Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri Festival 垂井曳山祭り

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Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri Festival 垂井曳山祭り

Held on May 2-4, three ornate hikiyama floats are displayed and paraded around town. Young boys also perform in kabuki plays on the floats. May 3 is the main festival day, but May 2 is also a good day to see the matsuri. These photos were taken on May 2.

May 2 is the Shigaku 試楽 or "practice day." It started at 11 am with each float in their respective neighborhoods putting on a kabuki play by boys. Get out the south side of Tarui Station. 鳳凰山（東町）

The Hoo (Phoenix) float staged a scene from the play "Ichijo Okura kyookuden." 鳳凰山（東町）一条大蔵卿奥殿之場（いちじょうおおくらきょうおくでんのば）

Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri has a 650-year history. Female roles are also played by boys.

Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri held on May 2 in Tarui, Gifu. Featuring three floats and kabuki plays performed by boys (kodomo kabuki).

Hoo float ornament

Float ornament with a phoenix in the background.

Posing for a group photo.

After the group photo, they will soon pull the float to Yaegaki Shrine at around 5:35 pm.

Another Hikiyama, one called Hanrinkaku, was here in this traditional-looking neighborhood. 攀鱗閣（西町）

Hanrinkaku 攀鱗閣（西町）

Hanrinkaku 攀鱗閣（西町）一谷嫩軍記（いちのたにふたばぐんき）

We will see more photos from this float later in the evening when they performed with lit paper lanterns (see bottom).

The third float, called Shirankaku, was near Tarui no Izumi spring. 紫雲閣（中町）

紫雲閣（中町）義経千本桜（よしつねせんぼんざくら）

Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri, Gifu. Also see my YouTube video here.

Back of Shirankaku Hikiyama float. 紫雲閣（中町）

They started pulling the Shirankaku float through the main street.

Pulling the float past Nangu Taisha's torii along the Nakasendo Road.

At around 5:35 pm, the three floats headed for Yaegaki Shrine for the festival eve event.

Also see my YouTube video here.

The float pullers started acting crazy and went wild with the ropes.

Wrapping the rope around the utility pole??

Turning the float.

Heading for Yaegaki Shrine.

In front of Yaegaki Shrine, next to the elementary school.

Two floats are already here.

The third and last float arrives.

Yaegaki Shrine

We waited around for about 30 min. until someone gave the signal, and suddenly men appeared on all three floats to hang the paper lanterns in a race to light up the float first.