Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

Nagahama Hikiyama Festival, with a history of about 450 years, is one of the three major float festivals and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan. Held annually from April 9 to 17 in the town of Nagahama, the festival entertains visitors with a variety of events, including a naked visit by young men.

The floats called "Hikiyama" are a must-see attraction at the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. The floats used in the festival today were built in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868) and represent the best of traditional craftsmanship of the time. These gorgeous floats being pulled through the town is a sight to behold.

The main attraction of the festival is the children's kabuki (children's kyogen). The kabuki is performed by local boys between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, and they will be passionately performing on the stage of the Hikiyama on the night of the 13th, the morning of the 14th, and from the 15th to the 16th. The "Dedication Kyogen" performed on the 15th at Nagahama Hachiman-gu Shrine is a must-see! A 40-minute Kabuki performance is performed on the stage of four Hikiyama floats pulled into the shrine grounds. The performance, which is as good as any adult performance, is sure to captivate the audience.

The Nagahama Hikiyama Museum displays and exhibits the actual Hikiyama, as well as history and documents about the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. The festival was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, along with 32 other "Yama, Hoko, Yatai events" in Japan.