Omachi-Kawashima Festival

About this event

This is Anamizu Town's largest-scale Kiriko festival. The main highlight is the gathering of 12 kiriko lantern floats and 8 dashi floats carried out from the 5 districts of Omachi and 7 districts of Kawashima. As the kiriko and dashi featuring contemporary decorations parade through the streets, both Anamizu Omiya (Hetsuhime Shrine) located in the Omachi district in central Anamizu Town and Hakusan Shrine (Mimanahiko Shrine) in the Kawashima district boast ancient histories. The annual festivals of both shrines, the Omachi-Kawashima Festival, are held on the same day, with 3 mikoshi portable shrines, 11 kiriko floats, and 10 dashi floats paraded from each district. Around 21:00, the kiriko and dashi that have paraded through the districts gather on the main street, Omachi-Kawashima Honcho Odori, and the sight of them advancing along the main avenue in line is one of the festival's highlights. The lanterns and votive lights attached to the kiriko and dashi seem to form a long ribbon of light. The valiant shouts of 'Sore, iyasaka yassai, saka yassai' along with festival music of flutes, gongs, and taiko drums enliven the festivities. The ropes used to pull and support the body of the kiriko are decorated with reflective items, bells, and teru teru bozu dolls, showing unique touches from each district. The dashi floats carrying children feature not only warrior figures but also popular characters made of papier-mâché enshrined on them. With contemporary culture skillfully blended into traditional festivities, and children's drawings displayed on the float lights, it is a festival that conveys the warm spirit of the local community.

Venue

Kawashima

Kawashima, Anamizu-machi, Hosu-gun, Ishikawa 927-0027