Key Facts
• Hijiori Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture discovered on July 14, 807 AD.
• Annual festival started in 1998 to honor the hot spring’s protectors.
• Features a 30 kg male and female Jizo statue carried in a procession.
• Procession spans 500 meters with 13 participants in white attire.
• Participants splash 40°C hot spring water using buckets.
• Festival includes a belief in healing by pouring water on matching body parts.
• Visitors from across Japan, including Tokyo and Saitama, join the event.
• Local children and young women actively participate, boosting community spirit.
• Organizers highlight the festival’s role in revitalizing the area.
• The event is marked by lively streets filled with smiles and warm water.
Summary
The ‘Hot Water Splash Festival’ at Hijiori Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture celebrates its rich history dating back to 807 AD. Initiated in 1998, the event honors the hot spring’s protectors and promotes community prosperity. Participants, dressed in white, carry 30 kg Jizo statues through a 500-meter procession while being splashed with 40°C hot spring water. The festival is rooted in a belief that pouring water on corresponding body parts can heal ailments. Visitors from across Japan, including Tokyo and Saitama, join the festivities, which have become a symbol of local revitalization. Organizers emphasize the event’s role in fostering community spirit and preserving tradition. Streets come alive with laughter, warm water, and a sense of unity.
