Arimatsu Tenmasha Autumn Grand Festival (Arimatsu Float Festival)

About this event

The Arimatsu Tenmasha Autumn Grand Festival (Arimatsu Float Festival) is a traditional event handed down in Arimatsu, Midori Ward, Nagoya City. Three dashi (festival floats) are paraded along the historic Arimatsu Tokaido street, featuring many highlights including daytime Karakuri Ningyo (mechanical puppets), the dynamic "Kuruma-giri" maneuvers, and floats illuminated by lanterns at night. Higashimachi features the "Hotei-sha," Nakamachi features the "Karako-sha," and Nishimachi features the "Jingu-Kogo-sha," each loaded with elaborate mechanical puppets whose movements and performances are major attractions of the festival. In particular, the "Kuruma-giri" performed at Matsunone Bridge—a traditional technique of rotating the heavy floats to change direction—decorates the festival's climax throughout the day and night. Around noon, the three floats are lined up together, allowing visitors to enjoy the combined performances of the mechanical puppets while listening to explanations of the floats from each neighborhood. At night, candles are lit inside the lanterns, and amidst the magical atmosphere, the melodies of shinobue flutes add rich autumn flavor to Arimatsu. At the festival's conclusion, the "Wakare no Gi" (Farewell Ceremony) is held to praise one another with an Ippon-jime clap and pledge to meet again at next year's festival, letting people feel the community bond. On the day of the event, talismans and amulets are distributed at the festival headquarters, and a fair is held at the Tenmasha Shimo Square. This year, Nagoya City Midori Ward official mascot Midoritchi and Nagoya Tourism Special Envoy Sax Samurai (R) will also visit to further enliven the festival. Due to the hosting of the 20th Asian Games this year, the Kuruma-giri by the three neighborhoods' floats at the Nakamachi intersection during the daytime will not take place, and the floats will only pass through.

Venue

Nagoya City Arimatsu Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings

Arimatsu, Midori-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 458-0924