F E S T I V A L ／ FEST-140
naked
Kanchū Misogi Festival (Mid-Winter Purification)
寒中みそぎ祭りかんちゅうみそぎまつり
D A T E2026-01-13 — 2026-01-15
A mid-winter purification rite at Samegawa Shrine in Kikonai Town, Hokkaido, transmitted since 1831 (Tenpō 2) — roughly 190 years. Four young men known as gyōshūsha (austerity practitioners) undergo water-purification at the shrine before, on January 15, wading into the freezing Tsugaru Strait at Misogi Beach to purify four sacred objects (Benzaiten, Inari, the Mountain God, and the Field God), praying for abundant fishing, harvest, and community safety. Wearing only a white loincloth in sub-zero temperatures, this is one of Hokkaido's signature winter rites. The 2026 schedule is confirmed by the town's official site.
N O P H O T O
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01Purification rite continuously transmitted for ~190 years since 1831
- 02Four practitioners purify sacred objects in the Tsugaru Strait
- 03Three-day graduated ritual from January 13 to 15
- 04Practitioners wear only loincloths in freezing seawater
- 05Town-official viewing guide published
D E E P D I V E
Deep Dive
R E F E R E N C E