Katsuyama Sagicho Matsuri Festival Honmachi area, Katsuyama City Outline　 This is a type of local harvest festival, which was held many places on the lunar New Year (around January 15th) since the Heian period, but this festival is now held on the last Saturday and Sunday of February here in Katsuyama. Local neighborhoods build a few towers with stages in each neighborhood, and a group of men dressed as women in red kimonos make merry and perform to taiko drums, shamisen, Japanese traditional pipes and bells. This kind of unique festival is held only in Katsuyama. On the last day of this festival, each town carries their ‘Goshintai’ or a symbol of the spirit of a deity to the Kazuryo River and burn them at the same time. The fire contrasted with the snow under the winter sky is a glorious sight, which solemnly closes the curtain on this festival. Period Last Saturday and Sunday of February Directions 40 minutes by car from Fukui Kita or Maruoka IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Contact Info Katsuyama Industrial Commerce and Tourism Division 0779-88-1111 Wakasa Oi Super Fireworks Festival Play Park Oi (Oi Town General Sports Park), Seiwa, Oi Town Outline　 A large leaf-shaped torch, called Super Daikasei, is lit on the special stage and rotated vigorously by participants until it burns down. Then people knock down the torch as the finale of this valiant fire festival. Also, over 1,000 fireworks are set off and an energetic Japanese drum concert is held. Period Early August Directions About a 5 minute walk from the JR Wakasa Hongo Station. / About a 70 minute drive from Tsuruga IC of Hokuriku Expressway. / About a 10 minute drive from Oi-Takahama IC of Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. Fees Free Contact Info Oi Town Tourism Association 0770-77-1734 Hanakae (Flower Exchange) Festival Kanegasaki Town, Tsuruga City Outline　 In April, when the warm air blows and the cherry blossoms start opening, neighborhoods in Tsuruga are brightened up. The Hanakae Matsuri at Kanesaki shrine, one of the major cherry blossom spots, is an event where couples exchange a branch of cherry blossoms as well as their thoughts about each other, saying ‘Let’s exchange the flowers’.as well as their thoughts about each other. Period April 1 to April 15 Directions About a 30 minute walk from JR Tsuruga Station. / Take a community bus called 'Hagi Go' (clockwise) from JR Tsuruga station and get off at Kanesakiguchi stop. From there it is a five-minute walk. / 10 minutes by car from Tsuruga IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Fees Admission Free (Cherry branches are not free.) Contact Info Tsuruga Information Centre 0770-21-8686 Kuzuryu Autumn Leaves Festival Kuzuryu Recreation Village, Kadono, Ono City Outline　 The Kuzuryu Autumn Leaves Festival is held every October to enjoy the view of beautiful autumn leaves. The festival is held at the Kuzuryu Recreation Village, and many local residents participate in it. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of great autumn foods. Period October Directions About a 10 minute walk from the JR Kuzuryu Station. / About a 70 minute drive from Fukui IC of Hokuriku Expressway. / About a 25 minute drive from Shirotori JCT of Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway (via Aburazaka-toge on Chubujukan road). Fees Free Contact Info Ono City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division 0779-66-1111 Baka-Bayashi Teyose, Fukui City (at Homusubi Shrine) Outline　 Baka Bayashi (Foolish Musical Accompaniment) is a kind of local performing art with a more than 300 year-old history. Dancers with 37 kinds of Noh masks give humorous performances to the rhythm of Japanese drums and try to cause laughter among the audience. The event is held annually on May 24 at the Homusubi Shrine and is designated as an intangible cultural asset by the Fukui Prefectural Government. Period May 24 Directions 10 minute walk from JR Fukui Station. / A ten minute drive from Fukui IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Contact Info Baka-Bayashi Preservation Group 0776-24-3095 Echizen Manzai Ikeizumi Town, Echizen City Outline　 This traditional performance of art is to celebrate the New Year and wish for the prosperity of local families. The performance dates back 1400 years. The drumstick used for the arch shaped taiko drum performances is original to Echizen Manzai. This performance is designated as a national intangible ethnic cultural property. Period January 1 Contact Info Echizen Manzai Conservation 0778-27-1070 Star Fiesta Ogura, Natasho, Oi Town Outline　 Under the beautiful stars of the night, this summer festival is held on August 6th. The exciting program includes concerts, parades, Natasho-daiko (drums), fireworks, and a fantastic laser show in which letters are lighted on the mountainside. Period Middle of August Directions Take a local bus from JR Obama Station. 