木落し坂（下社）

The Onbashira Festival at Suwa Taisha Shrine, especially the ``Kiotoshi'', is a truly spectacular sight. This festival, known as a grand festival held once every seven years, is filled with excitement and the spirit of men. In particular, the kiotoshi festival held at Shimosha's ``Kiotoshizaka'' is a must-see. The scene where a gigantic tree is pulled down in one fell swoop from a steep 45-degree slope several meters high is a moment that takes everyone's breath away. The sight of young people sliding down the hill while astride the pillars, and sometimes tumbling down the slope, is a truly heroic scene where they risk their lives. Surrounded by its power and enthusiasm, just looking at it will make your heart pound. The place where this major event will be held is definitely worth experiencing in person.

Since the bypass ``Kiochi Tunnel'' was built on National Route 142, this old road is no longer used except for going to ``Suwa Taisha Shimosha'', but please take a detour and stop by. A strange festival held once every seven years (the last time was delayed due to the coronavirus), “Ki Ochizaka”, where the Onbashira slides down a steep slope. I visited for the first time in a while after hearing on the news that the ``pine tree'' that connects the ``Obashira'' that juts out onto the slope had been damaged. Although safety is not guaranteed for this Shinto ritual, many people come to observe it every time. When you stand on the slope, you can clearly see the steep slope. (You can often set up a TV camera on this slope.) The ``Obashira'' of ``Shimosha'' is a type without a support called ``Medodeco''. There is no "river crossing" either. I would like to see it with my own eyes at least once.

It takes 5 to 6 minutes by car from Suwa Taisha Shimosha to Kiotoshizaka, which is famous for the Onbashira Festival. When I arrived at Kiotoshizaka and looked down from the top of the slope, I saw that it was covered with weeds, but it was quite steep. During the Onbashira Festival, parishioners from the lower shrine who are prepared to die ride the Onbashira and run down the steep slope with the Onbashira.

The old Nakasendo road runs parallel to the R142 bypass, so I drove from Suwa in the direction of Wada Pass, and when I saw the signpost for ``Kiotoshizaka (Shimosha),'' I stopped. Unlike the image of Kiotoshizaka that you often see on TV, there is a road directly below it. Rolling it around in a place like this makes me worry, ``Will it make it to the road?'' After investigating, it seems that there are places where similar rituals are held in other places. If it's your first time like me, there may be some people who get it wrong.

When you think of Suwa, is this the place? What a place, such as. On the way to Wada Pass, I made a U-turn and entered the road. A large pillar is placed at the top of the hill, and this pillar is said to have been made from the same tree as the pillar. You might be tempted to ride it, but it's dangerous so don't do it. There is a national highway that runs directly below Kiotoshizaka, but there is a large shelter area, so if you park there and walk, you can see the view from right below Kiotoshizaka.