Introducing 4 Must-See Traditional Festivals in Nihonmatsu City (Fukushima Prefecture)

In Nihonmatsu, a castle town with a land area of ​​100,000 koku, festivals and events become more exciting from autumn onwards, including the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival, said to be one of Japan's three major lantern festivals, the Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival, the largest in Japan, and the Harimichi Wild Float Festival, which has a tradition of over 400 years

In particular, the festivals of Nihonmatsu, where local neighborhood associations and youth associations have faithfully passed down their traditions, are all full of charm and energy and are representative of Fukushima Prefecture. In this article, we will introduce four of the most representative festivals that have been passed down in Nihonmatsu

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The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival, a symbol of Nihonmatsu

of Ninohe, you the Lantern Festival, which is a festival that symbolizes Ninohe.

It is held on the first Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of October every year, and the dates for 2023 are scheduled to be October 7th (Sat), 8th (Sun), and 9th (Mon)

It all began about 370 years ago when Lord Niwa Mitsushige became the lord of Nihonmatsu Castle and "in order to govern well, I must first inspire the people of my domain with a sense of reverence for the gods." He then enshrined Nihonmatsu Shrine in what is now Kurigasaka and allowed any citizen of the domain to freely visit, which is said to be the beginning of the Lantern Festival.

The sight of approximately 300 lantern-decorated taiko floats coming together in one place is magnificent, with one float from each of the seven neighborhoods of Honmachi, Kameya, Takeda, Matsuoka, Nezaki, Wakamiya, and Guilinai

The highlight of the lantern festival is the evening festival on the first day. This is the only day when all the towns gather together for the night parade

Seven Taiko floats, each carrying a bell-shaped lantern, are paraded from each neighborhood, transferring the bonfire from Nihonmatsu Shrine to the red lanterns. If the Taiko floats sway violently, such as when going uphill, the lanterns may catch fire. Afterwards, the Taiko floats are paraded through the city in a heroic fashion, accompanied by the energetic shouts and music of the young performers

Each group has its own unique musical accompaniment, and all of the remaining songs in the seven groups have been designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by the prefecture

Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival <Information>

• Name: Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival
• Dates: October 7th (Sat), 8th (Sun), 9th (Mon)
• Location: Throughout Nihonmatsu city
• Inquiries: Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival Executive Committee
• Phone number: 0243-55-5122

For traffic regulation maps and other information, please check the Nihonmatsu City Tourism Federation website

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The solemn and elegant "Obama Montsuki Festival"

The Obama Montsuki Festival is an annual festival held in October at Shiomatsu Shrine in the Obama district of Nihonmatsu City. The 2023 Obama Montsuki Festival will be held on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th.

This is a religious ceremony held at Shiomatsu Shrine, which was once the head shrine of the 33 Adachi villages. It is called the "Montsuki Festival" because all those involved in the festival wear formal attire, complete with crested haori and hakama

The festival is said to have begun in the mid-Edo period, and the history of Shiomatsu Shrine dates back to the Kamakura period. The format has been passed down unchanged for over 200 years, with parishioners dressed in crested hakama parading through the town with gorgeous gold-leafed taiko floats

The highlight is the main festival on the second day. At night, the four towns of Sorimachi, Fujimachi, Shinmachi, and Toriimachi transform into lantern floats and hold a spectacular joint lantern festival

This festival has three major faces: the Taiko float that slowly advances with young men wearing family crests, the Taiko float that parades heroically to the lively Shangiri Bayashi music, and the Taiko float that is decorated with bell-shaped lanterns and lights up the autumn night

Obama Montsuki Festival <Information>

• Name: Shiomatsu Shrine Annual Festival Obama Montsuki Festival
• Dates: Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th
• Location: Shiomatsu Shrine, Nihonmatsu City Obama Aza Tanmachi, Fujimachi, Shinmachi, and Toriimachi areas
• Inquiries: Iwashiro Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0243-65-2803
• Parking: Please use the parking lot at Iwashiro Branch Office

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A fierce clash at "Harimichi's Wild Floats"

Next up is the eye-catching "Harimichi no Bare Dashi" float . It is said to have been held since the time of Genta Harimichi (1585), and boasts a tradition of over 400 years.

Held every year on the Sunday before Sports Day, the festival consists of the "Main Festival" on the first day and the "Ato Matsuri" on the second day, featuring the historic Harimichi Abare Float floats, which have been held since the Heian period

The main event is the Ato Matsuri, held on the second day of the festival. The fierce fighting is a highlight, and it is also known as the "Fighting Festival."

Accompanied by the sounds of flutes and drums and the shouts of "Yoi yoi!" from the younger generation, the wheels roll with a deafening roar as the floats collide. The moment the floats collide violently as they are pushed and turned, a tremendous roar echoes throughout the area

The floats, made mainly by young local men in their teens to 30s, feature characters familiar to children. It's an interesting fusion of tradition and modern trends. On the first day, all the floats gather at the Towa Cultural Center for a commemorative photo shoot.

Harimichi's Wild Floats <Information>

• Name: Harimichi's Wild Float
• Date: Scheduled for the second Sunday of October
• Location: Main street of Harimichi Shopping Arcade
• Inquiries: Towa Tourism Association (Towa Branch Regional Promotion Division)
• Phone: 0243-66-2490

For more details, please visit the official website of the Harimichi Young Association

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Colorful flags flutter in the wind at the Kohata Flag Festival

The Kohata Flag Festival is a festival in which a procession carrying over 100 large and small handmade flags in five different colors, blowing conch horns, winds through the mountain roads of Abukuma towards Mount Kohata.

The origins of the festival date back to the Battle of Zenkunen in 1055. After being defeated in battle, the Genji army barricaded themselves in Mt. Kohata with only a few horsemen, and overnight the entire mountain was covered in snow, turning it white

The festival is based on the story of how the troops of Abe, who were pursuing the enemy, mistook the flag for a white flag of the Genji and fled without fighting. It has been passed down for 970 years, inheriting the heroic Heian picture scroll

The procession of colorful flags, led by a white flag, is said to be one of Japan's three major flag festivals and has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan

In addition to the procession, "Hayama Komori" and "Tainai Kuguri," which have become a traditional winter sight.

Kohata Flag Festival <Information>

• Name: Kohata Flag Festival
• Date: Scheduled to be held on the first Sunday of December
• Location: Jike Park (Kihata Jike, Nihonmatsu City)
• Inquiries: Nihonmatsu City Hall Towa Branch, Regional Promotion Division
• Phone number: 0243-66-2490

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A summary of 4 traditional festivals in Nihonmatsu

Nihonmatsu is home to a wide range of festivals, from spirited to solemn. Each festival has a rich history and is an interesting one that has handed down traditions to the present day.
From autumn onwards, Nihonmatsu is packed with things to see! Come experience Japanese festivals in Nihonmatsu.

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