[2025 Edition] Hyogo Prefecture, Yumura Onsen Festival Guide

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At the Yumura Onsen Festival in Hyogo Onsen, Hyogo, you can experience traditional Japanese events for free. Experience the charm of local Japanese culture through the thrill of the iris tug-of-war and the lively atmosphere of the hot spring town. We will introduce the highlights and access in 2025 in an easy-to-understand manner.

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Visit North Kansai

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Table of Contents
What kind of place is Yumura Onsen?
Highlights of the Yumura Onsen Festival ~
2025 Yumura Onsen Festival Schedule
Making ropes for the large iris | Traditional work that begins the day before
access
Experience a memorable Japanese festival with the Iris Tug of War

What kind of place is Yumura Onsen?

Yumura Onsen is located in the San'in region, facing the Nihon Sea , in the northwest of Hyogo Prefecture . This historic hot spring area was discovered by Jikaku Daishi, and 470 liters of 98 degree hot spring water, Arayu, gushes out every minute. The spring water is weakly alkaline and gentle on the skin, and is also expected to have skin-beautifying effects. The hot spring culture is alive and well here, and is used in everyday life, with the water being enjoyed for drinking, cooking, and foot baths. In the 2024 Hot Spring General Election, it won first place in the Kansai area's "Beautiful Skin Category Ranking" and the "Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award"!

Highlights of the Yumura Onsen Festival ~

Tourists are welcome to join in! Come join the heated iris tug-of-war!

Boasting a history of around 700 years, the Shobu Great Tug-of-War is a dynamic traditional event in which participants compete against each other on a giant rope measuring 60cm in diameter, 80m in length, and weighing 4 tons.

Residents and tourists come together and split into groups, such as the upper group, to pull the rope. If the upper group wins, it is said that they will be blessed with bountiful harvests, and if the lower group wins, it will bring about prosperity in business, and a heated battle unfolds. Tourists are welcome to join in too, so let's all have fun together! This festival is held on the Boys' Festival of the lunar calendar, in memory of Jikaku Daishi Ennin, the founder of Yumura Onsen. It is a heartwarming traditional event to give thanks for the blessings of the hot springs and pray for bountiful harvests and the healthy growth of children.

2025 Yumura Onsen Festival Schedule

Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025

Location: Hyogo Prefecture Shin-onsen Town, Shinonsen Town, Hyogo Prefecture

〒669-6821 Hyogo Prefecture, Mikata District , Shin-onsen Town, Yu

Main Events

・Arayu Jizo and Ambassador Jikaku's Gratitude Memorial Service

・Children's procession, Children's Mikoshi portable shrine, Attractions (Brass band performance)

・Iris sake sake sake barrel breaking ceremony・Iris tug-of-war scheduled to start at 4pm

・Street stalls

Children's procession

Children's Mikoshi

Iris sake sake barrel breaking ceremony

Great Iris Tug of War

Making ropes for the large iris | Traditional work that begins the day before

On May 31st, the day before the festival, local residents gather on the grounds of Shin-onsen Town Onsen Elementary School to weave the main rope.

Iris was believed to be associated with martial spirit and business, and was of particular interest to samurai and merchants, but even in ordinary households, irises were wrapped around the head or hung under the eaves in the hope of warding off evil spirits, and iris baths and iris wine were made with them, as they were believed to be good for health. Iris ropes can be 50-60cm in diameter, 80m long, and weigh up to 4t.

Lots of ropes will be provided

It gradually becomes a larger rope.

The final stage

We all carry it

inquiry

0796-92-1081 (Yumura Onsen Festival Support Association)

access

If you are going to the Yumura Onsen Festival, the nearest station is JR West Hamasaka Station. If you take the Yume Tsubame Hamasaka Onsen Line (Shin-onsen Town) to Yumura, the journey takes about 25 minutes.

Experience a memorable Japanese festival with the Iris Tug of War

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The Yumura Onsen Festival is not a tourist event, but a traditional event that is imbued with the passion and long history of the local people. Why not experience the local culture firsthand and have a memorable experience? Experience the charm of a Japanese "festival" with all your senses in the hot spring town enveloped in steam.

Written by

Visit North Kansai

Kyoto

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