Overview
Tonami Yotaka Festival is famous for the parade of festival floats called “Yotaka Andon” which is beautifully decorated with massive paper lanterns.
Unlike famous Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori, the size and shape of “Yotaka Andons” are similar to typical festival floats called ” Dashi.”
What makes Yotaka Festival special is float fight. People make teams for each district, and drive floats to clash into other floats and destroy them.This ritual makes Tonami Yotaka Festival famous as the fighting festival.
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History
After the town was nearly destroyed by massive fire in 1652, the delegates had been sent to the Ise Grand Shrine, which Japanese adore as “Soul of Japan”, to bring back a part of the spiritual power to rebuild their own shrine to pray safety and prosperity for the town.
When the delegate arrived the mountain near the town after Sunset, people of the town went there to welcome them with holding lanterns in their hands. And that is believed to be the beginning of Tonami Yotaka Festival.
Religious Background
Shintou
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Date
2nd Friday and Saturday of June
Dates and functions are subjects to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.
Location
Honmachi Town, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture
More information
http://foreign.info-toyama.com/en/event/?event_id=26&ret_list_p=3