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:
● Festivals with different characteristics take place in succession.
● Ceremony to wish for good catches held in the sea at dusk (Okutsuhime Shrine Grand Festival)
● Fighting for the sacred paper strips of the torch for honor (Shigekura Shrine Grand Festival)
For background and historical details click the link to the festival website above.
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.
The Wajima Grand Festivals are held on August 22-25 of each year. Be prepared to park away from the actual festival site.
“Wajima Grand Festivals” refers to the 4 days of summer festivals of 4 areas in the center of Wajima City: Okutsuhime Shrine in Ama-machi on August 22nd; Shigekura Shrine in Kawai-machi on August 23rd; Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fugeshi-machi on August 24th; and Wajimasaki Shrine in Wajimazaki-machi on August 25th. All of them are held to allow the deities to enjoy the coolness of summer evenings. The parades consist of kiriko lanterns decorated with the famous Wajima lacquer. The four festivals are carried out in succession, and the entire city is filled with energy during the festival period. From August 22nd through August 25th annually.
AUG 22: The first festival is the festival of Okutsuhime Shrine (奥津姫神社). The main shrine is located on Hegura Island about 50 km/31 mi north from Wajima Port, but now the festival is carried out in Satomiya, Ama-machi at the Okutsuhime Shrine there. The portable shrine is carried by young men with rouge on their cheeks, dressed in colorful women’s costumes. On the evening of the first day of the festival, when the portable shrine goes into the sea at Sodegahama Beach, children on the beach pull the ropes tied to the portable shrine, and it lurches forward and backward. The longer this lasts, the better the fish catch is said to become.
Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"
One of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") in the Noto Peninsula each year. For more information visit the website above.
Hours :
Peak times: 1st Day - 18:30; 2nd Day - 23:30; 3rd Day - 22:30; 4th Day - 21:00. Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - 16:00; 2nd Day - 20:30; 3rd Day - 19:30; 4th Day - 20:00. Recommended parking: Wajima Morning Market parking - MapCode: 283 829 210*71.
“Wajima Grand Festivals” refers to the summer festivals of four areas in the center of Wajima City: Okutsuhime Shrine in Ama-machi; Shigekura Shrine in Kawai-machi; Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fugeshi-machi; and Wajimasaki Shrine in Wajimazaki-machi. All of them are held to allow the deities to enjoy the coolness of summer evenings. The parades consist of kiriko lanterns decorated with the famous Wajima lacquer. The four festivals are carried out in succession, and the entire city is filled with energy during the festival period. From August 22nd through August 25th annually.
A feature of the festival of Shigekura Shrine is the yakko (footman) lantern that follows the portable shrine. The lantern is decorated beautifully with maki-e and blue shells. Lit up by the kiriko, it shines more beautifully. The feature of the ceremony in Wajima Port Marine Town is a big pillar torch. Its top is shaped like a hat, and attached with ropes and three gohei. The portable shrine makes three turns around the burning torch, and people fight to get the gohei. when the torch has fallen.
Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"
One of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") in the Noto Peninsula each year. For more information visit the website above.
Hours :
Peak times: 1st Day - 18:30; 2nd Day - 23:30; 3rd Day - 22:30; 4th Day - 21:00. Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - 16:00; 2nd Day - 20:30; 3rd Day - 19:30; 4th Day - 20:00. Recommended parking: Wajima Morning Market parking - MapCode: 283 829 210*71.
“Wajima Grand Festivals” refers to the summer festivals of four areas in the center of Wajima City: Okutsuhime Shrine in Ama-machi; Shigekura Shrine in Kawai-machi; Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fugeshi-machi; and Wajimasaki Shrine in Wajimazaki-machi. All of them are held to allow the deities to enjoy the coolness of summer evenings. The parades consist of kiriko lanterns decorated with the famous Wajima lacquer. The four festivals are carried out in succession, and the entire city is filled with energy during the festival period. From August 22nd through August 25th annually.
At the festival of Sumiyoshi Shrine, a torch ceremony is held at the delta of the Wajima River. The dynamic scene of kiriko lanterns starting to dash to the delta is impressive. The portable shrine is led by drummers wearing goblin and demon masks, and lanterns attached to the top of 4~5 m/13-16 ft long bamboo stalks.
Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"
One of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") in the Noto Peninsula each year. For more information visit the website above.
Hours :
Peak times: 1st Day - 18:30; 2nd Day - 23:30; 3rd Day - 22:30; 4th Day - 21:00. Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - 16:00; 2nd Day - 20:30; 3rd Day - 19:30; 4th Day - 20:00. Recommended parking: Wajima Morning Market parking - MapCode: 283 829 210*71.
“Wajima Grand Festivals” refers to the summer festivals of four areas in the center of Wajima City: Okutsuhime Shrine in Ama-machi; Shigekura Shrine in Kawai-machi; Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fugeshi-machi; and Wajimasaki Shrine in Wajimazaki-machi. All of them are held to allow the deities to enjoy the coolness of summer evenings. The parades consist of kiriko lanterns decorated with the famous Wajima lacquer. The four festivals are carried out in succession, and the entire city is filled with energy during the festival period. From August 22nd through August 25th annually.
The last festival is the festival of Wajimasaki Shrine. The portable shrine is shaped like a sea bream to express the wish for good catches and safe fishing. The portable shrine, accompanied by kiriko lanterns, is rushed along the narrow streets of the town. At the port, fishing boats with colorful banners line up and raise the festive mood. The climax is the torch ceremony. The community’s fortune is determined according to the direction in which the pillar torch falls. It is said that if the torch falls towards the mountains, the harvest will be good, and if it falls towards the sea, the fish catches will be good.
Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"
One of 29 Noto Kiriko Matsuri ("Float Festivals") in the Noto Peninsula each year. For more information visit the website above.
Hours :
Peak times: 1st Day - 18:30; 2nd Day - 23:30; 3rd Day - 22:30; 4th Day - 21:00. Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - 16:00; 2nd Day - 20:30; 3rd Day - 19:30; 4th Day - 20:00. Recommended parking: Wajima Morning Market parking - MapCode: 283 829 210*71.
