Speaking of summer, it's "festivals"!! "6 festivals in Mie that you must see this summer"

Article creation / Mie Travel Ambassador maami

▼Table of contents

• The mysterious festival of Houzaura Asama Festival
• ShirongoFestival, a festival for female divers
• Energy! Passion! Chousaya! "Matsusaka Gion Festival"
• There's so much to see! The extravagant "Daiyokkaichi Festival"
• The noisiest festival in Japan!! "Kuwana IshidoriFestival"
• The finale is a fierce duel!? "obuke Hachioji Festival"

The mysterious festival of Houzaura Asama Festival

There are several long-standing festivals called "Asama Festivals" or "Sengensan" in MinamiiseTown, but the "Hozaura Sengen Festival" is said to be a festival that began in the mid-Edo period to pray ​for the warding off disease and for a good catch.

The festival is held on the weekend closest to May 27th or 28th on the lunar calendar, and this year it will be held on June 29th (Sat) and 30th (Sun).

The first day is called Yomiya or the eve of the festival, and the second day is called Honbi, and during the festival, the people wear bizarre makeup, fireworks are set off, and the climax is a strenuous mountain climb. It is a very rich and intangible cultural asset​ ​designated by MinamiiseTown! (Registered in 1993)

Why do we wear makeup?

​The large and small offerings (Ohei and Kohei), which are also bamboo decorations, are said to be inhabited by the elder and younger goddesses, Iwanagahime and Konohanasakuyahime.

While the younger sister was very beautiful, the older sister was said to be ugly, so the festival attendants would wear strange and funny makeup to appease her!

The flow of the Houzaura Sengen Festival

■ June 29th (Saturday) Yoimiya (Eve of the Festival)

9:00 Sakura nursery school children carry mikoshi and perform a dance.

At 14:30, the Rokuju Shigoori ritual is held in the sea in front of the market, after which a town procession called Heimawashi takes place at 16:30.

After the banquet, the festival participants put on makeup and depart from the disaster prevention center for the Dochu Odori dance. After singing and dancing at the fish market, fireworks are launched to end the Yomiya festival.

■ June 30th (Sun) Main Festival

The festival participants gather from around 7:00, and after applying makeup and preparation, they go around to two houses in the town that have been selected by lottery, offer offerings, and sing and dance inside the houses.

After the offerings have been placed at each home, people make the strenuous climb up Mount​ ​Asama to the Asama Shrine at the top of the mountain, taking care not to tip over the large and small offerings, where they offer the offerings and conclude the festival.

Things to see and things to note

[Major highlights]

- Scenes of festival attendees wearing makeup singing and dancing in the town parade and market

・ Fireworks at the port in front of the market

- The sight of them climbing a mountain, carrying the bamboo decorations called Ohei and Kohei, which are about 8 to 10 meters high, careful not to tip them over, is what marks the climax of the town parade and main festival!

【 Notes 】

・Mount Asama is not high, at only 150m above sea level, but the hiking trail is narrow, has exposed rock surfaces, is unshaded, and is steep (unpaved).

On festival days, women are not allowed beyond the torii gate near the summit of Mount Asama.

・The festival participants will be climbing mountains while carrying large bamboo decorations. Please refrain from climbing mountains near the festival participants as this can be dangerous.

*We recommend watching the mountain climb from the fish market.

Houzaura Asama Festival - Detailed information

[Donation boxes will be set up]

Hozaura in MinamiiseTown currently has a population of less than 300 people.We are working hard to ensure the survival of the historic Asama Festival, saying, "We must not let the festival be discontinued!"

Donation boxes will be set up at the venue for the two days of the festival. We would be grateful for your support.

(Donations of 1,000 yen or more will receive a gift, first come first served)

They also sell towels​ ​and hand towels with the Houzaura Sengen Festival's travel songs written on them!

Detailed information

ShirongoFestival, a festival for female divers

On June 11th of the lunar calendar, a remote island in TobaCity Sugashima It is in "Shirongo Beach"and"Shirahige Shrine" Held in.

It is said that the origin of this shrine dates back about 700 years ago, when a white snake appeared on Sugashima Island and was worshipped as a messenger of the dragon god and the guardian deity of the island.

The female divers will compete to be the first to catch a pair of black and red abalone!

The first pair of abalone caught is offered to Shirahige Shrine as "Beckoning Abalone" in prayer for a good catch and safety at sea.

The offering is made by the female diver, and the first female diver to catch a pair of abalone is guaranteed a good catch and is respected by everyone as the "head diver" for a year.

