Children perform kabuki on thirteen floats: the festival has been UNESCO heritage since 2016.
Every year from 9 to 15 April, the shrine is the heart of the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri: thirteen decorated floats (hikiyama) take turns to parade, four at a time each year, and on twelve of them chosen children perform classical kabuki; the first float always opens with the ritual sanbasō dance. Recognised as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1979 and as UNESCO heritage in 2016, as part of the Japanese ‘yama, hoko, yatai’ festivals.
Shinto shrine in Nagahama, ritual home of the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri.
ℹ️ Free entry to the grounds. The festival centres on 15 April: book accommodation well in advance if you are visiting on those days.
🚉 Nagahama · 16 min walk
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