distribution Ceremony [Yuppo no Sato] 2:20 PM *The content may change due to weather or other circumstances.