A beloved summer tradition in Oyama City, the “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is held on the first Sunday of July each year. Dressed in yukata, adults and children gather along the banks of the Omoigawa River, holding paper dolls onto which they place their wishes before sending them to float downstream. These paper dolls, known as Shimotsuke Dolls, range from 10 cm to 40 cm in height and are crafted using the artistry and tradition of Shimotsuke shibori dyeing. The paper is twisted to create beautiful patterns, with each doll featuring a unique hairstyle and kimono design. A tanzaku (narrow paper strip) is attached so participants can write their wishes. The “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is open to everyone. The first 50 participants wearing yukata will receive a “Nagashi-bina” doll as a gift.

Birth of Suga Shrine Suga Shrine was built by a legendary samurai Fujiwara no Hidesato, who prayed to Susanoo-no-Mikoto for victory over his enemies. To thank God for their bless, he brought the God from Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine) to Oyama and built the shrine.   The site of the legendary “Oyama Council”, witnessed the birth of the Tokugawa hegemony. It is said that before the Battle of Sekigahara in A.D 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu held the famous “Oyama Council” at Suga Shrine and prayed for the victory of the battle.   After Ieyasu’s victory and the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, Suga Shrine was greatly honored by the Shogunate. In 1658, staff members who had participated in the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, created a miniature version of the Akamikoshi in Toshogu Shrine, which became the pressure of Suga Shrine.   Today Suga Shrine’s Akamikoshi has been designated as a “Cultural Property by Tochigi Prefecture”.   Enjoy the Gion Festival in Tochigi! As a famous Gion Shrine, Suga Shrine is also called “Gozu Tenno Shrine”. Suga Shrine holds “Gion Festival” on July 14 to 21 every year, 25 mikoshi including one massive one that weighs in at 2 tons are carried through the city in “Mikoshi Wataru” on July 20.   According to “Shimotsuke Province Choreography（下野国誌）” written in Edo period, Suga Shrine’s “Gion Festival” is the “best Gion Festival in Shimotsuke Province.”

It is said that Suga Shrine was built by a legendary samurai Fujiwara no Hidesato in A.D. 940, and moved to its present location during 1159~1160. The whole shrine is filled with a solemn and serene atmosphere.   In A.D. 1600, before the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu held the famous “Oyama Council” at Suga Shrine and prayed for the victory of the battle. After his victory and the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, Suga Shrine was greatly honored by the Shogunate. In 1658, staff members who had participated in the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, created a miniature version of the Akamikoshi in Toshogu Shrine, which became the pressure of Suga Shrine.   The most important festival of Suga Shrine is "Oyama Gion Festival", on July 14 to 21 every year, 25 mikoshi including one massive one that weighs in at 2 tons are carried through the city.   According to “Shimotsuke Province Choreography（下野国誌）” written in Edo period, Suga Shrine’s “Gion Festival” is the “best Gion Festival in Shimotsuke Province.”   "

There is a strange festival which conveys faith in the dragon god called ""Mamada-no Jaga Maita (popularly known as the ""Snake Demon Festival"" that is designated as a national important intangible folk culture asset in Mamada. This event is held before the rice planting to pray to the gods and Buddha for moderate winds, as well as a bumper harvest and the elimination of plagues.   ""Jaga Maita, Jaga Maita, Jaga Maita of April 8!"" These yells echo around the town on the day of the event. This event features 15-meter dragon-head and snake-body animals decorated with fern leaves on the snake body made from bamboo and straw also paraded around the town.   The seven snakes of each district first gather at Mamada Hachimangu Shrine. The snake gathering and purification rites ceremony then takes place. After that, the water of Benten Pond is drunk to the heart's content of the participants before they go around the town again.   This festival was once held on April 8 in Japan's old calendar. However, because the bearers of the event are children of junior high school age and younger, it is now held on May 5 (Children's Day) when the schools are closed.

Mamada Hachimangu Shrine is said to have been founded as far back as nearly 1200 years ago during the years of the Tenpyo Era.On Children's Day on May 5 every year， the "Jya Matsuri" (Snake Festival)， which is a Tochigi Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Asset， is held and enjoyed by a great many people. In the spring cherry trees blossom and ceremonial sumo matches are held in September， as well as a variety of other events making the shrine very popular. The shrine's dohyo was also the filming location for “Thermae Romae II”."