π Festival - Matsunami Doll Kiriko Festival, Noto Town - 2023

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Only Available the 22nd of July 2023
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
31 km / 19.4 miles - 35 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 8 hours 20 minutes and 13 hours 20 minutes
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/matsunami.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:

● Gorgeous lacquered kiroko floats decorated with dolls.
● Judging of handmade dolls for their workmanship.
● Variations in the drumming rhythm according to the parade speed.

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

31 km / 19.4 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
31.2 km /  19.4 miles - (35 minutes)
2. Matsunami Doll Kiriko Festival (#29) - 松波人形キリコ祭り (#29)

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 :
500 / 800 Minutes
MapCode :
329 373 511*74
Phone :
076-862-8532
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/matsunami.php
Description :
The Matsunami Doll Kiriko Festival is held on 4th Saturday in July each year.

"The summer festival held in the Matsunami area of Noto Town, on the inner coast of the Noto peninsula, is a unique festival with kiriko floats that are decorated at the front with original dolls. The themes of the dolls are diverse, and include historical characters, heroes of old tales, and people who have been talked about during the year in which the festival takes place. It takes about three weeks for a kiriko team to create their doll.

The festival starts at around noon, when kiriko gather at Matsunami Shrine. After completion of a ceremony in the shrine, the parade sets out. The portable shrine leads the way, and is followed by nine kiriko floats and children’s kiriko floats. The doll contest starts at two o’clock in the afternoon, when the workmanship of each doll is judged. The contest provides a good opportunity to see all of the dolls close up.

Please pay attention to the festival music. The parade proceeds to the music of drums, gongs and bamboo flutes. The drums play four different types of rhythm: regular, quick, sambaso and resting. The shouts also change, and they differ according to the area the kiriko is from. It is interesting to compare them.

At 10 o’clock at night, illuminated kiriko floats gather at the intersection of the streets in the central area of the town. Kiroko floats dance wildly one by one to the music. The night dolls look different from daytime dolls. When all of the kiriko floats have finished performing, the festival reaches its finale, and sanbon-jime (hand-clapping in a 3-3-3-1 rhythm three times) concludes the festival. "

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#29) 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: Saturday - 22:00.
Recommended arrival time: Saturday - 21:30.
Recommended parking: Noto Town Hall, Uchiura Branch parking - MapCode: 329 344 891*77.

Address :
The Matsunami area of Noto Town

Select Itinerary »