Honjo-shi is the place Hukan-shonin passed away who was a gyoja (disciplinant) founding Mt. Ontake-san in Kiso region that is a sacred place of esoteric Buddhism. Believers gather to this festival with honoring the memory of the shonin, where austere disciplines are performed such as hi-watari (walking over fire) and ha-watari (walking over the edge of a sword).