Held on the last Saturday and Sunday of August
Noboribetsu Jigoku Matsuri(The Noboribetsu Hell Festival) takes place on the last Saturday and Sunday of August and is held in celebration of Enma Daio, the lord of the underworld. As the story goes, every year Enma Daio opens up Hell’s Kettle to free the oni (demons) from “Hell Valley” and gets them to dance and frolic through Noboribetsu Onsen. A massive six-meter-tall float parades down Gokuraku Street every year, the terrifying visage of Enma Daio depicted upon it. During the festival, the oni takes over the town and offer visitors a chance to see demonic taiko (drum) performances, dancing mikoshi (portable shrines), and the performances of their kind.
Noboribetsu International Tourism and Convention Association
*Dates may be changed. For more detailed information, please refer to the official website.