π Festival - Yanagida Grand Festival, Noto Town

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Available the 16th of September through the 17th of September
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
17 km / 10.6 miles - 19 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 20 hours and 37 hours 40 minutes
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/yanagida.php
 
This festival is one of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") held each year in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, the most for any area of Japan.

This festival can/should be combined/customized with one or more other driving itineraries in Ishikawa. You can conveniently access this festival from various "gateways" in Ishikawa Prefecture: the Kanazawa JR Station if arriving by train, or either the Komatsu or Noto Satoyama Airports if arriving by air. All three gateways have multiple rental car outlets.

Due to crowds for the festival, be prepared to park away from the actual festival site. There are normally local people directing traffic near the site(s) so allow a little extra time to park and walk to the site.

Highlights of this festival:

● Autumn festival with a rustic atmosphere that has retained the original form of a kiriko festival
● 13m-tall large unvarnished kiriko
● Slow-paced parade with a nostalgic atmosphere

For background and historical details click the link to the festival website above.
 

17 km / 10.6 miles - 19 minutes
1. Noto Satoyama Airport - のと里山空港

Courtesy of Wikipedia
Courtesy of Walter L. Keats
Accessible Has Food Has Geocache Has Parking Has Shopping Has Toilet Has Vending Machine(s)
MapCode :
283 475 067*52
Phone :
076-826-2000
Website :
http://www.noto-airport.jp/
Description :
The Noto Satoyama Airport is centrally located in the Noto Peninsula. As of early 2019 there were 2 daily round trip flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport via All Nippon Airways. There are several rental car companies with offices at the airport. Airport code is NTQ.
Address :
10-11-1 Miimachi Sue, Wajima-shi, Ishikawa 929-2372
17.1 km /  10.6 miles - (19 minutes)
2. Yanagida Grand Festival (#28) - 柳田大祭 (#28)

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Has Food Has Parking Has Toilet Has Vending Machine(s)
Min/Max Time :
1200 / 2200 Minutes
MapCode :
552 474 011*47
Phone :
076-862-8532
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/yanagida.php
Description :
The Yanagida Grand Festival is held on September 16 & 17 each year.

"The Yanagida area of Noto Town is located in the interior of northern Noto, and this festival is held to give thanks for the good harvest of the year. The height of the kiriko accompanying the portable shrine is 13m. It is unvarnished, and has a simple, robust appearance; there are no pictures, and only three Chinese characters at the front and the crest of the shrine at the back. The lanterns are lit by Japanese candles in the traditional way.

The number of kiriko floats changes every year. After a Shinto ceremony at Hakusan Shrine, the floats lead five portable shrines to Banba Square, near the Machino River. To the slow rhythm of flutes, gongs and drums, the parade proceeds quietly along the dark road. The carriers’ slow pace and candle lights produce a quaint atmosphere. At the square, a big pillar torch with five sticks with sacred paper strips burns in the center, and the portable shrines and kiriko turn around it slowly. It is believed that the sacred paper strips have the effect of keeping people healthy for one year. When the torch burns down, young people fight for the paper strip, and place it in the alcove or in a high place in their guest room. After the ceremony in the square, the portable shrines and kiriko return to the shrine, and go back and forth three times in the precincts. Food is offered at the altar, and the evening of the festival ends. This is a rustic, calm festival, which is different from the festivals of fishing towns."

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#28) is one of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") held each year in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, the most for any area of Japan.

For additional background and historical details click the link to the festival website above.
Hours :
Peak times: 1st Day - 22:30; 2nd Day - ?0.
Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - 22:00; 2nd Day - ?.
Recommended parking: Yanagida Community Center parking - MapCode: 552 416 804*44.
Address :
The Yanagida area of Noto Town

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