事件

1月

Biei Snow Play Plaza

This year’s opening event will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. at the plaza in front of Lavenir. Kakemarukun” and “Tabi-Usagi” will also visit the venue on the day! There will also be a mochi pounding contest for everyone to enjoy, and distribution services of amazake (rice wine), hot milk, and pork miso soup, etc. There will be lots of fun activities such as a treasure hunt game in the snow and snow ball strike-a-dough, etc. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there. After the open event, the plaza will be open to the public for free snow play, so please come and play.

2月

Miyasama International Ski Marathon

A silver champion conquering the great outdoors! With the Tokachi mountain range in the background, the race will run through the white birch and larch forests and rolling hills to the goal. As a bonus, all participants will receive a commemorative badge, prizes in the raffle, and a finisher’s prize for all finishers.

6月

opening of Mt. Tokachi-dake

The exhilarating feeling and panoramic views are superb! Mount Tokachi usually opens in mid-June. A safety ceremony is held every year, followed by a commemorative climbing party.

Viei Healthy Marathon in the City of Hills

Why don’t you run in the fragrance of fresh greenery and the gentle breeze of color? Run along the fresh green fragrant Shirakaba Kaido road, cross the gentle hills with a pleasant spring breeze, and reach the goal!

7月

Nachi-Biei Fire Festival

It is a Shinto ritual to worship fire and water and to express gratitude for the blessings of nature. The burning torches are then delivered to the Biei Shrine. The flames of the burning torches evoke memories of the primitive times, and are very moving. The lighting of the big torch starts at 7:30 pm at Maruyama Park in downtown Biei. The fire made at the shrine is transferred to the firewood on the ignition stand on a small hill in the park, and then the priest of the Biei Shrine performs a ceremony to put the spirit of the festival into the big torches. The fire is then transferred to 12 big torches in turn, and they are carried by the Seiko, who act as the torchbearers, to the Biei Shrine.

The approximately 40 torchbearers are men with ties to Biei, such as Biei residents or Biei natives, and wear costumes similar to the white costume of the Nachi Fire Festival in Wakayama Prefecture. Each torch weighs more than 40 kilograms and is carried by three to four men who take turns carrying it. The torches are carried by three to four people, who take turns carrying the torches. The torchbearers, who carry the burning torches, parade along the road to the shrine, shouting “Oulya” to get into the spirit of the festival. After arriving at the shrine, the 12 taimatsu are dedicated in front of the main shrine building, and another 12 taimatsu are lit to light the sacred fire. This festival is sacred, yet you can feel the power of the large torch flames and the heat of the festival up close.

August

Biei Agricultural Festival

Biei Agricultural Festival will be held in mid-August. On the day of the festival, in addition to the sale of local products from Biei, there will be a variety of stage events including a singing show, comedy live, character shows, alpaca farm, Bon Odori dance in costume, Shirogane Taiko drums, fireworks display, and more. We look forward to seeing you there.

9月

Century Ride in Biei

Vast fields spread out at the foot of the Tokachi Mountain Range. The multi-layered hills welcome cyclists of all levels, from beginners to experts. The moderate ups and downs and the beautiful scenery that unfolds each time you cross a hill will give you an impression you have never felt before.