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Religion has been a part of Suwa's culture since the time of the gods. Suwa Shrine has the lower Shimo-sha and the upper Kami-sha. These shrines and religious rituals have set the pace for the lives of the local people. Among the rituals, the 1,200 year-old Onbashira-sai Festival which is held every 7 years has always been the most celebrated event. During the April Yamadashi-sai, 16 logs of fir, each at about 17 meters long, 1 meter thick, and weighing 12 - 13 tons are carried 20 kilometers to the Kami-sha and 10 kilometers to the Shimo-sha. The logs are set at the four corners of the main halls in each shrine. During the journey to the Shimo-sha, logs with daredevil men hanging on them are thrown off a cliff. And on the way to the Kami-sha men carrying the logs walk through the Miyagawa River. The Satobiki-sai held one month later features a parade of horsemen and a dance performance of Hanagasa-odori. It is said that some of the people plan their lives around these festivals.
Information and photographs provided by the Tourism Section of the Suwa Municipal Office
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