Last updated: April 23, 2021
Splashing water and runaway chickens
The Kawarayu Onsen Yukake Festival combines the onsen waters' heat with the frigid temperatures of an early winter morning.
This January festival celebrates the plentiful onsen waters. It involves a horde of young men wearing only traditional underwear dousing each other with buckets of hot water while shouting a festive chant.
The men then throw hot water on hanging paper balls that contain live chickens. When the balls split, the chickens are released, and the participants scramble to catch them.
491-6 Kawarayu, Naganohara, Agatsuma District ( Map)
About 15 minutes on foot from Kawarayu Onsen Station
About 1 hour by car from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC of Kan-Etsu Expressway
January 20
