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Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Festival

－A traditional festival with over 300 years of history－　

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About the Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Festival

“The Hikiyama Parades of Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Festival” are part of the sequence of annual rites performed by the Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha, which is the central shrine of the Tsuchizaki town. It is an Important Intangible National Cultural Asset and has been loved by many under the nickname of “Tsuchizaki Minato Hikiyama Festival”.
The Hikiyama Parades are performed on July 20th and 21st, but many other rites and festivities occur before and after the Parades.
This is a festival of long tradition and deep affection for the Tsuchizaki locals.

When? Where?

This festival is held annually from July 20th to 21st.

【Time Schedule】
20th All day
21st All day until Midnight (around 12 a.m.)

The main event, the Night Parades, is held along Chuo Dori Street.
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the west exit of Akita Station to the Kanto Festival venue.
It gets quite crowded every year, so if you have children, please hold their hands tightly.

Reference: Tsutizaki Festival Official Page

Highlight of this festival

The highlight of this festival is the return of the floats to each town from around 8:00 pm on the 21st.
The festival reaches its climax, and its power is a must-see.
As a local, my recommended viewing spot is in front of the 「Igarashi Memorial Hospital」.
The scene where the floats rotate 90 degrees is really impressive.
The wheels of the floats are made of wood. The unique sound of the wood rubbing against each other is quite atmospheric.

Learn, see, and fee this festival

This festival only happens once a year. What if you are not in Japan at that time?
Don’t worry about it. The Tsuchizaki Minato Museum of History and Tradition is a museum where you can enjoy the atmosphere of this festival all year round.
In the atrium hall, you can see the extra-large floats, which are about 11.5 meters high, up close.

→ https://tuchizaki.com/

Comments

If you are in Akita, this is the festival you should definitely visit.　The intensity of this festival cannot be felt unless you see it directly on site.
There are many stalls, so you must enjoy it all once!!