Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri
長浜曳山祭35°23′ N 136°16′ EFestivalApr 13, 2027Dates projected
Nagahama's Hikiyama festival suits anyone near the lake in mid-April who wants to watch children perform kabuki on gilded floats, though the 15 April high point starts at dawn and the streets pack tight.
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi, lord of Nagahama castle, had a son, he handed out gold dust to the townspeople, and they are said to have built floats with it for the Nagahama Hachimangu festival. The floats in use today date from the Edo period, when each neighbourhood competed to make its float grander. The draw is the children's kabuki, played on the float stages by boys aged 5 to 12.
The main days run from 13 to 16 April. On the 14th the floats gather at the shrine in the afternoon, and at 19:00 the young actors walk through town showing off their moves. On the 15th, the highlight, four floats perform in an order drawn by lot at the shrine. They then play again along the approach and at the otabisho resting place, and the floats go home after dark with their lanterns lit. Each float performs in its own street again on the 16th.
The Hikiyama Museum near Kurokabe shows real floats all year, for ¥600, if you can't make April. It closes on Mondays.
Worth knowing
- Arrive early on 15 April; the procession to the shrine starts around 7:00.
- The Hikiyama Museum also runs an autumn float procession each October, when it swaps the floats on display.
Quick answers about Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuriよくある質問
When is the Nagahama Hikiyama festival?
The main days fall on 13 to 16 April every year, with the shrine performances on 15 April.
Can I see the Nagahama hikiyama floats outside the festival?
Yes. The Hikiyama Museum in central Nagahama displays real floats all year for ¥600, closing on Mondays.
What are the opening hours of Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri?
Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri is open the 15 April performances start around 7:00 with the procession to the shrine.