Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival

Overview

The Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival is an annual event held on May 1st in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. It serves as the spring grand festival of Takaoka Sekino Shrine. This festival is designated as both an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property and an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. This dual designation makes it one of only five such cases in the entire country. Furthermore, in 2016, the festival was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage under the title Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival Mikurumayama Event.

The festival features seven magnificent Mikurumayama floats, which measure approximately 8.4 to 9 meters in height. The wheels of these floats have a diameter of about 1.6 meters. These floats are lavishly decorated with the traditional crafts of Takaoka, including metalwork, lacquerware, and dyeing and weaving techniques. The floats are paraded through the old city center accompanied by elegant festival music. The most spectacular moment occurs at noon when all seven floats gather together in a formation known as Seizoro-shiki. This spectacle is truly breathtaking.

History and Origin

The origin of the Takaoka Mikurumayama dates back to 1588, the 16th year of the Tensho era. In that year, Toyotomi Hideyoshi invited Emperor Go-Yozei to his Jurakudai palace. The imperial carriage used for this occasion was granted to Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga domain. According to tradition, Toshiie's son, Maeda Toshinaga, then gave this carriage to the townspeople when he built Takaoka Castle in 1609. This act formed the foundation for the townspeople to create their own floats and establish the festival tradition.

The Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival is believed to have begun at the same time as the founding of Takaoka City. Maeda Toshinaga entered Takaoka Castle and gave the imperial carriage to the townspeople as a wish for the prosperity of the castle town. This event directly led to the establishment of the festival. However, in 1614, the festival was canceled due to the illness of Maeda Toshinaga. On May 20th of the same year, Toshinaga passed away, forcing the festival into a temporary suspension. After this interruption, the townspeople revived the festival, and it has been passed down to the present day.

In 1775, the 4th year of the Anei era, a significant incident known as the Anei Float Wheel Disturbance occurred. A dispute arose between the people of Takaoka and the neighboring towns of Funazu, Ishurugi, and Johana over the wheel style of the Mikurumayama. In this conflict, Yozaemon Tsuchibaya of Takaoka Nibancho, who sought to protect the prestige of the Mikurumayama, died in prison. This event is said to have influenced the enrichment of float decorations across various regions. In Takaoka, Yozaemon is honored as the Righteous Man of Anei, and the Yozaemon Festival is held annually on April 3rd.

The festival continued through the Meiji period and beyond. In 1909, the 42nd year of the Meiji era, the Crown Prince, who later became Emperor Taisho, viewed the seven Mikurumayama floats arranged at the Takaoka Castle main enclosure. In 1913, the 2nd year of the Taisho era, the floats paraded through the town as part of the 300th anniversary celebration of Takaoka's founding. In 1953 (Showa 28) the floats were designated a cultural property by Toyama Prefecture, and the following year, 1954 (Showa 29), the Takaoka Mikurumayama Preservation Association was established. In 1960, the floats were designated as an Important Folk Material of Japan, and in 1976, they were redesignated as an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property under the updated Cultural Properties Protection Law. In 2015, Takaoka was certified as a Japan Heritage site, and the Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan museum opened its doors.

Highlights

Tsukiyama Ceremony and the Origin of the Festival On April 23rd, the Tsukiyama ceremony is held at Futagami Shosen Shrine. This is a Shinto ritual that preserves an ancient form of worship, where the enshrined deity is invited to a temporary altar to pray for a bountiful harvest. The Mikurumayama floats are believed to have originated from this Tsukiyama ceremony, evolving into mobile floats. The unique practice of rapidly dismantling the altar after the ceremony is extremely rare nationwide.

Gendayu-style Lion Dance The Gendayu-style lion dance performed by Sakashitamachi district is another highlight. This lion dance serves to purify the festival grounds as a vanguard ritual. The dynamic movements of the lion and the rhythm of the festival music mark the official beginning of the festival proceedings.

Yoi Matsuri Eve Festival and Illumination Display On April 30th, during the Yoi Matsuri eve festival, the Mikurumayama floats are pulled out from the storage sheds near Sekino Shrine and transported to the float lodgings. Here, the final decorations are applied, and purification rituals such as the Nyukonshiki ceremony are conducted. Every year, three of the floats are illuminated at night, accompanied by performances of Hikiyama-bayashi festival music and displays of decorative items. This creates a fantastical atmosphere in the evening streets.

Main Festival on May 1st and the Spectacular Seizoro-shiki On the main festival day, May 1st, the assembly of the floats begins early in the morning in each district. By late morning, all seven floats gather in Sakashitamachi. At noon, the seven floats line up in a single row at the Kataharamachi intersection in an event called Seizoro-shiki. This moment is the greatest highlight of the festival, where the cheers of the spectators and the sounds of the festival music merge to create overwhelming power.

