The 300-year-old Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri, is one of the three great Japan fire festivals held in January every year. Large numbers of villagers carry torches and attempt to burn down a temporary shrine called a shaden, while the 25 year-olds defend the structure and the 42 year-olds sing and chant. This festival is meant to celebrate the birth of a family's first child, and pray for their good health, and to pray for a good harvest.