Seihakusai Festival

The Seihakusai Festival in Nanao, Ishikawa, is a major spring celebration held at Otokonushi Shrine (Sannō Shrine) each May. With a history spanning over a thousand years, the festival features three enormous wheeled floats called dekayama, each reaching up to 12 meters in height and weighing 20 tons. These floats, adorned with life-size Kabuki figures, are paraded through the streets by volunteers, accompanied by chants, music, and traditional wooden songs known as kıyari.

The festival begins with ningyō-mi on May 2, when the dolls that will decorate the floats are displayed in local homes. On May 3, the yoiyama (eve festival) sees the first night-time procession, while May 4 marks the main festival, with the floats converging at Otokonushi Shrine for formal rituals and offering ceremonies. The highlight of the procession is the skillful turning of the massive floats at street corners using wooden levers and coordinated effort, demonstrating the centuries-old techniques passed down through generations.

Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1983 and recognised as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, the Seihakusai Festival showcases Noto’s unique cultural heritage, combining Shinto ritual, craftsmanship, and community celebration.