January 1st		The First Saturday in April		May 4th
Yellowtail Sharing Ritual		The Akai Lion Dance		The Great Yansanma Spring Festival
The only folk festival of its kind in all of Japan, 'Buri no Yomiage' takes place each New Year's morning at Kamo Shrine. Residents of the shrine's district shout the words 'Buri no Yomiage' and receive slices of yellowtail and rice cakes at the end of the festival, which they eat while praying for perfect health during the coming year.		This highly unusual lion dance shows the birth of a baby lion from its mother. It has been passed down through the ages as an important folk festival dedicated to safe childbirth and the prosperity of one's descendants. This spring festival is held at Kaguraoka Shrine.		Various equestrian maneuvers are performed in quick succession during the Yansanma Festival. The Bullriding style in this distinctive festival, believed to propitiate the agricultural deities who rule over cattle, is unique in all of Japan. The wishes of the villagers for an abundant harvest are almost palpable to the festival's viewers.

The Third Saturday and Sunday in May		The End of June		The End of July
The Etchu Daimon Kite Festival		The Taikoyama Hydrangea Festival		The Toyama Shinko Shinminato (New Port) Festival
Multicolored kites dance in the sky above the banks of the Shogawa River. The demonstrations of the kite masters who gather here from all corners of the nation make this festival a true kite exhibit.		Festival visitors enjoy the 500-meter Hydrangea Path through Taikoyama Land, which comes alive with 20,000 hydrangeas from 50 different species. The festival also hosts a special area with exotic species from across the country.		Various events including the area's traditional Nojita dance and Shinminato Yosakoi are held in the evening breeze amongst the rows of street stalls, and colorful fireworks bloom in the sky over the ocean, with the ship Kaiwomaru as their backdrop.

The Beginning of August		September 4th		September 8th
The Mikoshi (Portable Shrine) Festival		Chigo Dance		Futakuchi Kumano Shrine Firewalking
Although there are many Mikoshi festivals throughout the country, the Kosugi area is the birthplace of the handmade Mikoshi festival. With performances featuring its many Mikoshi, this festival is a summer must-see.		Giving thanks for the previous year is the focus of this grand autumn festival, held at Kamo Shrine. Four boys aged ten to eleven dance to taiko drum and flute accompaniment, the medieval costumes and dance steps lending an aura of ancient times to the proceedings.		Celebrated by adherents of the deity Fudoh Myoh-oh, this ceremony mixes elements of Shinto and Buddhism and cleanses the celebrants' impurities through fire. This unusual prefectural variant, in which Mikoshi shrine bearers and lion dancers walk on fire, was introduced by mountain priests.

September 23rd		October 1st		The 2nd Sunday in October
Ebie Hikiyama Festival		The Shinminato Hikiyama Festival		The Daimon Hikiyama Festival
The three brilliant Hikiyama floats in this festival are decked with flowers during the day and paper lanterns at night and paraded throughout the town. The marionettes of such mythological figures as Toen Doji are the floats' pride and joy.		Thirteen gorgeous creaking floats, embodying the essence of Edo culture, make their way through the many streets of the former Shinminato city. The oldest float is said to have been made about 350 years ago. This spectacular event is held very dear to the citizens and as well as the hundreds of people who participate and pull the floats there are thousands of keen spectators.		Four brilliant floats from Nishimachi, Nakamachi, Tamachi, and Biwakubi are paraded throughout the town. Paper lanterns accentuate their elegant forms in the evening.

December
Twinkle Night
The glimmering of these magical lights fills the winter skies. Contrasting with the gently falling snowflakes, the lights warm the hearts of the many people who come to see them.

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