The Miwa Sancharo Festival, usually held around Yasaka Lake in late October, is a major event attended by hundreds of thousands of people drawing from a wide area ranging from Kyushu to Okayama.

The name of the festival, Sancharo, originates from a combination of the three expressions: Micharo, Kuucharo and Aruicharo.

Main programs of this event include:

-Aruicharo 10,000-Step Rally

A rally game in which parents and children or friends in a group walk slowly along the promenades or pathways around Yasaka Lake as they answer questions presented at five checkpoints.

Participants in this rally number approximately 2,000 annually, enjoying the prefecture-designated scenic spot, Yasaka Valley, during the game. A wide variety of fantastic prizes, such as special products of Miwa or gifts from many corporations, also help the popularity of this rally.

-Folk Entertainment

Folk entertainment,including Yamashiro-Hakuu(白羽 Sirohane?) Kagura, designated as an intangible cultural assetby Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Hokumon Kagura, also designated as an cultural asset by Miwa town, are performed in turn.

Kodomo Kagura, performed by elementary school students, has great appeal in particular.

- Exhibition and Sale of Local Special Products

The sections such as Kuucharo and Koucharo provide cuisine and packed lunches prepared using Matsutake mushrooms and maroons, both autumn specialties of Miwa, and other foods. People can enjoy meals as well as buy local products at these sections.

Other sections include Tsukuccharo, where visitors can learn how to create and play with toys made from bamboo or wood. Also Sawaccharo and Micharo sections allow visitors to touch small animals.

Parking lot with a capacity of 1,000 cars. For more information, contact the Miwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 0827-96-0132.