Katsuyama Sagichō

What Is the Katsuyama Sagichō?

The Katsuyama Sagichō is a Little New Year fire festival with a history of some 300 years, held each February in Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture. Known for the distinctive sight of people in glamorous red under-kimono dancing merrily atop towers (yagura) to the lively music called "Sagichō-bayashi," it is also called an "unusual festival." At the climax, the dondo-yaki burns the sacred object and New Year decorations to pray for good health—a festival that ardently colors the winter of snow-deep Oku-Echizen.

History and Origins

The Katsuyama Sagichō is a fire festival said to have begun in the Edo period during the era of the Ogasawara family, lords of the Katsuyama domain, and boasts a history of about 300 years. The sagichō is a Little New Year fire festival handed down across Japan, but Katsuyama's is especially distinctive: each neighborhood is decorated with colorful "made things," red under-kimono, and paper lanterns, and the whole town is wrapped in a gorgeous atmosphere. It is characterized by the distinctive style of uki-daiko, in which people dance merrily while beating drums, and it is a traditional event long beloved and handed down by the people of Katsuyama.

Highlights

The greatest attraction is the uki-daiko unfolding atop the towers built in each neighborhood. The sight of people in red under-kimono beating drums while swaying their bodies in a humorous yet glamorous manner is a scene unique to the Katsuyama Sagichō. The lively rhythm of the "Sagichō-bayashi" and the colorful "made things" and lanterns adorning the town add splendor to the winter of snow country. At the festival's climax, the dondo-yaki burns the sacred object, and with its flames the New Year decorations are burned to pray for a year of good health. The magical scene woven from snow and flame is breathtaking.

When It Takes Place

The festival is typically held on a Saturday and Sunday in February (generally late February) throughout the neighborhoods of the city center of Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture. As a winter Little New Year fire festival, its season is winter. The climactic dondo-yaki is held on the night of the final day. As it takes place in a snowy season, ample protection against the cold and snow is necessary when viewing. Please confirm the latest dates through official announcements from Katsuyama City and the local tourism association.

Access

The city center of Katsuyama can be reached via Katsuyama Station on the Echizen Railway Katsuyama-Eiheiji Line. It can be visited via the Echizen Railway from the direction of Fukui City. As there is heavy snowfall in winter, winter tires and other preparations are essential when traveling by car. Public transport is the safer choice.

Around the Area

Katsuyama is known as one of the world's foremost sites for excavating dinosaur fossils, and the "Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum" draws popularity as one of Japan's largest dinosaur museums. The moss-covered precincts of Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, a center of the Hakusan faith, are also known for their mysterious beauty. With nearby ski resorts and hot springs, it is an area where one can enjoy winter leisure amid snowy scenery. Together with the Katsuyama Sagichō, it is a land where one can savor dinosaurs, history, and the snow-country atmosphere of Oku-Echizen.

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