"Hyakuhatto/ 百八灯"Uonuma City’s mysterious festival

When it comes to Uonuma City in Niigata Prefecture, Uonuma-grown Koshihikari rice is what usually comes to mind.

But Uonuma has far more to offer than just its famous rice! From fascinating sightseeing spots and unique events to relaxing hot springs and delicious sweets…

That’s right! Uonuma City is also a wonderful destination for travellers.

One event you absolutely must see this winter is Hyakuhatto/ 百八灯（ひゃくはっとう）. 

Blazing red straw torches light up the night, glowing vividly against the pure white snow-covered mountains to create a truly magical and otherworldly scene.

In this article, we introduce the winter festival Hyakuhatto, along with hot springs, sweets and sightseeing spots you can enjoy alongside it.

• Table of Contents
• Uonuma City’s mysterious festival "Hyakuhatto"
•  Recommended hot springs, hotels, and inns to stay
• Introducing a itinerary  to fully enjoy the unique festival "Hyakuhatto"!
• Enjoy winter events and hot springs in Uonuma City!

Uonuma City’s mysterious festival "Hyakuhatto"

Hyakuhatto is a traditional festival held in the Oritate Onsen area of Uonuma City.Remarkably, it has been celebrated since the early Edo period (the early Kan’ei era), making it nearly 400 years old.

The festival takes place every year on the first Sunday of March and is one of Echigo’s most unusual folk events, held to pray for good health and a bountiful harvest.

Hyakuhatto is a ritual dedicated to Inari Daimyōjin, the deity who protects rice cultivation and is deeply revered by local farmers. Through this festival, people pray for abundant crops and agricultural prosperity.

The stage for the festival is the satoyama (traditional countryside hills) of the Oritate Onsen area.

During the day, men carry bundles of rice straw from the Inari shrine at the foot of the mountain up to the summit, making two or three round trips each.

They carefully arrange 108 bundles of rice straw along the ridgeline of the mountain, and that is where the festival gets its name: Hyakuhatto, meaning “108 lights.”

As night falls, the straw is set alight.Brilliant red flames blaze across the mountainside, and against their glow, the snow-white peaks emerge vividly in the darkness.

Surrounded by this dreamlike scene, participants chant the traditional Hyakuhatto hayashi together.

「ひゃーくはっとう、ひゃくはっとう、百の米が一斗五升、十文酒が十六ぱい十六ぱい」

In this chant, “a hundred” refers to one sen, while “ten mon” equals one rin, giving us a fascinating glimpse into the price levels of the Edo period.

Meanwhile, the festival square comes alive with kamakura (snow huts) and a snow-built stage, where live music and song performances are held.

Visitors can also look forward to local treats such as mochi pounded by six people at once, a speciality of Oritate, as well as soba noodles, pork miso soup, local sake and sweet amazake, all served to warm the body on a winter’s night.To round off the evening, a spectacular fireworks display marks the grand finale of the festival.

Event Name	Hyakuhatto
Date	Usually held on the first Sunday of March
Place	Uonuma Mallet Golf Course 430 Shimo-Oritate, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture 946-0085
Access	Approx. 22 minutes by bus from Koide Station on the JR Joetsu Line; 5-minute walk from the Oritate Onsen bus stop. Approx. 20 minutes by car from the Uonuma Interchange on the Kanetsu Expressway
Parking	Please note that parking is limited, so we kindly ask visitors to car-share where possible. If you are arriving by car, please follow the directions of the event staff.

~Typical Schedule (subject to change)~

6:50 pm – Festival begins

Free servings of Tonjiru (pork miso soup), freshly pounded Mochi, Amazake and yakisoba
(Available while supplies last)

7:00 pm – Stage performances (variety show)

7:30 pm – Main event: Hyakuhatto

The Hyakuhatto song is played, followed by a hands-on Hyakuhatto experience
(held on the lower forest road)

8:00 pm – Fireworks display

After the fireworks, a grand prize draw will be held.

 Recommended hot springs, hotels, and inns to stay

1. Oritate Onsen（折立温泉）

These hot springs are located in the Oritate area, where the Hyakuhatto Festival is held. 

AIt is a quiet, mountainous hot spring resort, with traditional inns lining the riverbank.ll of the inns are within walking distance of the festival venue, making it a very convenient place to stay.

Reported benefits: relief from rheumatism, neuralgia and arteriosclerosis.

2. Oyu Onsen（大湯温泉）

Also highly recommended is Oyu Onsen, located about five minutes by car from the festival venue.

The hot spring was first opened in 718 AD by Gyoki, a Buddhist monk active from the Asuka to the Nara era. It is one of Uonuma’s most well-known hot spring resorts and was especially favoured by many warlords during Japan’s Sengoku period.

Reported benefits: relief from stiff shoulders (commonly known as frozen shoulder), sensitivity to cold, joint stiffness and joint pain.

Introducing a itinerary  to fully enjoy the unique festival "Hyakuhatto"!

From here, we introduce a recommended one-night, two-day itinerary for travellers coming from the Kanto region.

[Day 1]

1. Take the JR Joetsu SHinkansen (departing Tokyo Station at 10:15) and arrive at Urasa Station (11:42)

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2. Transfer to the JR Joetsu line and head to Koide Station (departing Urasa Station at 11:55, arriving at Koide Station at 12:03)

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3. Have lunch at Fukitei in front of Koide Station!

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4. Take a taxi from Koide Station to see Ishikawa Uncho's sculpture.

・Saifukuji Temple is about a 15-minute taxi ride from Koide Station.

・Eirinji Temple is about a 15-minute taxi ride from Koide Station (or about an 8-minute ride from Echigo-Horinouchi Station).

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5. Take the Minami Echigo Sightseeing Bus from Koide Station to Oritate Onsen. (Take the bus bound for  Tochiomata Onsen. Departs Koide Station at 3:20 PM, get off at Oritate Onsen bus stop at 3:42 PM)

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6. Check in at the inn at Oritate Onsen

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7. Walk to the Hyakuhatto Festival venue and watch the festival.

[Day 2]

1. Check out of the inn around 9:15.

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2. Take a Yunotani area shared taxi (reservation required in advance. Click here for details) to the Yunotani Roadside Station. You may purchase various souvenirs from the Uonuma region.

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3. Travel by taxi (regular) (approximately 15 minutes)

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4. Visit Uonuma Jozo Factory

A factory that produces "Koji Amazake" and "Rice Koji" using the snow meltwater from the Echigo Sanzan mountains.

At the Uonuma Koji Salon, you can enjoy sweets and purchase souvenirs.

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5. Take a taxi to Urasa Station (approximately 5 minutes)

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6. Return home by JR Joetsu Shinkansen (departing from Urasa Station at 13:01, 13:58, etc.)

Enjoy winter events and hot springs in Uonuma City!

In this article, we introduced the extraordinary winter festival Hyakuhatto, where blazing red straw fires glow vividly against a blanket of pure white snow.

But the festival is only part of the appeal. In winter, Uonuma City also offers a wealth of hot springs and sweet treats that are perfect for a slower, more indulgent stay.

Another attraction is its easy access. Uonuma can be reached in under two hours from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen and local trains.

Why not make this winter the one when you explore Uonuma City, enjoying its sightseeing spots and local cuisine?

For more information, please visit t the official website of the Uonuma City Tourism Association.