- Shibata,Murakami Area
- Niigata,Aga Area
- Nagaoka,Kashiwazaki Area
- Uonuma,Yuzawa Area
- Joetsu,Myoko Area
- Sado Area
Son-in-law Throwing and Face Painting with Ashes
Update:2012.01.16
Known as a strange custom of Echigo (the former name of Niigata), son-in-law throwing is a Lunar New Year tradition passed down for 600 years in the Yumoto community of Matsunoyama. After the local men who got married in the past year get thrown into the snow, , all visitors to the shrine can say their congratulations while they paint each others’ faces with an ink made of sacred ash mixed with snow. This simple festivity is done to pray for perfect health and family prosperity in the New Year.
Date/ Time: January 15th, 2013; 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
※Son-in-laws are thrown in the beginning
Location: Next to Yakushido Shrine, Yumoto, Matsunoyama,
Tokamachi City
Directions: ●25 minutes by bus from Matsudai Station
on Hokuhoku Line
on Hokuhoku Line
37.0646891,138.5974967
