Niigata Niigata
May 8, 2025 (Thursday)
The Seven-Year-Old Visit
七ツ詣り
The Seven-Year-Old Visit is a traditional event held every May at Matsuo Shrine in Niigata Prefecture. It's attended by boys who are seven years old in traditional Japanese counting. The boys climb the mountain, approximately 360 meters high, and proceed along a steep mountain path to offer prayers at the shrine. Through this trial, they celebrate the children's growth and receive purification from the priest.
At the shrine, families and relatives gather to hold a small banquet celebrating the son's growth. After visiting the shrine, shopping at a toy store set up at the mountain top is one of the joys, and the toys gifted by the family during this special annual occasion become memorable mementos.
This event not only celebrates children's growth and challenges but also offers an excellent opportunity to feel tradition. At the celebration site at the mountain top, where people gather, you can deepen the bond between parents and children and experience the local culture. Through the Seven-Year-Old Visit, you can jointly experience the children's growth and the local traditions.
Place:Matsuo Shrine
Transportation:●By train, get off at Hokuhoku Line "Matsudai Station" and arrive at the trailhead by car in about 10 minutes ●If driving, take either the "Muikamachi Interchange" on the Kan-Etsu Expressway or the "Joetsu Interchange" on the Hokuriku Expressway, then via Route 253, arrive at the trailhead in about 60 minutes From the trailhead, it takes about 25 minutes on foot (mountain path) to the summit
Contact:025-597-2301