Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival - Kanazawa's Greatest Festival

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival is Kanazawa's grandest festival, commemorating the day in 1583 when Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain, entered Kanazawa Castle. Held annually in early June in the heart of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, this festival celebrates the rich history of the Kaga Domain's million-koku prosperity and the traditional performing arts and culture nurtured in this castle town. The festival's main highlight is the "Hyakumangoku Procession," which departs from Kanazawa Station and proceeds to Kanazawa Castle Park, featuring warrior parades, Kaga lions, and spectacular ladder demonstrations by the Kaga firefighters. Other diverse events take place throughout the day and night, including the enchanting "Kaga Yuzen Lantern Floating" that colors the Asano River, the mystical "Hyakumangoku Takigi Noh" illuminated by bonfires, and the "Hyakumangoku Odori Nagashi" where thousands of dancers fill the streets. At the Hyakumangoku Tea Ceremony held at Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park, you can experience traditional culture through tea ceremonies hosted by various schools. This special weekend offers a chance to fully immerse yourself in Kanazawa's history and culture through all five senses.