Numata Festival - 沼田祭り
Submitted by cyangoose on Mon, 2006/04/24 - 16:17.
Location Description: The Numata Festival (沼田祭り Numata Matsuri) is the main festival for the Numata area. It takes place on August 3rd through 5th. The Numata Gion festival, which is said to be one of the best and most exciting festivals in northern Kanto, marks the beginning of the Numata festival.
Lots of floats (mando), each with its own festival music and decorations, are pulled around the town on every day of the festival.
A number of the communities in Numata also have their own portable floats (mikoshi) which are brought out for the festival (Aug 3rd & 4th). Some of the local shrines have especially nice mikoshi (Aug 3rd & 5th). Smaller mikoshi, carried only by children, come out on every day of the festival.
The highlight of the festival is the large tengu (long nosed goblin) masks that are carried by women to pray for the safety of their families. (They say that these really heavy masks are only carried by women, but the truth is that there are usually a number of men hidden in the inside ranks.) The tengu only come out on Aug. 3rd and 5th.
The sennin odori (thousand person dance) that takes place on the third is also quite interesting.
The usual variety of takoyaki and yakisoba festival street vendors can also be found lining the streets.
The main part of the festival takes place around the city hall and most of the festivities take place in the evening. Things are still going on even after the sun goes down.
Location Directions: by Train
The JR East Jouetsu Line stops in Numata at Numata Station. Walk up the hill from the station taking the set of stairs partway up the hill. At the top of the stairs, look for the main road and you'll find the festival.
by Car
Head north on Route 17 and you'll come to Rt. 120. (There's a bridge there.) Turn right onto Rt. 120 and you'll be in Numata. (Via the 2 and Rt. 17 going from Movix in Isesaki takes approximately 1 h 20 min.) Keep going on Route 120 and you'll run right into the festival route (and may have to detour to find parking).
Taking the highway, get off at the Numata Interchange. From the I.C. head right. Keep following that road and you'll run right into the festival route (and may have to detour to find parking).
Description:
The Numata Festival (沼田祭り Numata Matsuri) is the main festival for the Numata area. It takes place on August 3rd through 5th. The Numata Gion festival, which is said to be one of the best and most exciting festivals in northern Kanto, marks the beginning of the Numata festival.
Lots of floats (mando), each with its own festival music and decorations, are pulled around the town on every day of the festival.
A number of the communities in Numata also have their own portable floats (mikoshi) which are brought out for the festival (Aug 3rd & 4th). Some of the local shrines have especially nice mikoshi (Aug 3rd & 5th). Smaller mikoshi, carried only by children, come out on every day of the festival.
The highlight of the festival is the large tengu (long nosed goblin) masks that are carried by women to pray for the safety of their families. (They say that these really heavy masks are only carried by women, but the truth is that there are usually a number of men hidden in the inside ranks.) The tengu only come out on Aug. 3rd and 5th.
The sennin odori (thousand person dance) that takes place on the third is also quite interesting.
The usual variety of takoyaki and yakisoba festival street vendors can also be found lining the streets.
The main part of the festival takes place around the city hall and most of the festivities take place in the evening. Things are still going on even after the sun goes down.
Date:
Aug. 3-5
Directions:
by Train
The JR East Jouetsu Line stops in Numata at Numata Station. Walk up the hill from the station taking the set of stairs partway up the hill. At the top of the stairs, look for the main road and you'll find the festival.
by Car
Head north on Route 17 and you'll come to Rt. 120. (There's a bridge there.) Turn right onto Rt. 120 and you'll be in Numata. (Via the 2 and Rt. 17 going from Movix in Isesaki takes approximately 1 h 20 min.) Keep going on Route 120 and you'll run right into the festival route (and may have to detour to find parking).
Taking the highway, get off at the Numata Interchange. From the I.C. head right. Keep following that road and you'll run right into the festival route (and may have to detour to find parking).
Cost:
Free
Web Address(es) (1):
www.city.numata.gunma.jp/introduction/matsuri.html
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