Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Takashima 高島市 > Omizo Matsuri Festival 大溝祭

Most viewed - Omizo Matsuri Festival 大溝祭
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The Omizo Matsuri is the biggest festival (Reisai) of Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine in Takashima (not to be confused with Hiyoshi Taisha in Otsu which is related) held annually on May 3-4.405 views
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The Takara and Tomoe floats pass by each other during the Omizo Matsuri.190 views
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All the Omizo Matsuri hikiyama arrived in succession as they ran each time. Also see my video at YouTube.186 views
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At the Omizo Matsuri in Shiga, I couldn't get used to the people in casual clothes pulling a traditional float. Maybe they can't afford to buy happi coats for all these people.169 views
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Turning the float at Omizo Matsuri.168 views
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Omizo Matsuri poster118 views
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They tossed mochi after this in the shrine, but I left early to see the Shichikawa Festival in Shin-Asahi. Sorry, no photos of what happened here after this.110 views
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Tapestry on the back of Minato float.105 views
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May 3 is the Yoimiya or festival eve when they parade the five ornate hikiyama floats in the evening from 6:45 pm. They first gather in front of Ebisu-so, near Omi-Takashima Station. This is the Minato (湊) float.89 views
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My YouTube video of the Omizo Matsuri in 2010.88 views
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Sculpture on Minato hikiyama float.68 views
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The floats are decorated with paper lanterns lit up. They return to Ebisu-so by 10:30 pm. When I went on May 3, 2010, there were local volunteer guides at the train station distributing maps of the parade route and giving directions. Very helpful.64 views
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Then the floats passed by Omi-Takashima Station which has a giant Gulliver statue.64 views
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Minato hikiyama float (湊)64 views
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The paper lanterns is emblazoned with the name of the float. Each name has only one kanji character. This is the Isamu (勇) hikiyama float.63 views
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Steps to the shrine's hall.63 views
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On the next morning on May 4, 2010, a nice sunny day greeted the floats. The five floats started rolling at 10 am and headed slowly for Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine.61 views
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The hikiyama float's wheels cannot turn, so they turn the float by tilting it and turning it by force. This is the Tomoe (巴) hikiyama float. 59 views
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Every year, they take turns being the first float (called Hanayama 花山) in the procession.59 views
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The Omizo Matsuri is a Shiga Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.58 views
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The floats have festival musicians who play the taiko drum, bell, and flute.58 views
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There were so many spectators so it was easy to move around and shoot.57 views
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They made a U-turn at the Otabisho near the lake shore.57 views
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Like the night before, local volunteer guides at Omi-Takashima Station gave directions and maps of the procession route. Very helpful even though there weren't too many tourists.57 views
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The floats are pretty small, compared to other float festivals in Shiga. So they are light enough to tilt when they need to turn. This is the Takara (宝) float.56 views
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Lanterns inside Omi-Takashima Station.56 views
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Passing by the elementary school. The stone marker indicates the way to Hiyoshi Jinja.56 views
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The floats started arriving at Hiyoshi Jinja by 10:30 am. 56 views
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Then they turned the float and parked it.56 views
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They ran while pulling the float into the shrine grounds.56 views
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I followed them to the lake shore as the sky got darker.55 views
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.55 views
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I then took some pictures of each hikiyama. This is the Ryu (dragon) hikiyama float (龍).55 views
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Some people wore happi coats, but many people didn't. So it didn't look as traditional as other float festivals.54 views
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About Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine in Japanese.54 views
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Takara hikiyama float (寳). The roof ornament is very large.54 views
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Tapestry on Tomoe hikiyama float (巴).54 views
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Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine. MAP52 views
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Tomoe hikiyama float (巴)52 views
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.51 views
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The wheels are pretty small compared to other floats in Shiga.51 views
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Torii at Hiyoshi Jinja Shrine. 日吉神社51 views
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At around 7:30 pm, they all gathered here near the hospital and took a break. 分部神社前50 views
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Pulling the Ryu (龍) hikiyama.50 views
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Omizo Matsuri float passing by Omi-Takashima Station.50 views
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Each float has a tapestry on the back. This is the Ryu hikiyama float.50 views
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Float pullers definitely look better with happi coats.49 views
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The shrine priest blesses each hikiyama.49 views
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Tapestry on the back of Takara hikiyama float.49 views
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They didn't have any signs indicating the name of the float. Isamu hikiyama float (勇).48 views
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Tapestry behind the Isamu hikiyama float.48 views
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Finally the last hikiyama is parked along side the others.47 views
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