π Festival - Koiji Fire Festival, Noto Town - 2020

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Only Available the 19th of July 2020
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
33 km / 20.7 miles - 35 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 7 hours 40 minutes and 12 hours 40 minutes
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/koiji.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:
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For background and historical details click the link to the festival website above.
 

33 km / 20.7 miles - 35 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
33.2 km /  20.7 miles - (35 minutes)
2. Koiji Fire Festival (#24) - 恋路火祭り (#24)

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 :
400 / 700 Minutes
MapCode :
329 403 891*63
Phone :
076-862-8532
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/koiji.php
Description :
The Koiji Fire Festival is held on the 3rd Sunday in July each year.

"The sea is calm at Koiji Beach, which is located on the inner coastline of the Noto Peninsula. The name of the beach has its origin in a tragic love-story legend. It is not known when the people of this region started to make bonfires to console the spirits of the lovers, but that is how the festival originated.

On the day of the festival, two kiriko floats resembling the lovers come to the beach. Young people carry the kiriko floats in the sea towards the offshore island of Bentenjima. When fireworks are set off above the island, the festival becomes lively and the kiriko floats dance wildly in the sea. The kiriko floats dancing in the sea against the background of fireworks create a very fantastic, beautiful scene.

When the two kiriko floats are placed in front of the torii (gate at the entrance to a shrine), fireworks go off. The fireworks form Japanese characters, which are different every year. It is fun to predict which characters will appear in the night sky.

Young people swing small torches attached to the tip of a bamboo stick, creating beautiful fire rings and a romantic atmosphere that is suitable for a beach with a romantic name. Then large torches are ignited and burst into flame. The scene of the burning fire, and the torii and kiriko on the surface of the water is like a colorful picture. With many rings of light dancing wildly, the festival comes to a spectacular end."

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#24) 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 time: Sunday - 22:00.
Recommended arrival time: Sunday - 21:30.
Recommended parking: Koiji Romantic parking - MapCode: 329 434 213*85.
Address :
The Koiji area of Noto Town

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