🏮 Iida Machi Toroyama Matsuri

飯田町燈籠山祭り

Suzu, Ishikawa (飯田わくわく広場) · Every year on 20 and 21 July

FloatsTraditional performing arts

309 days to go
Rooms around Suzu, Ishikawa fill up while the festival is on.

The Iidamachi Toroyama Festival is a float festival held annually on July 20 and 21 as a Shinto ritual of Kasuga Shrine in Iidamachi, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Its original name is "Osuzumi Matsuri," and it is recognized as a Japan Heritage site as one of Noto's Kiriko festivals. The festival's origins date back to the early Kanei era (1624–1645), and it is a Suzu City-designated intangible folk cultural property with over 370 years of history. In 1814, a figure float about 14–15 meters tall was first created; after a temporary decline in the Taisho period, it was revived in the Heisei period. Currently, a toroyama about 16 meters tall and weighing about 5 tons is produced every two years, and is pulled around annually. The highlight is the giant toroyama, which is decorated with tall paper lanterns stacked over a base mountain, stalls, and figures. During the procession, pullers haul the float to the calls of "yassaa yassaa" accompanied by drums, bells, and flutes. Distinctive features include the "kyaarage" workmen's chant at the start and the fireworks display on the night of the 20th. In recent years, neighborhood associations and others have aimed to revive the eight toroyama of former times, and the undergrounding of power lines in 2012 made it possible to circle the entire town. Access to Suzu City is by car from Noto Satoyama Airport, or by the Suzu Express Bus. Parking is available around the venue.