The Ojiya Fusen Ikki (Balloon Fiesta) is a traditional winter event that heralds spring in the heavy snow region of Ojiya City. This commemorative 50th anniversary edition will feature the Japan Sea Cup Cross-Country Championship, Honshu's only snow-covered hot air balloon competition, and the Glow Balloon Festival, a spectacular collaboration of hot air balloons and fireworks. To celebrate the milestone 50th anniversary, a special lantern release event called "Delivering Smiles and Hope to the Future! Dream Lantern Mission" will be held, along with limited-edition 50th anniversary commemorative merchandise on sale.
The festival also includes demonstrations of Ojiya-chijimi snow bleaching, a traditional craft technique; a variety of snow attractions for all ages; and the Umai-mono Hiroba (Delicious Food Plaza), where visitors can enjoy local Ojiya cuisine. Experience this winter festival unique to Ojiya, a snow country where life revolves around snow.
This event may be canceled or modified due to weather conditions or snow conditions. Please be aware of this in advance.
Highlights
1 | Dreams and Hope on Lanterns and Snow Fireworks - A Once-in-a-Lifetime Fantasy
▷ "Glow Balloon Festival"
▷ "Delivering Smiles and Hope to the Future! Dream Lantern Mission"
The Glow Balloon Festival is Ojiya Fusen Ikki's signature evening event, captivating visitors with a collaboration of fireworks from the fireworks town of Ojiya and glowing hot air balloons. This year, to commemorate the 50th anniversary, a lantern release event called "Delivering Smiles and Hope to the Future! Dream Lantern Mission" will be held. Lanterns inscribed with thoughts, hopes, and dreams for the future of Ojiya will be released into the winter night sky, creating a once-in-a-lifetime fantastical scene illuminating hope for the future.
LED-lit recyclable lanterns will be used.
Message writing and lantern release on the day are limited to advance registrants.
"Glow Balloon Festival"
"Delivering Smiles and Hope to the Future! Dream Lantern Mission"
Date | February 21 (Sat) from 6:00 PM
Venue | Ojiya Fusen Ikki Hirasawa Venue (111 Hirasawa Nitta, Ojiya [in front of Ojiya General Hospital])
Free viewing (*)
*A portion of the viewing area requires an admission fee. Viewing fee: 1,000 yen (per person). Tickets sold at the general reception desk from 4:00 PM, admission from 5:00 PM.
50th Anniversary Ojiya Fusen Ikki Program
2 | 34 Teams Gather from Across Japan! Honshu's Only Snow-Covered Hot Air Balloon Competition
▷ "Japan Sea Cup Cross-Country Championship"
The Ojiya Fusen Ikki hosts the Japan Sea Cup Cross-Country Championship, Honshu's only snow-covered hot air balloon competition. Beginning with the first competition held in 1977 (Showa 52) with 7 balloons, the Fusen Ikki utilizes the vast snowy plains of the heavy snow region of Ojiya as its venue, attracting pilots and balloonists from across Japan seeking aerial views of snow landscapes found nowhere else. The commemorative 50th anniversary competition is scheduled to feature competitive flights (tasks) by all 34 teams.
"Japan Sea Cup Cross-Country Championship"
Date |
February 21 (Sat) from 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM
February 22 (Sun) from 8:00 AM
Venue | Ojiya Fusen Ikki Nishinaka Venue (Nishinaka, Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture)
Free viewing
3 | Limited Edition! 50th Anniversary "Official Commemorative Merchandise"
Official commemorative merchandise celebrating the 50th anniversary will be sold in limited quantities.
50th Anniversary Pin Badge [1,000 yen]
This pin badge features four historic balloons from Ojiya's past 50 years, through name changes from Yukihara Matsuri (Snow Field Festival) to the present.
*Limited sale of 500 badges at Hirasawa Venue.
50th Anniversary Label Sake (Sake 720ml) [2,000 yen]
Commemorative label sake from two breweries in the sake town of Ojiya, inspired by Ojiya Fusen Ikki's signature scenes: "snowy field flights" and "nighttime snow glow balloons."*Limited quantity sale at Hirasawa Venue.
50th Anniversary Jumper [10,000 yen] / Long T-Shirt [5,000 yen]
The 50th anniversary commemorative jumper features a beloved design from years of Ojiya Fusen Ikki. With excellent water repellency and aluminum material on the back lining for superior heat retention, this jumper is perfectly suited to Ojiya's climate. Long T-shirts with the same back print as the jumper are available in your choice of color.*Orders only accepted at Hirasawa Venue. Items cannot be taken home on the day. Separate shipping charges apply.
*All prices include tax.
*For inquiries about official merchandise, contact Ojiya Tourism Association.
4 | No Reservations Needed! Snow Attractions for Families and Local Ojiya Cuisine
▷ Snow Train Rafting / Snow Tube
▷ Ojiya-chijimi Snow Bleaching
▷ Umai-mono Hiroba (Delicious Food Plaza)
At Hirasawa Venue, enjoy snow attractions and local Ojiya cuisine over two days.
Snow Train Rafting (fee required)
Snow Tube (fee required)
Race across snow fields on snow train rafting boats or slide down snow slopes on specialized tubes for maximum snow fun.
Date |
February 21 (Sat) from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
February 22 (Sun) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Fee (per person) |
Snow Train Rafting: 1,000 yen (per ride)
Snow Tube: 500 yen (3 rides)
Ojiya-chijimi Snow Bleaching (free viewing)
Observe a demonstration of the traditional technique for creating Ojiya's traditional craft product, "Ojiya-chijimi." The snow bleaching process, which uses snow for whitening, is only performed when three conditions are met: a sunny day, frozen snow surface, and clear, pollution-free air.
Date | February 21 (Sat) from 12:30 PM
Umai-mono Hiroba (Delicious Food Plaza)
Warm ramen, classic festival foods, sweets, and alcoholic beverages are available.
Date |
February 21 (Sat) from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
February 22 (Sun) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Number of vendors | 23 shops
Venue Maps
Nishinaka Venue (Japan Sea Cup Cross-Country Championship Venue)
Hirasawa Event Venue
Additional Information
The competitions and events listed above may be canceled or modified due to snow conditions or weather.
In such cases, announcements will be made on the city website. Please check the latest information before visiting.
Ojiya Fusen Ikki [Latest Information]
Ojiya Tourism Association
Contact: Abe / Owaki
TEL: 0258-86-0288
FAX: 0258-86-0330
Mail: info@ojiyakanko.com
Ojiya City Tourism and Exchange Division
Contact: Kinebuchi / Yamazaki
TEL: 0258-83-3512
FAX: 0258-83-0871
E-mail: kanko@city.ojiya.niigata.jp