*Shirongo Beach is normally a no-fishing zone, but​ ​female divers are allowed to dive only on festival days.

Flow of ShirongoFestival

At around 8:30, the chief priest will pray for safe divers' operations at Shirongo Beach, and then the female divers will start their work with a conch shell signal!

At sea, six boats decorated with fishing flags make three laps around the coast, livening up the festival.

The operation lasts about 45 minutes, but the female divers catch abalone and turban shells one after another!

Freshly caught abalone and turban shells are sold at Shirongo Beach, and they were so popular that they sold out in a flash last year.

Things to see and things to note

[Please check it out!]

・The moment when the female divers start their work all at once with the signal of a conch shell.​

・ The incredible feat of diving into the ocean one after the other without a break☆

-It's rare to see female divers in their beach attire these days, so it's a rare sight!

【 Notes 】

■ The votive female diver Shirahige Shrine Hemaneki abalone Please transport carefully.

Let's watch from a distance without getting too close.

If you want to take photos, we recommend using a telephoto lens.

■ It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the port to Shirongo Beach. The promenade has some ups and downs!

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. There is no shade on the beach, so be sure to take precautions against heatstroke.

To Sugashima, take TobaCity ferry

Sugashima is an isolated island located about 3km east of Toba Port.

Board the regular ferry departing from Toba Marine Terminal (Sadahama) and arrive at Sugashima in about 15 minutes.

To make it in time for ShirongoFestival, take the first boat departing from Sadahama at 7:55AM!

(※If you leave the boat after this time, you will not make it in time for the start of the festival.)

Regular ferry passenger fare from Sadahama to Sugashima

・Adults: 510 yen

・Children (ages 6 to 12) 260 yen

ShirongoFestival- Detailed information

After the festival, we recommend taking a stroll around the island!

Sugashima is rich in nature and has a beautiful sea. It is also home to the Sugashima Lighthouse, the oldest brick lighthouse in operation and chosen as one of the "50 Best Lighthouses in Japan," as well as a swimming beach.

Be sure to check out the Sugashima sightseeing guide by Mie Travel Ambassadors Fugamaru-chan and Chamu-chan!

Detailed information

Energy! Passion! Chousaya! "Matsusaka Gion Festival"

Matsusaka Gion Festival "February's Hatsuuma Festival", "November Ujisato Festival" Alongside One of the three major Matsusaka festivals.

It is said to have originated from the Goryoe festival that began in Kyoto during the Heian period, and that the festival of Yasaka Shrine, which enshrines Gozu Tenno, spread to Matsusaka.

The festival lasts for two days, the first half of which is "Three shrine mikoshi", the second half Intangible Folk Cultural Property of MatsusakaCity It is specified in "Matsusaka Shongai Ondo and Dance" or "Matsusaka Shongai Soran" "Bell Dance" There will also be performances of songs such as these, and many people from children to seniors will participate, making it a very lively event!!

This year marks the 36th Sansha Mikoshi Festival!

・ Mikuriya Shrine and Yakumo ShrineThe portable shrine,Matsusaka Shrine of Two Mikoshi (Yaegaki and Uryu) "ChouSaya!" The procession took place in the city, shouting "Han-ji Temple!" from the evening until night. Hinocho intersection Mix together using the mixture.

Many people gather every time to see the passionate performances of the three companies. (※2023: The number of visitors over the two days was about 170,000!)

​The "Kowaka Mikoshi" mikoshi carried by students from 4th grade elementary school to 3rd grade junior high school can also be seen from 4:00pm to 6:30pm on the 13th (Sat).

・The call "Chosha-ya" is said to have the meaning "May you prosper for a thousand generations."​

(※ The Sansha Mikoshi will be held mainly on the 13th (Sat), but Yakumo Shrine will also make a procession on the 14th (Sun))

Schedule for the two days

■ July 13th (Saturday) Yoimiya / 13:00-21:00

・ Around 14:00 from Mikuriya Shrine, Yakumo Shrine, Matsusaka Shrine of Daytime procession will begin.

【 attention!! 】

From the evening Hinocho intersection It is held in Parade of the Sansha Mikoshi So, Don't miss the majestic sight of the mikoshi and its bearers. ☆

The shouts of "Choseya!" echo through the Matsusaka night.

There will also be a Japanese drum performance.

■ 14th (Sun) Today / 10:00-21:00

・Mikoshi of Yakumo Shrine

・Matsusaka Shongai Ondo

・Matsusaka Shongai Soran

・High school students dancing, playing guitar, and Japanese drums

・Bell dance, etc.

