Tokamachi Grand Festival

About this event

A traditional summer festival held in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture. As the autumn grand festival of Suwa Shrine, the main tutelary shrine of the Tokamachi area, it is held at Suwa Shrine and the surrounding downtown area. The festival boasts a history of several centuries and vividly colors downtown Tokamachi City in summer. On the first day, the city streets are enveloped in excitement with the Great Folk Dance Parade involving about 1,000 or more dancers and the Akashi Mando illuminating the area with large lantern floats along Honcho-dori Street. On the second day, Suwa Shrine's grand festival, town mikoshi (portable shrine) processions, and a dedicatory fireworks display launching about 200 fireworks take place. On the final day, morning worship (Oasaji), mikoshi processions, and other rites are conducted. Throughout the festival period, visitors can enjoy various events, including the San-Niwaka Kyōen where 3 floats called 'niwaka' gather to present dances and songs while moving, as well as an open-air market lined with numerous stalls. A major highlight is the powerful sight of the rare octagonal mikoshi, also known as 'ara-mikoshi', jostling fiercely against each other. Mikoshi carriers chant the distinctive 'Oiyoi' call, heating up the festival excitement together with the spectators.

Venue

Ekidori Street

Ekidori, Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture