Akita Prefecture – Kakunodate Matsuri’s Yama Gyoji
Kakunodate Matsuri’s Yama Gyoji is one of 33 “Yama, Hoko, Yatai Gyoji” float festivals chosen to be added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritages.
This festival has over 350 years of history, and is held by Shimei and Yakushido Shrines in the Kakunodate area of Akita Prefecture’s Semboku City.
Young men pull floats, called hikiyama, through the town, and when the paths of two floats meet, they are thrown together in massive collisions to determine which will go ahead first!
Elegant dances and extraordinary decorated dolls on the floats are also must-sees!
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Basic information on Akita Prefecture – Kakunodate Matsuri’s Yama Gyoji
Akita Prefecture – Kakunodate Matsuri’s Yama Gyoji
- Address
- Kakunodate-cho’s old town, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
- Access
- A short walk from the JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen’s “Kakunodate Station”
- Event Period
- September 7th-9th annually
- Viewing Fee
- Free
- URL(English)
- http://kakunodate-kanko.jp/language/en/events/automn.html