This is a 300-year-old festival, held on April 29, to pray for safety from fire hazards. The lord of the Mizusawa area had each of the six neighborhoods set up a fire brigade. In the festival, representatives from each of the fire brigades visit a local shrine in the morning, and then a parade through the city begins. Each group has a float of red, green, and gold, decorated with paper lanterns and flowers. About 20 to 25 girls ride on each float and play a unique musical accompaniment with flutes, small taiko drums, and shamisen ( three-stringed instrument ) . At night, the paper lanterns are lit, creating an elegant and ethereal atmosphere.
VENUE DETAILS
- Inquiries
- Tourist Information Mizusawa Tourist Information 0197-24-4452 Oshu Tourist Information 0197-23-7176
- Access 1
- Bus from JR Mizusawa-Esashi Station Hada/Mizusawa-Esashi Station Line Get on at Mizusawa-Esashi Station Get off at Mizusawa-Eki-Dori Boarding Area 5; 10 min. on foot from the stop 13 min. 0197-35-2185 ( Iwateken Kotsu Tanko Office )
- Access 2
- Taxi About 7 min. from JR Mizusawa-Esashi Station
- Access 3
- Taxi About 1 min. from JR Mizusawa Station
- Access 4
- Bicycle Rental Oshu Tourist Information ( bicycle rental 9:00-16:00 ) 8:00-18:00 3 bicycles available 0197-23-7176
- Access 5
- Bicycle Rental Mizusawa Tourist Information 9:00-17:00 7 bicycles available 0197-24-4452
- Inquiries
- Car About 10 min. from Mizusawa IC