Oguri-Hangan Matsuri
The festival, which began in 1989, recreates the story of Oguri-Hangan, and is held annually on the first Sunday in December. Aiming at revitalization of the town, several events are carried out at the site; local precuts market, musical performances, try-out booths and snack bars. Every year, more than 20,000 people visit the festival.
The highlight of the festival is the Musha-Gyoretsu (warrior procession). Oguri-Hangan mounted on a horse strolls along JR Niihari Station Street, accompanied by more than 300 costumed people, including Terute-Hime, maids, Hangan’s ten brave warriors and child warriors. Performers of traditional entertainment such as Oguri Dai-dai Kagura, Chigyo Yagibushi, Mikoshi, and Furusato Taiko of Hitachi join the procession, and excitement over the festival heats up. The street along which the procession passes is crowded with thousands of people, as the festival reaches a crescendo.
