Yayoi Festival

About this event

The Nikko Yayoi Festival is a historic festival boasting 1,200 years of history. Festival floats are referred to as 'yatai' and decorated with artificial Yashio azalea blossoms in bright spring colors. Eleven of these 'flower yatai' parade through the town, colorfully heralding the arrival of spring in Nikko. At the main festival on April 17, flower yatai from all neighborhoods gather within the grounds of Nikko Futarasan Shrine. Planks are laid over the stone stairs along the shrine approach, and watching crowds of people unite their strength to haul the heavy floats up the steps in a single rush is one of the festival's greatest highlights. There are also floats that tourists are permitted to help pull. Because the event proceeds according to strict formal protocol where even a small misstep can spark a neighborhood dispute ('gota'), the event is also nicknamed the 'Gota Festival'. On April 16, an eve festival is held: after the flower yatai from each neighborhood gather in the plaza in front of the Former Nikko City Hall Memorial Park, a grand float parade featuring all West and East neighborhoods takes place, followed by formal ceremonies and a bridge-crossing ritual (hand-clapping ceremony) at Shinkyo Bridge. At night following the eve festival, each float is illuminated with lanterns as it returns to its neighborhood.

Venue

Nikko Futarasan Shrine

2307 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1431