In Tonami and Nanto regions, there is a custom called “Yasundoko” (to get some rest), meaning to take a rest when rice planting is finished in early June. Along with this period, various fields such as rice field festivals are being held to request huge harvest. In the Shogawa area, people from Kanaya and Aoshima districts imitated Fukuno Yotaka Andon (a lamp with a paper shade) in Fukuno Town (currently Fukuno Town in Nanto City). Since then, each district has created a new “Andon” and it has grown in size while competing.
Speaking of “Shogawa Kanko-sai” (Shogawa Festival), the main event is “Yotaka Andon”, which is also a walk through the town. “Yotaka Andon” is a huge andon, made of bamboo, Japanese paper, wire, etc., and coated with a dye or wax. Andon’s feet are carts with wheels. Yotaka Andon seems to be something you can’t see outside of Toyama and Hokkaido.
As the sun goes down, Andon lights up and Andon walks through the town of Shogawa. The appearance of moving hard with a loud shout makes you feel hot just by looking at it. The design is different in each region, so it’s fun to compare.
The Shogawa Tourist Festival, which colors the city in a festival, is full of highlights every year and is crowded with people from both inside and outside the prefecture. Various events such as the heroic Yodaka Andon, fireworks dancing in the night sky, rainbow trout grabbing and YASKOI performances are abundant.
It’s a fun 2 days where you can enjoy many festivals at once.
Wear a yukata and walk while getting along with geta (wooden clogs), so that your body and mind will be dyed to the festival.
One of the hundred cultural properties of Toyama
“Shogawa Kanko-sai” (Shogawa Tourist Festival) is a festival held in June every year in the city of Shogawa Town, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture. A festival began in 1953, commemorating the first anniversary of the merger of neighboring villages on June 1, 1952. It is said that it is a very precious festival culturally selected as “one of the hundred cultural properties of Toyama” in 2006.
“Yotaka-Andon marching” which is done everywhere in the town is a must-see. “Yotaka-Andon” is a series of large, medium and small festival lanterns going through the streets of Shogawa River. Among them, there are 9 large festival lanterns to do “Awase”.
Small comfort town
Shogawa-machi, Tonami-shi, Toyama, it is a small town, but it is a place with very delicious river fish, which is caught in the Shogawa river which the clear water flows, and the special product called “Yuzu” (a small citrus fruit). You can seek comfort from this place on a holiday.
However, the town is filled with excitement when it is the time of this spring festival. A night lamp festival being prosperous in Southwest Toyama is held in this town.
Festival cars are smashed into each other
In the festival, “Awase,” in which the festival cars belonging to different groups are smashed into each other, has become quite a sight. When a hot battle between the towns occured at night, the side that has seen also excite it.
The Shogawa Kanko-sai “Yotaka Matsuri” (Yotaka Festival) is performed in Shogawa-machi on first Saturday and Sunday of June every year..
Taste many festivals at a time
There is a lot of highlight every year, so many people in and around the city have come to see this festival. There are full of various events like a heroic “Yotaka Andon” (Yotaka lamp), fireworks flying in the night sky, grabbing the rainbow trout and Yosakoi dance. It is happy two days that you can taste many festivals at a time!
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | Shogawa Kanko-sai (Shogawa Festival) |
| Adresse: | Shogawa Tonami-city, Toyama 932-0314 Japan |
| Access: | JR Johana-sen line "Tonami-eki Station” (15 minutes by car) |
| Tel: | (+81) 763-33-1111 (Shogawa Festival Execution Committee) |
| Price/Charge: | Free |
| Official site: | http://www.info-toyama.com/ |
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