1 minute walk from the Akinaikan bus stop. / 80 minute drive from Tsuruga IC of Hokuriku Expressway. / A 30 minute drive from Obama Nishi IC of Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. Contact Info Oi Town Commerce Promotion Division 0770-77-1111 Hyogo no Kome Kitayokoji, Maruoka Town, Sakai City (Fukuro Shrine) Outline　 Hyogo no Kome (Hyogo Rice) is a kind of harvest festival in which many men in traditional costumes pound the first ears of rice in a wooden mortar. After the ceremony, the rice is steamed and presented as an offering to the gods, and the remaining rice is given to the other people in the shape of small rice balls. The event is held annually on September 14. Period Every year on September 14 Open 19:00- Directions Take a Keifuku bus from JR Fukui Station to Honmaruoka. A five-minute walk from Kitayokoji bus stop. / A ten-minute drive from Maruoka IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Contact Info Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section, Sakai City 0776-50-3152 Hyuga Kagura (Shinto Music and Dance) Noune, Maruoka Town, Sakai City (Yahata Shrine) Outline　 Hyuga Kagura (Sacred Shinto music and dance) is based upon a famous Japanese myth, “Amano Iwado.” The Kagura started when Arima Kiyozumi, a lord of Hyuga Province (Miyazaki Pref.) moved to Maruoka Province. It is mainly for the tutelary deity and consolation of ancestors. Period September 17 to September 18 Open Day 1: 19:00- 21:30 Day 2: 13:30- 17:00 Directions Take a Keifuku bus from JR Awaraonsen Station to Eiheiji. 10 minute walk from Noune bus stop. / A ten-minute drive from Fukui-kita IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Contact Info Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section, Sakai City 0776-50-3152 Mizumi Dengaku and Noh Dances Mizumi, Ikeda Town Outline　 "Mizumi Dengaku and Noh Dances" started around 750 years ago when the Emperor's regent, Hojo Tokiyori, visited Mizumi village. The people of this village performed dengaku (rice-planting) dances to entertain Tokiyori, and he taught them how to perform Noh dances in return. Since then, this medieval art has been gracefully performed every February 15 at the Uama shrine. Period February 15 Open Twelve noon (ablution) 13:00-17:00 (dedication) Directions A 40 minute drive from Sabae IC of Hokuriku Expressway. / A tour bus is operated on the day from JR Fukui Station. Fees Free Contact Info Ikeda Town Tourism Section 0778-44-8004 Ikeda Town Office: Board of Education 0778-44-8006 Rennyoki Yoshizaki, Awara City（Yoshizaki Shinshu Otani sect） Outline　 This event depicts the travels of Rennyo Shonin. The believers of the religion walk relaying a ‘Mikoshi’ or portable shrine, which contains a picture of Rennyo Shonin inside, from Kyoto to Yoshizaki where people holding Japanese lanterns welcome them. This is the biggest traditional event in Yoshizaki and makes the town very busy with lots of worshippers visiting. This reminds us of the prosperity of this town in days gone by. Period April 23 to May 2 Directions Contact Info Awara City Economy and Industry Department Tourism，Commerce and Industry Section 0776-73-8029 Tegine Matsuri Festival Yashiro, Obama City Outline　 This festival is an outdoor play, which is held in the precincts of Kamo shrine every year on the 3rd of April. This play depicts the murder of the Chinese Tang queen’s party, who drifted ashore in Yamazaki and who were murdered by local people wielding mortars, blinded by their greed for treasure. After this, the locals were cursed and attacked by bad diseases spreading in the village and various disasters. People say that this festival is held to appease the evil spirits. This festival is designated as an intangible cultural heritage. Period April 3 Directions 15 minutes by car from JR Obama station. / 65 minutes by car from Tsuruga IC of Hokuriku Expressway. / 35 minutes by car from Obama Nishi IC of Maizuru Wakasa Expressway. Contact Info Obama Industrial Commerce and Tourism Division 0770-53-1111 Water Tug-of-War Hiruga, Mihama Town Outline　 This 300 year-old traditional event is designated as a national intangible cultural heritage. This historic Shinto event is held on the 15th of January in the middle of winter. Groups of local youths in loincloths battle against each other in the water using a 40m long and 30cm thick rope. Period Third Sunday January Directions Take a bus to Hiruga from JR Mihama station. / 40 minutes by car from Tsuruga IC of Hokuriku Expressway. Contact Info Mihama Industrial Commerce and Tourism Division 0770-32-6705 Previous Page Home 1　2 Fukui Prefectural Tourism Federation