An important festival for local people, firmly rooted in Nanao City
“Seihakusai Festival” is a festival of “Ojinushijinja” (also known as Sannojinja) in Fuchu-machi, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Originally, this festival was held in April in the lunar calendar, but now it is held every year on May 3, 4, and 5. It is a popular event that attracts about 150,000 tourists every year.
This “Seihakusai Festival” means “Spring Festival” and is said to have this name because it serves God.
And since huge festival floats called “Dekayama” appear, it is said that it is also called “Dekayama Festival” among local people. The festival floats, which are said to be the largest in Japan, are towed around in the narrow town of Nanao. The sight is powerful. Particularly the scene of tsuji-mawashi (turning a float) around a narrow corner is spectacular.
The Seihakusai Festival is said to be the largest festival in the Noto district and is also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. There are many highlights such as “Tsujimawasi” and “Seriage”.
The Seihakusai Festival is so popular that nearly 150,000 tourists visit it every year during the three days of the festival. Young people who were born and raised in Nanao and went to the city also take a holiday at the Seihakusai Festival and return to their hometowns. Even if they do not return to Obon or New Year, they will return home and participate in the Seihakusai Festival.
Point!
Introducing the access from Tokyo Station to “Ojinushijinja Shrine” where the Seihakusai Festival is held. Take the Japan Railway Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station. At Kanazawa Station, transfer to the Ishikawa Railway Nanao Line and get off at Nanao Station. From there you can reach your destination in about 15 minutes on foot.
Charms and Highlights of Seihakusai Festival
One of the four biggest festivals in Nanao City
The “Seihakusai Festival” to be held in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture will be held from May 3 to May 5 every year for three days. “Seihakusai Festival” is an annual festival held mainly around Otokonushi-jinja Shrine, together with “Issaki Hoto Matsuri Festival”, “Nanao Gion Matsuri Festival” and “Nanao Minato Matsuri” are known as the four biggest festivals in the Nanao area. This “Seihakusai Festival” has been designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country, and it is also registered as UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. What is so amazing is the festival cars called “Dekayama” which is the center of this festival. It is said that in this region, the big thing is “Dekai”, so it is called “Dekayama”.
The three greatest attractions of “Seihakusai Festival”, the three “Dekayama”, are about 12 meters tall and the top is wider than the bottom. It is a festival car of the type of ship which has an upper length of about 13 meters and a total weight of about 20 tons. There is a stage reproducing the scenes of Kabuki at the top, and more than one doll is decorated.
“Kiyariuta Song” means that 5 or 6 people wear “Tabi socks” and “Zori sandals” with happi coat (a workman’s livery coat) and they sing while swinging around folding fan and colored paper on the table in front of “Dekayama”. Five kinds of songs are tailored to the movement of festival cars, so if you are interested, please pay attention to the movement of singing and festival cars.
Designated as the significant intangible folklore cultural assets
Seihakusai Festival is a large-scale spring festival held in Nanao-shi, Ishikawa.
It is the nation’s designated significant intangible folklore cultural assets. It is the dynamic event pulling about the huge float called “Dekayama” (literally, huge mountain).
This festival is the annual festival of Otokonushi-jinja Shrine, and there are many highlights as for powerful “Tsujimawashi” (turns of floats) and exciting “Seriage” (raise up), etc.
The highly elaborated Kabuki doll displayed on “hikiyama” (a float dragged by people) is unmissable.
The best scale in Japan
It is said that the origin of the name of “Seihakusai Festival” is because Shinsen (offerings) offered in the leaf of the blue oak.
The “Dekayama” said to be the best scale in Japan is the highlight.
Dekayama, which are came out one by one from each three towns, is the main event of the festival.
“Deka” of “Dekayama” means Gigantic
The form is the fan-shaped model that the top spread through, and a scene of Kabuki is reproduced in the upper section. Although it is the float of simple structure, but is the huge one as 12 meters in height, 2 meters of diameter, 20000 kg of weight. “Deka” of “Dekayama” means “Gigantic.”
Overwhelmed by the dynamism of “Seriage”
The menfolk who pull this dynamic Dekayama with the shout of “enya, enya.” The force of “tsujimawashi” turning huge Dekayama around is the best part. It is overwhelmed by the dynamism of “Seriage” pushing up Dekayama on the slope.
Nanao-shi has a delicious meal and healing
Nanao-shi is a wonderful sightseeing spot which also has a delicious meal and healing including Seihakusai Festival.
With Seihakusai Festival which is important formlessness folk cultural assets, please fully enjoy the hot springs of the sea and the marine products which Ishikawa Prefecture is proud of.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | Seihakusai Festival |
| Address: | Sannomachi 1-13 Nanao, Ishikawa 926-0052 Japan |
| Access: | JR Nanao-sen Line “Nanao-eki Station” (12 minutes walk) |
| Tel: | (+81) 767-52-4214 (Otokonushi-jinja Shrine) |
| Price: | Free |
| Official site: | http://www.ishikawa-jinjacho.or.jp/ |
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