The normally peaceful village of Nozawa Onsen erupts into fire every year on January 15th. The "Dosojin" Fire Festival is one of the largest of it's kind in Japan and it is an amazing sight. All men aged 42 years sit on top of a shrine. (42 years is considered unlucky in Japan as it translates as Shi-Ni) which means death. All men aged 25 years old (also considered unlucky) must protect the shrine from hundreds of villagers armed with flaming torches, intent on burning the shrine to the ground. The villagers attack the shrine as the men on top scream taunts and jibes hoping that the younger men below can force the attackers back or extinguish their flames. Of course everybody is extremely drunk just in case you thought that trying to burn a group of 42 year old men alive wasn't dangerous enough!
The climax of the festival sees the shrine finally being burned to the ground (minus innocent victims) and everybody returns home with burnt clothes and burnt hair leaving the village in peace once more.
Please see our Nozawa Onsen Hotels page for information on where to stay.
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