Every year on the first Friday and Saturday of June, the quiet Tsuzawa district of Oyabe City in Toyama comes alive with one of the region’s most energetic traditional events. The Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival blends color, sound, and movement in a vivid celebration rooted in local prayers for a good harvest and peace.
At the heart of the festival are massive lantern floats, some as tall as seven meters and stretching up to twelve meters in length. As evening sets in, small lanterns are pulled through the streets by local children wearing traditional outfits. Then the main event begins, where men hoist the towering floats onto their shoulders, parading them through the streets to the beat of drums and the calls of their teams.
The highlight is the collision of these giant lanterns. At the call of a leader, opposing floats charge and crash into each other, trying to break the other side’s decorations. It's a dramatic moment, filled with noise, energy, and a strong sense of community.
The festival is free to attend.
Getting there
The event venue can be easily accessed via car in 5 minutes from Oyabe Higashi IC on the Noetsu Expressway, or 10 minutes from Oyabe IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
For those using public transport, the closest station is Isurugi Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway—the venue is about 10 minutes by taxi from there.
Kim Bergström @kim.b
Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here. 🍵🌼🌸
