π Festival - Myosenji Kiriko Festival, Anamizu Town

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Available the 15th of August through the 16th of August
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
23 km / 14.1 miles - 29 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 24 hours and 36 hours
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/myousenji.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:

● 9 m/30 ft high giant white wood kiriko with a refreshing atmosphere.
● Kiriko moving backwards, facing the portable shrine to be polite.
● A peaceful, simple kiriko festival.

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

23 km / 14.1 miles - 29 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
22.8 km /  14.1 miles - (29 minutes)
2. Myosenji Kiriko Festival (#21) - 明千寺キリコ祭り (#21)

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 :
1440 / 2160 Minutes
MapCode :
590 832 188*14
Phone :
076-852-3790
Website :
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/myousenji.php
Description :
The Myosenji Kiriko Festival is held on August 15th and 16th each year.

"Hakuchi Shrine, located in the Myosenji area of Anamizu Town, was constructed in the Nara period as the guardian shrine of Myosenji Temple, where it is said that the renowned priest Kobo Daishi practiced Buddhism. In this summer festival, a giant kiriko with many paper strips is dedicated to the shrine. In the olden days, a 9 m/30 ft long giant kiriko was carried up the steps to see the portable shrine that was returning to the shrine. In the festival, the kiriko is paraded around the town and taken to the shrine to lead the portable shrine to the specified place. At this time, the kiriko moves backwards, facing the portable shrine so as not to be rude to it.

Recently, only one kiriko has been used because there is a shortage of people who can carry a kiriko lantern. Nowadays, the kiriko does not climb up the stone steps to see the portable shrine, but people’s passion with regard to this festival, in which a kiriko float is paraded around the town, remains unchanged."

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#21) 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 - ?; 2nd Day - 21:00.
Recommended arrival times: 1st Day - ?; 2nd Day - 20:30.
Recommended parking: Myosenji parking - MapCode: 590 832 156*33.
Address :
Myosenji area of Anamizu Town

Select Itinerary »