Structure and Decorative Details of the Mikurumayama The Mikurumayama has a two-tiered structure. The upper tier, called Kazari-yama, houses the deity figures, while the lower tier, called Jiyama, is draped with luxurious curtains. Inside the curtains, musicians play flutes, gongs, and drums, filling the town with elegant melodies. The decorative umbrellas with radiating spokes and the metalwork and lacquer decorations created by master craftsmen of the Edo period are truly moving works of art.

Temporary Removal of Tram Overhead Wires A rare sight nationwide is the temporary removal of overhead wires for the Manyosen tram line to allow the floats to pass. This is a necessary measure because the floats, which are about 8.4 to 9 meters high, must pass through the streets safely. This spectacle symbolizes the unity of Takaoka, where the entire town comes together for the festival.

Harmony with the Dozo-zukuri Townhouses of Yamamachi-suji The parade takes place through the old castle town, and the view of the Mikurumayama floats against the backdrop of the dozo-zukuri storehouses of Yamamachi-suji is like a scene from a historical picture scroll. Yamamachi-suji features fireproof dozo-zukuri buildings constructed after a major fire in 1890. In 2000, this area was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings under the name Takaoka City Yamamachi-suji Traditional Buildings Preservation District. This historic streetscape enhances the brilliance of the Mikurumayama floats.

Event Information and Access

Dates and Times

• Yoi Matsuri Eve Festival: April 30th, 18:00 to 21:00 (Illumination display: 18:30 to 21:00)
• Main Festival: May 1st, 11:00 to 18:00

Venue

• Yamamachi-suji and Kataharamachi areas, Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture

Access by Train

• Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Takaoka Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway
• For Hokuriku Shinkansen users, take a bus or the JR Johana Line from Shin-Takaoka Station to Takaoka Station (approximately 10 minutes)

Access by Car

• Approximately 10 minutes from Takaoka IC on the Noto Expressway
• Approximately 20 minutes from Takaoka Tonami Smart IC on the Hokuriku Expressway

Parking

• Use city-operated parking lots near Takaoka Station (approximately 1,000 spaces, paid)
• Vehicle entry to the festival venue is not permitted

Notes

• On May 1st, from 9:30 to 14:00, the Manyosen tram will operate with a turnaround at Sakashitamachi Station
• Please check the official website for the latest schedule and event status

Surrounding Area Information

The Yamamachi-suji area of Takaoka City has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This district features dozo-zukuri storehouses built after the great fire of 1890, characterized by their heavy black exteriors. Walking through this area allows visitors to experience the history of Takaoka, which flourished as a commercial center from the Edo to Meiji periods. During the Mikurumayama Festival, the floats create an even more magnificent scene against this traditional townscape.

The Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan museum opened in 2015 to coincide with the launch of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The museum permanently displays one actual Mikurumayama float and a full-scale replica called the Heisei no Mikurumayama, allowing visitors to experience the festival year-round. The Heisei no Mikurumayama took five years to create, from 2013, and stands approximately 7.8 meters tall, weighing about 2.6 tons. The museum also features state-of-the-art exhibits, including a 4K high-definition video experience of the festival and a motion-capture wheel operation simulation.

Futagami Shosen Shrine is a historic shrine where the Tsukiyama ceremony takes place. This ceremony is considered the origin of the Mikurumayama Festival and is a valuable ritual that preserves an ancient form of worship. Takaoka City is home to many other temples, shrines, and historical buildings where visitors can learn about the city's history of craftsmanship. There are also workshops where visitors can observe the creation of traditional crafts such as Takaoka copperware and Takaoka lacquerware, as well as facilities offering hands-on experiences. These make the city an attractive destination for tourists.

Related Information

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival Mikurumayama Event was registered in 2016 as one of the Nationwide Float Festivals. Other registered events include the Gion Festival Yamaboko Event in Kyoto, the Takayama Festival Yatai Event, the Chichibu Festival Yatai Event, and the Hitachi Furyumono.

• National Important Cultural Property Designation: Takaoka Mikurumayama is designated as an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Additionally, Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival Mikurumayama Event is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. This makes the festival one of only five events in Japan to hold both designations.

• Anei Float Wheel Disturbance: A dispute over the wheel style of the Mikurumayama floats that occurred in 1775. Yozaemon Tsuchibaya died in prison as a result, and a memorial monument was later erected in his honor.

• Yozaemon Festival: Held annually on April 3rd, this festival honors Yozaemon Tsuchibaya, known as the Righteous Man of Anei. This festival is positioned as a prelude to the Mikurumayama Festival.

• Maeda Toshiie and Maeda Toshinaga: Successive lords of the Kaga domain who are connected to the origin of the Mikurumayama. Toshiie received the imperial carriage from Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Toshinaga gave it to the townspeople when founding Takaoka.

• Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan: Opened in 2015. A facility that permanently displays the Mikurumayama floats and offers festival experience exhibits. Opening hours are extended on both the eve festival and the main festival days.

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