[Exploring Mie] Festivals in Northern Area

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Festivals in Mie

Within Mie Prefecture remain longstanding traditions and customs,
and glamorous dancing that highlight each season.
Festivals that borrow heavily from local traditions are held in all parts of Mie Prefecture, throughout the year.

Festivals in Northern Area

Tado Festival (Kuwana City)
April 4th and 5th

The Tado Festival is held at Tado-Taisha Shrine to perform the most renowned Horseback Climbing Ceremony in order to beseech the gods for a good harvest during the year. Young boys dressed as warriors climb up an extremely steep slope approximately 3 meters high while on horseback.
■ 5-minute bus ride to the Tado-Taisha Mae bus stop from Tado Station on the Yoro Railway.

Inabe Shrine Taisha Festival (Toin Town)
Beginning of April

It is said that this festival was started to raise the morale of young people. Various ceremonies are dedicated to this, including Yabusame (archers clad in the hunting outfit of medieval warriors shoot at three targets as they race by on horseback) and a horseback climbing ceremony.

■ 15-minute walk from Toin Station on the Hokusei Line of Sangi Railway

Sekijuku Summer Festival (Kameyama City)
End of July

During the day, a miniature shrine is drawn through Sekijuku (Seki Town), and four floats are paraded during the night. Seki was a town for travelers on the old Tokaido Road, which once flourished in the Edo Era (1603–1867).

■ 5-minute walk from Seki Station on the JR Line

Grand Yokkaichi Festival (Yokkaichi City)
Beginning of August

Various events and traditional events such as traditional dancing are performed in Yokkaichi City.

■ 10-minute walk from Yokkaichi Station on the JR or Kintetsu lines

Ishitori Festival (Kuwana City)
Beginning of August

This is one of the strangest Japanese festivals, called “the noisiest festival in Japan.” Over thirty floats continue ringing bells and beating drums for three consecutive nights. This is an extremely vigorous and unique festival! It has been designated as a prefectural intangible folk cultural asset.

■ 20-minute walk from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu lines

Souhei Festival (Komono Town)
Beginning of October

Souhei Festival is an autumnal festival held among the brilliantly colored leaves of fall in the Yunoyama hot springs area and Gozaisho Ropeway.
■ 20-minute walk from the Yunoyama-onsen bus stop after a 10-minute ride from Yunoyama Onsen Station on the Kintetsu Line

Ise Grand Divine Music Performance (Kuwana City)
End of December

This is a shrine ritual of dancing while wearing lion masks for the purpose of exorcising evil spirits. Professional dancers who perform all over Japan gather in the Masuda Shrine at the end of December to perform these gorgeous dancing rituals.

■ 5-minute walk after a ride to the Tayu bus stop from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu lines

Suzuka Balloon Festival (Suzuka City)
Middle of September

The festival has more than 20 years of history. Hosting the Hot Air Balloon Honda Grand Prix, it is one of the biggest balloon festivals in Japan and invites top balloon pilots from across Japan.
■ Near Kasado Station on the JR Line