For detailed schedules, please visit the MatsusakaCity Tourism Association official website and the Sansha Mikoshi official website.​

Speaking of festivals...food stalls!

The Matsusaka Gion Festival is crowded with many people.

Many people look forward to the numerous food stalls just as much as they look forward to the festival!

Each shopping district sets up its own elaborate food stalls, allowing people to enjoy the long nights of the summer festival.

I always go to the venue hungry and enjoy the food stalls♪

Matsusaka Gion Festival - Detailed information

Detailed information

There's so much to see! The extravagant "Daiyokkaichi Festival"

This year marks the 61st year of the Daiyokkaichi Festival.

The event will be held on Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th in 2024!

We will introduce the schedule and highlights.

There will also be many food stalls, which is one of the best parts of the festival.

Themes for the two days

■ First day: Saturday, 3rd

On "Dance Day," many people from children to adults will participate and perform dances.

■ Day 2: 4th (Sun)

The exhibition is titled "Local Culture and Traditional Performing Arts" and introduces festivals and events held in the city based on the theme of each year.

This year's theme is "Grand competition of gongs and drums"!! The climax will be a first ever joint performance of gongs and drums by the city's Tenno Festival, IshidoriFestival Festival, Suwa Taiko, and Dainenbutsu. It's sure to be a spectacular performance☆

Schedule and Venue Information

■ 3rd (Sat)

[Venue] Around Mitaki Street, Fureai Mall, Suwa Shrine, etc.

[Events and Activities]

・Flower offering ceremony, opening event

・Let's all have fun at the festival square

・Daiyokkaichi Parade

・Little Dance Festival

・Dance Contest Festival

・Children's Suwa Taiko

・Citizen Bon Odori (held this year in the schoolyard of Chuo Elementary School)

・Local cultural assets: Folk dance and lion dance

(Hamada Lion Dance, Tsubakigishi Shrine Lion Dance, Otate Lion Dance, Tachisaka Shrine Lion Dance, hinaga Tsuntsuku Dance, Mizusawa Osuwa Dance)

■ 4th (Sun)

[Venue] Around Mitaki Street, Fureai Mall, Suwa Shrine, etc.

[Events and Activities]

・Local cultural assets: Folk dance and lion dance

(Minamihama Dance Lion Dance)

・Local cultural assets and traditional performing arts

(Whale boats, Seshu group, Dai-nyudo, O-Suwa mikoshi, Daimyo procession, Iwatoyama, Sugawara no Michizane, IshidoriFestival breaking, ladder climbing, Shoji Ishitori Festival, Kawarada Tenno Festival, Suwa Taiko, Higashihinocho Dainenbutsu)

・Encounter ~Meeting~

・Let's all have fun at the festival square, etc.

For details on the schedule and times, please check the official website of the Daiyokkaichi Festival.

A first in history!

​The climax of the event will be on Sunday the 4th, when the Matsudera IshidoriFestival, Kawarada Tenno Festival, Suwa Taiko, and Higashihinocho Dainenbutsu will all come together on Mitaki Street.

First in historyofAll-out banging of gongs and drums Showing offTo do.

Yokkaichi is also famous for its whaling boat event, and this year the Whale Boat Seshu-gumi will be performing!

​It is very rare to have a festival where you can see so many historical ceremonies and traditional performing arts over two days, and it is a very luxurious experience.

This festival can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, and is attended by many people every year.

Daiyokkaichi Festival - Detailed information

Detailed information

The noisiest festival in Japan!! "Kuwana IshidoriFestival"

"Japan's noisiest festival" It is said that"Kuwana IshidoriFestival"(Kuwanai Shidori Festival).

Records of stone-collecting have been left behind from the early Edo period, andit is said that this festival involves collecting pure stones from the Machiya River, which flows through southern Kuwana, and offering them to Kasuga Shrine to purify the shrine grounds.

Originally, festival floats were small, but later they developed into larger and more luxurious floats, and drums and gongs began to be beaten.

This is a grand summer festival that represents Kuwana.

How many gorgeous festival cars will be participating this year?

Festival floatA float called43 unitsLast year, 40 cars participated in the festival. This year, 40 cars are also scheduled to participate.This is the first time in history that 40 cars will participate for two consecutive years.Apparently so!

It is extremely rare nationwide for a festival to bring together so many floats at a single shrine or ritual.

■ In 2007,  the "Kuwana IshidoriFestival Float Event" was designated as a "Nationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property."​

■ In 2016,  the "Yama, Hoko and Yatai Festivals" were designated as a "UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage."

has been registered.

