13May 5rd: Etchu Yatsuo Hikiyama Festival
The magnificent and splendid floats awaken the "elegance of spring" in the hilly town.
The Etchu Yao Hikiyama Festival is held every year on May 3rd.
It is still passed down today as a symbol of the townspeople culture of Yao, which flourished during the Edo period through sericulture and washi papermaking.
To the elegant accompaniment of shamisen, flute, and drums, the six floats, pulled by young men in matching happi coats,
A magnificent and opulent appearance, lavishly adorned with the masterful skills of renowned craftsmen in lacquerware, metal engraving, and carving.
During the day, visitors are captivated by the beauty of its details, and at night, when lanterns are lit, it is pulled through the town on the slope, illuminating it like a "castle of light" (a city that never sleeps).
The Hikiyama Shinto ritual, a symbol of spring in Yao, has been passed down with local pride and continues to attract many people.
Please come and enjoy the beauty of the festival floats, which harmonize with the historic townscape, in Yao, the home of this tradition.
[2026 Schedule]
- Pulling out the carved float: 9:30 AM - 17:00 PM
• Afternoon procession starts around 13:50
・Pulling out the lantern floats: 19:00 - 21:30
Events
| Date |
2026.5.3 (Sun) 8:00 AM to early morning |
|---|---|
| Event name | May 5rd: Etchu Yatsuo Hikiyama Festival |
| Venue | Yao Town Central Urban Area |
| Prices | Register |
| Access | ♦ Train Take the JR Takayama Line from Toyama Station (approximately 25 minutes) → Get off at Etchu-Yatsuo Station → Approximately 30 minutes on foot from Etchu-Yatsuo Station. ♦ car Approximately 24 minutes from the Toyama-Nishi Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, or approximately 25 minutes from the Toyama Interchange. |
| Parking | Free parking available at "Townspeople's Plaza" |
| Contact Us | 076-454-5138 (Etchu Yao Tourism Association) |
| Official Website | https://www.yatsuo.net/ |
| Sponsorship | Yao Town Float Festival Management Committee |
| Response during rainy or severe weather | Canceled in the rain |
| Typical event period | December 5st every year |
| Remarks | On the day of the festival, vehicle traffic will be prohibited throughout the old town area, regardless of the weather. |
| Google Maps |