Hitaka Hibuse Festival
Hayashi Yatai musical festival floats with old songs and refinement
With sights resembling that of a splendid large picture scroll, the Hidaka Hibuse Festival is held in Oshu City in spring on 29 April as well as the night before on the 28th. With over 300 years of history, this festival held to pray for safety from fire hazards is carried out annually along with the annual festival of the Hidaka-jinja Shrine.
The Hayashi Yatai floats that are decorated by each neighbourhood cruise through the streets in time with the nostalgic music accompaniment. The peak of the festival is absolutely the Soroi-uchi (musical performance with everyone) on the night of 29 April. Amidst the light from paper lanterns, the festival’s climax occurs when the neighbourhoods’ floats compete with one another with splendid music. The nostalgic, noble songs of the Yatai Hayashi and Uchi Hayashi used in the festival are designated as an Iwate Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The two days of the festival, which herald the coming of spring in Michinoku (Tohoku), see streets bustling with many tourists.
General Information
- Address
- 岩手県奥州市Mizusawa City Area, Oshu-shi, Iwate Prefecture
- Opening Times
- Main Festival: Last Saturday in April
- Directions
- ● About 10 minutes by car from Mizusawa-Esashi Station on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen
● About a 5-minute walk from Mizusawa Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line - Car Park
- Yes
- Date
- 28-29 April every year
- Venue
- Mizusawa-ku, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture
Contact
- Contact
- Commerce and Tourism Section; Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Division; Oshu City
- Telephone Number
- 0197-24-2111
