Shiozawa Seppu Festival
しおざわ雪譜まつり
A winter festival in Shiozawa honours Edo-period writer Bokushi Suzuki and local snow culture, with a yamabushi procession and a fire ritual of 108 lights.
〒 949-6408How to get there
塩沢Joetsu Line5 min walk from the station
The Shiozawa Seppu Festival is held in the snow in Shiozawa, Minamiuonuma, to honour the Edo-period writer Bokushi Suzuki. His book Hokuetsu Seppu (北越雪譜) gathered the textile industry, winter life and culture of this heavy-snow area, and the festival looks back on those traditions and carries them on.
The day opens with a sung recital of the book, and a play in two acts is staged outdoors through the afternoon. Yamabushi (山伏), mountain ascetics, then walk in procession with a portable shrine to the festival site. Candles are lit in Shiozawa Central Park, and the great goma fire ritual of 108 lights follows. Rice cakes are scattered for the crowd in the afternoon and again near the close, and the evening also has events on the snow stage.
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