Practice and trial

■ Knockout

The date of the Kuwana IshidoriFestival has changed from the day before to the day of the festival. Midnight of "Knock it out" It starts with:

With the sound of the Kagura drums at Kasuga Shrine as the signal, the sound spreads from the areas closest to the shrine to the areas furthest away, and the drums, gongs, and cheers echo through the streets of Kuwana in the middle of the night!

Just before the beating begins, many people stand in front of Kasuga Shrine with their smartphones and cameras ready, eagerly waiting for the moment when the beating begins (the beating ends before dawn).

■ Try it out

​The rehearsal begins in the evening (around 18:00) and the town parade continues until 23:00.

■ The 40 festival floats will be divided into 11 groups and test drives will be held in each district (for details, please see the Kuwana IshidoriFestival Preservation Society's official website or official guidebook).

The climax is here!

[Hongaku]​

■ 2:00 start

　Starting at midnight, the sounds of drums and gongs will once again echo through the streets of Kuwana.

■ 13:00～Minami Market Lineup

18:00～Floor Float Festival

・ Hanaguruma (float): The first of the 40 floats to take part in the parade.

Every year the order of the parades is decided by drawing lots, and for 2024 it has been decided that the float will be paraded in Yoshizuyacho!

■ After the festival (from around 22:00), the four festival floats are pulled apart at Tamachi intersection.

The main event is said to be the Watari Festival held in front of Kasuga Shrine, but don't miss the farewell parade that takes place afterwards!

The four festival floats gather at the intersection and play music for 20 minutes, after which the floats head back to their respective districts.

It all finishes around midnight (be careful of the last train).

Kuwana IshidoriFestival- Detailed information

■ ​Stalls will be set up around the venue for two days.

【 Notes 】

・Do not touch the floats, straddle the pull ropes, or get too close.

・Please do not go under the tent of the festival floats.

・Please take your trash home with you

Tourism Mie is also currently publishing an article explaining the Kuwana IshidoriFestival from the perspective of a local resident.

Kuwana IshidoriFestival- Detailed information

The finale is a fierce duel!? "obuke Hachioji Festival"

*August 12, 2024: This year's schedule has been changed.

The obuke Hachioji Festival is a festival to ward off disease that is held in the obuke district of Asahi AsahiTown cho, Mie Prefecture.

About 300 years ago, an illness broke out in obuke area. It is said that this ritual began as a prayer to ward off illness, and in 1993 it was designated an intangible folk cultural property of AsahiTown.

The event is held on a fixed date every year, August 13th.

Start with a walk around the town

■ Evening 18:30

The festival participants and local residents gathered at obuke Community Center.

The procession takes place through obuke area, with large drums and gongs carried on the festival floats beating, and heads towards obuke Shrine.

The sight of them striking the drums so powerfully is really cool!

*Due to a decision by the local residents' association, this year's (August 13, 2024) town parade has been canceled.

■ Around 20:00

They parade through the festival floats to obuke Shrine and beat large drums in front of the main hall!

A thrilling climax!

And then... we enter the climax of the fight!!
Men, both middle-aged and young, strip shirtless and start hitting each other with lit torches as if to ward off disease!

This is quite intense and the audience is in a frenzy ☆ It's a moment you don't want to blink.

* The fighting will take place right in front of the audience. Sparks and parts of the torches may fly off, so please do not get too close.

(If sparks fly onto your clothes, they may burn holes or stain them, so we recommend wearing clothes that you don't mind getting dirty when watching the fighting.)

The final event involves the burning of a large torch erected within the shrine.

*This year (August 13, 2024), the drumming competition will take place at 6:30 p.m., following the completion of the drum offering and the purification ritual by the chief priest for the young men and women.

(Times may vary)

Participation is open to those from within and outside AsahiTown

Anyone who wants to join the battle between young people and middle-aged men is welcome!​

People outside obuke area are also welcome to participate, so if you'd like to take part, please contact us using the contact form on obuke Shrine website!

Why not join the smacking and pray for disease to go away?

obuke Shrine also holds a sketching contest for children.

obuke Hachioji Festival - Detailed information

Detailed information

How was it

This time, I have brought you six summer festivals in Mie that I think you should definitely see.

From the north to the south​, these festivals are full of individuality and charm, and I can confidently recommend them!

Some festivals are held over two days, so it's possible to visit all of the festivals we've introduced here!

I would be happy if after reading my article you think, "I didn't know there was a festival like this!" or "I'd like to see it/go there."​