Peach Blossom Festival |
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Local Spring Festival in Central Japan |
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Full Story |
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Ichinomiya’s Toukasai (Peach Blossom Festival) is held annually from April 1st-3rd, and is a low-key, family-friendly event. |
The festival dates from the Edo period, when the Kiso River, its banks lined with peach trees, flowed by the city’s main shrine, Masumida-jinja. Local people used to entrust their misfortunes to the branches of the trees in the hope that their bad luck would fall into the river and be washed away. |
The final day is of most interest for visitors, featuring a procession, taiko drumming, and dancing. Depending on the vagaries of the weather, you may be lucky enough to witness the symbolic offering of a child and a horse at the shrine whilst surrounded by stunning peach blossoms in countless shades of pink. |
Festival participants, often co-opted from local companies and government offices, don a variety of colourful outfits. They form a procession that quietly leaves Masumida-jinja around mid-morning for a meander around town. |
After the procession has set off from the shrine the majority of the crowd disperses to enjoy a leisurely lunch. People reappear an hour or so later to watch the parade return to the shrine displaying much more zest than on its departure. Members play instruments and dance their way along Honmacho-dori, the covered shopping street that leads to and from the shrine. |
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The shrine grounds play host to the usual yatai (stalls), which sell crowd-pleasers such as yakitori, takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Most onlookers gather in this area or line Honmachi-dori. Given the timing of the festival during spring break, visitors will find that children are much in evidence, both as spectators and as members of the parade. Should you make the trip to Ichinomiya, you will find the local crowds relaxed and welcoming, adding to your enjoyment of this enduring and endearing festival. |
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