Nachi Ogi Matsuri (Nachi Fire Festival)那智の扇祭り（那智の火祭）

The grand annual festival of Kumano Nachi Taisha, in which twelve fan-shaped mikoshi travel from the main sanctuary to Nachi Falls while twelve great torches purify their path with fire.

The Nachi Ogi Matsuri is the grand annual festival of Kumano Nachi Taisha, held every July 14. Twelve fan-mikoshi about 6 m tall, representing the falls, are carried from the main sanctuary to Nachi Falls; because twelve great torches lead part of the way and cleanse the path, it is also called the Nachi Fire Festival. Before the procession, the Nachi no Dengaku, a performing art handed down from the medieval period, is offered to the deities.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

Tradition holds that the Nachi no Dengaku was brought by dengaku performers from Kyoto in the Oei era (1394–1428), and Kumano Nachi Taisha describes it as still performed in the manner handed down since the Muromachi period.

Source: 文化庁(external site, opens in a new tab) / 熊野那智大社(external site, opens in a new tab)

Kumano Nachi Taisha presents the festival as an expression of gratitude for water and fire, the sources of life, and for the blessings of nature. The procession of the fan-mikoshi is said to bring purification, renewal and the restoration of order, with prayers for a good harvest; strictly transmitted as a rite at a centre of Kumano faith, it also retains a strong character of reverence for the sun, water and fire.

1. 01

   Nachi no Dengaku

   A performing art preserving medieval dengaku dance, offered before the mikoshi procession.

2. 02

   Procession of the fan-mikoshi

   Twelve fan-mikoshi representing the falls travel from the main sanctuary to Nachi Falls.

3. 03

   Otaimatsu (great torches)

   Twelve great torches purify with fire the path the deities will take.

The designated preservation bodies are the Nachi Ogi Matsuri Preservation Society for the festival and the Nachi Dengaku Preservation Society for the dengaku.

• Nachi Ogi Matsuri (Nachi Fire Festival)例大祭『那智の扇祭り』令和6年7月14日 斎行

• Nachi Ogi Matsuri (Nachi Fire Festival)那智の扇祭り渡御祭（那智の火祭り）ライブ配信

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The festival takes place during the day; according to Kumano Nachi Taisha, the rites begin around 10:00 and end around 15:30. Confirm each year's details with the shrine.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — kumanonachitaisha.or.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Treat the festival as a sacred rite and keep clear of the mikoshi and torches
• Follow the directions of shrine staff and stewards

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · 2012

  UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (Representative List)

  Designated subject: Nachi no Dengaku, a religious performing art held at the Nachi fire festival (the dengaku only, not the festival as a whole)（Rite）

  Source: 那智の田楽 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1976

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Nachi no Dengaku（Rite）

  Source: 那智の田楽 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 2015

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Nachi no Ogi Matsuri（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 那智の扇祭り - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.例大祭｢那智の扇祭り｣ | 熊野那智大社(external site, opens in a new tab)熊野那智大社 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.那智の扇祭り - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.那智の田楽 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.那智の扇祭り | わかやまの文化財(external site, opens in a new tab)和歌山県教育委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
5. 5.那智の田楽 | わかやまの文化財(external site, opens in a new tab)和歌山県教育委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
6. 6.那智の田楽｜ユネスコ未来共創プラットフォーム(external site, opens in a new tab)文部科学省 · Accessed 2026-09-26