On Sunday, October 4th, the largest fire festival in Mie Prefecture, the "Sōhei Matsuri" (Monk Warrior Festival), will be held in Mie Prefecture Onsen, Mie Prefecture. The stage will feature performances by the Monk Warriors, a singing show, and a comedy show. The main attraction is the "flaming portable shrine" parade through the Yunoyama Onsen hot spring town, where the burning shrine is a spectacular sight.
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Yunoyama Onsen was discovered in Yoro AD and has a 1,300-year history, having been repeatedly abandoned and rebuilt due to disasters and wars. During the Sengoku period, shrines and temples were targeted for burning, but the "Monk Warrior Festival" is held every October to commemorate the brave warrior monks who stood up against them, and the history is passed down through the festival. Among the long history of Yunoyama Onsen are legends such as the story of a wounded deer that healed its wounds in the hot spring, hence the name "Deer's Hot Spring," and the "Paper Crane Legend," in which a man and woman troubled by their feelings were helped by warrior monks of Mitake-ji Temple, offered paper cranes, and regained their hearts.
The venue for the Monk Warrior Festival is the "Gozaisho Ropeway Bus Only Parking Lot".
When attending the Monk Warrior Festival, traffic congestion occurs every year, so please use the free shuttle bus.
[Free Shuttle Bus Information] 17:00-19:00 (Outbound) 19:45-22:00 (Return) Temporary Sanko Yunoyama Onsen Station ⇔ Kintetsu Yunoyama Onsen Station ⇔ Aqua Ignis
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Table of Contents
- 1. Towards the festival
- 2. Uocho Memorial Festival
- 3. Events on the main stage of the Monk Warrior Festival
- 4. The main highlight: "The Flaming Portable Shrine"
- 5. The finale is a fireworks display.
1. Towards the festival
Preparations for the Monk Warrior Festival begin in August, with hotel and inn staff in Yunoyama Onsen starting the process. The "torch-making" process, which involves creating the materials for the flaming portable shrine, is passed down to the next generation, just like the festival itself.
2. Uocho Memorial Festival
Ahead of the Monk Warrior Festival, a "Fish and Bird Memorial Service" knife ceremony will be held at Mitake-ji Temple in Yunoyama Onsen. Twenty people, including the chairman of the Yunoyama Onsen Association and other innkeepers and chefs, will gather to perform a memorial service for carp. This is considered an important ceremony to express gratitude to fish and to recognize the interconnectedness of life.
3. Events on the main stage of the Monk Warrior Festival
As dusk falls, the event begins, and numerous stalls create a festive atmosphere. The main stage features idol shows, comedy performances, Yosakoi dance, and Higashi Taiko drumming, and the festival's energy rises with the powerful performance of the main event, "Sōhei Taiko" (monk soldier drums).
4. The main highlight: "The Flaming Portable Shrine"
The highlight of the Monk Warrior Festival, the "Flame Mikoshi," departs from Sangoku-ji Temple. The blazing flames of the mikoshi paint the pitch-black night sky, and the shouts of "Seiya!" pierce through the darkness. In Yunoyama Onsen, enveloped in flames and shouts, the heroic figures of the monk warriors who once protected this land are revived.
As the "flaming portable shrine" makes its final ascent up the hill to the main venue, the crowd greets it with loud cheers. Upon arriving at the venue, the shouts of the bearers and the spectators become one, and the festival's excitement reaches its peak.
5. The finale is a fireworks display.
The grand finale sees a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky, brilliantly illuminating Yunoyama Onsen, as if to reward the modern-day warrior monks who bravely carried the 600-kilogram portable shrine. The warrior monk festival comes to a close with these fireworks, but the sound of camera shutters clicking continues long after as spectators try to capture the heroic figures of the bearers who gave their all until the very end of the festival.
The "Sōhei Matsuri" (Monk Warrior Festival), the largest fire festival in Mie Prefecture, is a tradition passed down through generations in Yunoyama Onsen. With drum performances, flaming portable shrines, powerful shouts, and magnificent fireworks illuminating the night sky, the sheer power and energy of the festival will surely create a memorable experience. Reflecting on the monk warriors who protected this land long ago, why not experience this passionate festival, brought to life by modern-day monk warriors, at Yunoyama Onsen?
Contact information for inquiries regarding the Monk Warrior Festival
Yunoyama Onsen Association Tel: 059-392-2117 10:00-15:00
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