Why not miss the festival of castles illuminated in the sky of Akita (North Tohoku)?
Disappeared for centuries, the Noshiro Tanabata festival, also known as "Tenku-no-Fuyajou", the festival of night-lit traveling castles, is today the pride of the friendly inhabitants of the northern regions of Tohoku. It is more precisely in the prefecture of Akita that is held this festival appearing among the 3 biggest summer festivals of Tohoku. Originally from the Tenpô era (1830-1844), he began by building a gigantic lantern more than 17 meters high representing the Nagoya Castle that was paraded in the streets of the city.
Every year, this immense night castle was the delight of the inhabitants amazed by its splendor, but with the arrival of modern times, poles and power lines seized the streets of Noshiro, and impossible to scroll such a building. Gradually, it was decided to remove or bury the electrical installations and the festival resuscitated very recently, in 2013. Since then, each year, several lanterns including two huge castles lit in the sky of Noshiro, a height of 17 and 24 meters come again beautify the streets of the city. We call in Japanese these large structures, Toro a
round which, dancers, flute players and Taiko (drums) enrich this festive atmosphere that will take place this year the night of August 3 to 4.
Every year, this immense night castle was the delight of the inhabitants amazed by its splendor, but with the arrival of modern times, poles and power lines seized the streets of Noshiro, and impossible to scroll such a building. Gradually, it was decided to remove or bury the electrical installations and the festival resuscitated very recently, in 2013. Since then, each year, several lanterns including two huge castles lit in the sky of Noshiro, a height of 17 and 24 meters come again beautify the streets of the city. We call in Japanese these large structures, Toro a
round which, dancers, flute players and Taiko (drums) enrich this festive atmosphere that will take place this year the night of August 3 to 4.
The two huge toro illuminate the night of the city of Noshiro (Akita)
The month of August is therefore strongly recommended to visit the regions of Aomori and Akita, as there are two other festivals to discover, the giant giant lantern festival kanto matsuri and the nebuta matsuri festival of Aomori. You will be able to harmonize festivals, traditions, gastronomy and the beautiful natural landscapes of these regions in the sweetness of the summer of northern Japan.
Another very impressive festival of Akita: Kanto matsuri (August 3 to 6)
Meet the inhabitants of the northern regions of Japan and participate in summer festivals!
Meet the inhabitants of the northern regions of Japan and participate in summer festivals!