Japan’s own fest
The upcoming Yayoi Festival of Japan (April 16 and 17) marks the arrival of spring. It takes place in the Sannai, Nikko City, which has temples and shrines registered as World Heritage sites. The main attraction is the parade of 12 adorned floats called ‘hana-yatai’ from each town.
This traditional festival dates back to the 8th Century and is also called Gota Matsuri, the word ‘gota’ meaning ‘trouble’ or ‘Festival of Disputes’. The ceremony starts on the 13th. On the 17th, when all the floats have gathered, the heads of each town pay a visit to other towns to exchange greetings in the name card exchange ritual. Amid performances of traditional festival music, the floats later make a tour of the shrine. Selected as a World Heritage Site, Futarasan is familiarly known as Nantaisan (or Mt. Nantai). High priest Shodo is famous for opening up the mountain of Nikko. It is believed that Chuzenjiko Lake and Kegon Falls — popular tourist spots today — were also discovered by Shodo.
The upcoming Yayoi Festival of Japan (April 16 and 17) marks the arrival of spring. It takes place in the Sannai, Nikko City, which has temples and shrines registered as World Heritage sites. The main attraction is the parade of 12 adorned floats called ‘hana-yatai’ from each town.
This traditional festival dates back to the 8th Century and is also called Gota Matsuri, the word ‘gota’ meaning ‘trouble’ or ‘Festival of Disputes’. The ceremony starts on the 13th. On the 17th, when all the floats have gathered, the heads of each town pay a visit to other towns to exchange greetings in the name card exchange ritual. Amid performances of traditional festival music, the floats later make a tour of the shrine. Selected as a World Heritage Site, Futarasan is familiarly known as Nantaisan (or Mt. Nantai). High priest Shodo is famous for opening up the mountain of Nikko. It is believed that Chuzenjiko Lake and Kegon Falls — popular tourist spots today — were also discovered by Shodo.
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