🏮 Sanno Matsuri

山王まつり

Toyama (Hie Shrine) · Every year, 31 May to 2 June

MikoshiFood stallsTraditional performing arts

259 days to go
Rooms around Toyama fill up while the festival is on.

Sanno Matsuri (Hie Shrine Spring Grand Festival) is the largest festival in Toyama Prefecture, held every year from May 31 to June 2 at Hie Shrine in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. Locally it is known affectionately as "Sansan (Han)," and about 250,000 to 300,000 people visit over the three days. Since the Edo period, Hie Shrine has been called "Sanno-san," and the spring grand festival became established as "Sanno Matsuri." The festival's origins date back to 1690 (Genroku 3), when Maeda Masayoshi, the second lord of Toyama Domain, donated two mikoshi (portable shrines). After this, the custom of parading through the parishioner towns of the castle town arose, and it flourished as a grand souvenir festival for all of Toyama Castle Town. Today its greatest feature is the lively fair with 600 to 700 stalls centered on the grounds of Hie Shrine. On May 31 and June 1, the Hie Shrine mikoshi, accompanied by lion dances, is carried through the parishioner towns over two days, and its return around 5:00 p.m. is led by flutes and drums, presenting a gallant scene as it pushes through the street stalls. Also, early on the morning of June 1, sakujitsu manju are sold at the Hie Shrine entrance and at Chikurindo Honpo, and the custom of praying for family safety and business prosperity remains.

Getting there

The nearest station is Nishicho Station on the Toyama Chihou Railway (about 10 minutes on foot), or from Toyama Station take a bus to Sannomachi and walk 3 minutes. By car, about 15 minutes from Toyama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. Parking is limited, so public transportation is recommended.