Ubagami Daijingū Togyosai

The Ubagami Daijingū Togyosai is the grand annual festival of Ubagami Daijingū Shrine in Esashi, Hiyama District, Hokkaido, held every August. Regarded as Hokkaido's oldest festival with over 370 years of history, it is a spirited celebration representative of Hokkaido, in which magnificent and ornate floats (yama) parade through the port town of Esashi facing the Sea of Japan.

In the Edo period, Esashi flourished greatly as a port town through herring fishing and the kitamaebune trade, reaching such prosperity that it was said "Esashi in May has no equal even in Edo." Against the backdrop of its economic prosperity, the festival culture of Honshū was transmitted there, and a lavish float culture flourished. The thirteen floats that process at the festival are adorned with intricate carvings and figures of Honshū origin, adding splendid color to the northern port town.

The festival is held over three days, and its greatest highlight is the float procession. To chants of "soran" and the festival music of flutes and drums, the gigantic floats parade through the town of Esashi. Among them are floats bearing figures with nearly 300 years of history, conveying the weight of that history. Conveying to this day the prosperity of bygone days when herring fishing flourished, the Ubagami Daijingū Togyosai is a precious festival of the northern land, transmitting a history dating from before the development of Hokkaido and the spirit of the people of Esashi, who have lived together with the sea.