This year's hottest festivals are coming! You're sure to have a blast! 6 must-see summer festivals in Mie
掲載日：2024.06.22
Mie Prefecture is home to many unique, historic festivals.
When you think of summer, many people probably think of festivals.
"Festival Lover" Namie Travel Ambassador Maami brings you "6 Mie Summer Festivals"!!
We also have a report article that provides more detailed explanations and introductions, so please check it out.
1. Hozaura Sengen Festival
The Houzaura Sengen Festival is said to be a festival that began in the mid-Edo period to pray for the elimination of disease and for a good catch.
Houzaura is a fishing town with a current population of just under 300 people, but we are working hard to thrive despite the declining birthrate, aging population, and depopulation.
The festival participants sing and dance, fireworks are set off over the harbor, and the climax of the main festival on the second day is an extremely challenging mountain climb!!
【 event date 】
June 29th (Sat) and 30th (Sun) 2024
【 Venue 】
MinamiiseTown /Hozaura Fish Market and others
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At the Houzaura Asama Festival, festival participants put on white paint and other humorous makeup.
There's a good reason for this!
Check out the report to find out why.
Don't miss the art of carrying the large bamboo decorations during the town parade, making sure they don't fall over!
2. ShirongoFestival
A festival for female divers held at Shirongo Beach and Shirahige Shrine on Sugashima, a remote island in TobaCity.
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 compete to be the first to catch a pair of black and red abalone, and the first pair caught is offered to Shirahige Shrine as a "beckoning abalone," in hopes of a good catch and safety at sea.
【 event date 】
Saturday, July 6, 2024
【 Venue 】
TobaCity / Shirongo Beach and Shirahige Shrine
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To get to Sugashima, take TobaCity ferry and arrive in about 15 minutes.
Sugashima is rich in nature and has a beautiful sea. It is also home to the oldest brick lighthouse in Japan, so we recommend taking a stroll around the island after the festival.
3. Matsusaka Gion Festival
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The Matsusaka Gion Festival is one of the three major festivals in Matsusaka, alongside the Hatsuuma Festival in February and the Ujisato Festival in November.
The festival lasts for two days, with the "Sansha Mikoshi" in the first half and the "Matsusaka Shongai Ondo and Dance," "Matsusaka Shongai Soran," and "Suzuodori," designated as intangible folk cultural properties of MatsusakaCity, being performed in the second half. Many people, from children to the elderly, participate, and the venue is in a frenzy!
【 event date 】
Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th, 2024
【 Venue 】
MatsusakaCity /Hinocho intersection, Mikuriya Shrine, Yakumo Shrine, Matsusaka Shrine
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This year marks the 36th "Sansha Mikoshi" festival held as part of the Matsusaka Gion Festival!
Mikuriya ShrineandYakumoShrine, andthe two mikoshiofMatsusaka Shrine(Yaegaki and Amuryu)are paraded through the city with shouts of"Chosa-ya!" and are paraded aroundHino-cho intersection from evening into the night.The portable shrines of
The shout of "Choseya" echoes through the streets of Matsusaka. What does that word mean...?
4. Great Yokkaichi Festival
This year marks the 61st year of the Daiyokkaichi Festival.
The first day is "Dance Day," when many people, from children to adults, participate and perform dances.
On the second day, titled "Local Culture and Traditional Performing Arts," we will be introducing festivals and events held in the city based on the theme of each year!
【 event date 】
Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th, 2024
【 Venue 】
YokkaichiCity / Around Mitaki Street (Suwamachi and others)
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This year's theme is "Grand Competition of Gongs and Drums"!!
The climax of the second day will be a first-of-its-kind event, with a 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.
The festival is attended by people of all ages, from children to adults, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Many people attend the festival every year.
5. Kuwana IshidoriFestival-Cutting Festival
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The Kuwana IshidoriFestival is said to be the noisiest festival in Japan.
This summer festival, which represents Kuwana, is not only a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, but also registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The festival starts at midnight with the "tatakidashi" (starting ceremony)! Despite the late hour, it is a unique festival that attracts many people!
【 event date 】
Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th, 2024
【 Venue 】
KuwanaCity /Kasuga Shrine and others
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There are 43 floats called saisha, and this year 40 are participating! It is extremely rare for a festival to bring together so many floats at a single shrine or ritual in the whole country.
On the second day, the festival floats are carried out one by one in front of Kasuga Shrine. The order is decided by drawing lots every year, and the first float to be carried out is called the "hanaguruma."
6. obuke Hachioji Festival
The obuke Hachioji Festival is a festival to ward off illness that is held in obuke area of Asahi AsahiTown cho, Mie Prefecture.
The festival involves parading through the town beating large drums and gongs carried on festival floats, and the climax is when people "hit each other" with lit torches.
Just hearing about it might make you think it's a very intense event, but it's actually a festival with a long history that has been held in obuke area for about 300 years.
【 event date 】
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
*Updated August 12, 2024
*Due to a decision by the local residents' association, this year's (August 13, 2024) town parade has been canceled.
The drumming match will begin at 6:30 p.m., following the drum offering and the chief priest's purification ritual for the young men and women.
【 Venue 】
AsahiTown / obuke Shrine*Fixed date every year
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The fight takes place in front of an audience.
Torch fragments and sparks will fly everywhere, so we recommend wearing clothes that you don't mind getting dirty!
There is no parking lot at obuke Shrine, so please use temporary parking lots or public transportation.
We are proud to introduce "6 Summer Festivals in Mie"!!
Some of the festivals we have introduced are held over two days, so it is possible to see all six!
We hope you will find this article, along with our detailed report on "6 Summer Festivals in Mie," useful for your next trip.