π Festival - Maenami Hikiyama Festival, Anamizu Town - 2020

Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Courtesy of Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism League
Applicable Dates :
Available the 19th of September 2020 through the 20th of September 2020
Itinerary Type :
Festivals
Number of Stops
2
Est. Drive
22 km / 13.9 miles - 31 minutes
Est. Site-Seeing :
Between 24 hours and 36 hours
 
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:

● Kiriko lead the portable shrine on the first day and floats lead it on the second day.
● Wild dance of unique kiriko lanterns with paper strips.
● Floats decorated with unique dolls that are created every year.

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

22 km / 13.9 miles - 31 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
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
22.4 km /  13.9 miles - (31 minutes)
2. Maenami Hikiyama Festival (#20) - 前波曳山祭り (#20)

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 :
1440 / 2160 Minutes
MapCode :
590 803 043*82
Phone :
076-852-3790
Description :
The Maenami Hikiyama Festival is held on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of September each year.

"The autumn festival of Morohashi Inari Shrine, located in the Maenami area of Anamizu Town, is held to pray for a huge harvest of the five grains, and for a good catch of fish. Originally, floats led the portable shrine. However, after an outbreak of cholera in the Meiji Period, a kiriko lantern was used to ward off evil spirits and epidemics.

On the first day of the festival, kiriko lead the portable shrine, and the following day, floats lead the portable shrine. This difference between the two days is a characteristic of the Maenami festival.
In the night, kiriko gather in the precincts of the shrine. The kiriko are decorated with the paper strips that are often used for the decoration of kiriko in the peripheral area of Anamizu Town. Colorful paper strips are attached to the tops of the floats. When a torch is lit by the fire given at the shrine, the kiriko dance begins. The lanterns are turned around and the kiriko carriers fight each other. After dancing, the kiriko line up to guard the portable shrine and are carried around the town accompanied by the music of drums and bamboo flutes. The portable shrine is carried up the spiral steps to the shrine to the cheers of onlookers.

The second day starts with children playing the drums. Floats decorated with dolls on a rectangular stage lead the portable shrine and are paraded around the town. The dolls, which are created based on historical themes and stories every year, are one of the attractions of the festival.
At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, ritual performance that involves praying for a big catch is conducted near the beach, and the portable shrine is returned to the shrine. However, floats prevent the portable shrine from entering the shrine at the entrance. The floats and the portable shrine fight, and the festival reaches its climax."

Source: "Kiriko Festivals in Noto"

This festival (#20) 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: Saturday - 22:30; Sunday - 14:00.
Recommended arrival times: Saturday - 22:00; Sunday - 13:30.
Recommended parking: Maenami Nouson Park parking - MapCode: 590 773 675*14.
Address :
Maenami area of Anamizu Town

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