π Festival - Nakai Kiriko Festival, Anamizu Town - 2020

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Only Available the 29th of August 2020
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
11 km / 6.5 miles - 18 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 4 hours and 6 hours
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/nakai.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:

● “Folding Screen Festival” — Treasured folding screens on display in each house.
● Singing of a distinctive festival song while the portable shrine is carried.
● Riverside fighting among Kiriko carriers to obtain the gohei.

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

11 km / 6.5 miles - 18 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
10.5 km /  6.5 miles - (18 minutes)
2. Nakai Kiriko Festival (#22) - 中居キリコ祭り (#22)

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 :
240 / 360 Minutes
MapCode :
283 233 444*77
Phone :
076-852-3790
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/nakai.php
Description :
The Nakai Kiriko Festival is held on <> each year.

"Known for its metal-casting industry since the Heian period, the Nakai area of Anamizu Town has produced many highly skilled metal casters. Rows of old houses remind us of its history as a casting town.

The festival that takes place at the end of August is referred to as the “Folding Screen Festival” because people exhibit their treasured folding screens for festival visitors to see. Some are decorated with elegant calligraphy, and some are gold screens that have been carefully preserved as family treasures.

At around 8 o’clock in the evening, kiriko floats are gathered in the precincts of the shrine. The portable shrine and kiriko floats are paraded around the town while the distinctive festival song “Nakai-bayashi” is sung, and they stop to visit houses along the streets. After 10 o’clock at night, torches are lit in the square near the river, and young people fight to get the gohei; this is the climax of the festival. It is said that the team that gets the gohei will have a bountiful harvest."

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#22) 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: 21:00.
Recommended arrival times: 20:00.
Recommended parking: Noto Nakai Cast Metal Museum parking - MapCode: 283 233 478*47.
Address :
Nakai area of Anamizu Town

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