- Shimo-Handa District Festival
- [Handa-City]
- Date :
4/21/2018 to 4/22/2018
-
- The brewing industry and shipping industry have been thriving in Shimo-Handa District since long ago, and the history of the festival is also very long. A document submitted to the commissioner of temples and shrines in 1739 indicates that floats already existed at that time.
According to this document, a portable shrine and floats to guard it were pulled around at the Hachimangu Shrine Festival in Shimo-Handa Village.
The Yuishogaki (written history) that was also submitted to the commissioner of temples and shrines by the Nariha-jinja Shrine later in September, 1822, indicates that the content of the festival had been further improved. Centered around the ritual of transporting the deities at the Yoi Festival, the dedications included a float parade, Sanbaso dance, children's shrine maiden dance, lion dance, Sasa dance and Niwaka Kyogen.
These documents reveal that the style of the festival and Shinto rituals in which the deity of the Nariha-jinja Shrine parades the village on a portable shrine, and later, in which all the floats led by the one from the district of the destination shrine come together to guard the portable shrine, were established from very early times.
There are four floats in this festival, the Kita-gumi Karakoguruma, Naka-gumi Shukukyusha, Higashi-gumi Sannosha, and Minami-gumi Goosha.
Each group proudly presents floats that are decorated with sophisticated carving by Washiro and Chojyo, and splendid Omaku (a large curtain), Mizuhiki (decorative cords), and Oimaku (a rear curtain) by Keibun and Shuho, with Karakuri puppets by Tamaya Shobei and Sumida Jinbei on the front or upper part of the floats. The floats parade along streets that smell of Sake and vinegar, and the old downtown streets and around the Handa Canal, enveloping the whole town in a festive mood.
After sunset, the upper part of the floats are raised up high and lanterns are lit. The lanterns are said to number as many as 200 per float (originally 365 lanterns), and the scene is as if the floats have come to life in a world of darkness.
Festival Overview
Overview
| Date |
4/21/2018 to 4/22/2018 |
| Venue |
Higashi-Honmachi 2-18, Handa City, etc. |
| Phone number |
0569-84-0689（Handa City Tourism Division）
0569-32-3264（Handa City Tourist Association） |
Related links
Related Links
Access / Map
Access / Map
| Access by public transport |
Alight at Meitetsu Chita-Handa Station / JR Taketoyo Line Handa Station, and walk for approx. 5 minutes. |
| Access by car |
Approx. 10 minutes to the east from Chitahanto Road Handa-Chuo I.C. |
- Open Google Map
