Festivals in Central Japan you should never miss

Festivals in Central Japan you should never miss

Also known as Central Japan, Chubu is a region in the middle of Honshu, the main island of Japan, and the area encompasses nine prefectures, including Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, and Toyama. The area is located in between the Kanto region and the Kansai region of Japan, and the area is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, and Mt. Fuji.

There are a lot of festivals held in Central Japan, and they are unique and can range from small to large-scale festivals. To give you more insights into it, we have listed up some of the best festivals in Central Japan for you to experience throughout the year!

Index : Festivals in Central Japan you should never miss

1. Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri
2. Ogaki Festival
3. Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival
4. Takayama Festival

1. Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri is a naked festival held annually in February, particularly at the Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa, Aichi. The festival attracts thousands of visitors every year, watching thousands of men splashed with cold water while carrying portable shrines into the shrine wearing white cotton loincloths only.

There are tons of naked festivals held in various places around Japan, but one of the biggest, oldest, and most popular festivals is the Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri, which has been held annually since the year 767 to ward off bad spirits, disease, and drive out bad luck before welcoming in the good luck.

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2. Ogaki Festival

Ogaki Festival is a 360-year-old festival held in Ogaki, Gifu, to celebrate the arrival of summer. The festival was also designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in late 2016, and it involves thirteen yama floats, of which three were received from the feudal lord Toda during the Edo period (1603-1868). The other ten were made by different neighborhood districts, and the festival also features stages for children to perform kabuki or play “karakuri” marionette dolls.

In addition to the floats, the festival is also dotted with 600 street stalls, offering some of the best local foods, souvenirs, traditional games, and toys for children.

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3. Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival is one of the wildest traditional Shinto festivals in the area. It takes place every January 15, in the winter, and involves fiery clashes between the male villagers, particularly those aged 25 and 42.

In Japan, the ages of 25 and 42 are considered astrologically unlucky for men, and the Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival protects these men with ancient New Year rituals. Also known as Dosojin Matsuri, the festival lights up the night as many villagers carry torches to burn down a temporary shrine called shaden, featuring 25-year-old men defending the structure while the 42-year-olds men sing and chant.

Although the festival has a destructive nature and involves a huge struggle, it is held to celebrate the birth of a family’s first child, ward off evil spirits, and ensure happy marriages.

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4. Takayama Festival

The Spring Takayama Festival, or Sanno Matsuri, is a festival held annually from April 14 to April 15 at Hie Shrine to celebrate the coming of spring. The festival involves a parade that is held on the south side of Yasugawa Street, bordering Takayama’s Old Town district.

The festival features 12 yatai (festival floats) that are paraded throughout the city all at once. Three of the festival floats have a marionette show, and in addition to the parade, the festival also involves yomatsuri, which is a festival held at nighttime.

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