Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture: Special Viewing Plan for the 300-Year-Old 'Fukuno Yotaka Festival' with Local Guides, Sales Start April 1st

Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, will host the 'Fukuno Yotaka Festival,' a Japan UNESCO Future Heritage event, from May 1st (Thursday) to 3rd (Saturday), Reiwa 8 (2026). In conjunction with this event, special viewing seats have been confirmed for sale. The special viewing plan will be launched on April 1st.

What is the 'Fukuno Yotaka Festival,' a 300-Year-Old Tradition?

The 'Fukuno Yotaka Festival' is a historic traditional festival that has continued for over 300 years, featuring 'O-andon' (large lanterns) over 6 meters tall parading through the streets with shouts of 'Yoi-yasa, Yoi-yasa,' accompanied by the majestic sounds of Yotaka drums. It is a spring tradition in the Nanto region.

The festival is carried out by the people of seven towns—Kamimachi, Nanatsuya, Shinmachi, Uramachi, Tatsumimachi, Yokomachi, and Okuramachi—who are parishioners of Fukuno Shinmei Shrine. The festival primarily takes place around 'Ginko Yotsukado' (Bank Crossroads), located in the center of these seven towns, where various sizes and colorful lanterns from each town parade lively. With the lively prelude of drums and flutes, more than 20 large and small lanterns are majestically and gracefully paraded through the city by young men from the towns.

The biggest highlight is the 'Hiki-ai,' a ritualistic mock battle where lanterns from opposing towns are fiercely destroyed. When lanterns pass each other, participants jump onto the opponent's lantern, pull and smash 'tsurimono' (hanging decorations), creating a powerful and brave spectacle of destruction.

This time, in addition to using the Yotaka Chaya where you can enjoy the 'Hiki-ai' (mock battle), the festival's biggest highlight, up close, we have prepared a special viewing plan that allows you to relax and enjoy the festival. This includes access to a special resting place (Yotaka Machikado Lounge) where you can watch the lantern parade up close while enjoying a special bento made with local ingredients. Furthermore, before the festival, local festival officials will guide you through a luxurious plan to fully enjoy the Fukuno Yotaka Festival.

Fukuno Yotaka Festival Official Page