Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, held in mid-September, is one of Osaka's most exciting and dangerous festivals, dating to 1703. Enormous danjiri (wooden festival carts) weighing up to 4 tonnes are hauled at running speed through narrow castle-town streets by teams of hundreds of men, with a dedicated 'daigu' acrobat performing atop the moving float. The festival centres on Kishiwada Castle and Kishiwada Tenmangu Shrine, with the highlight being the dramatic 'yarimawashi' sharp cornering manoeuvre. Over 500,000 spectators witness the raw energy of this beloved Osaka folk tradition.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- September
- Region
- Kansai
- Prefecture
- Osaka
- City
- Kishiwada
Highlights
- ◆Massive 4-tonne wooden danjiri floats pulled at running speed
- ◆Death-defying 'yarimawashi' high-speed cornering through narrow streets
- ◆Acrobatic 'daigu' performer standing atop each moving float
- ◆Night procession with lantern-lit floats on Saturday evening
- ◆Spectacular backdrop of Kishiwada Castle throughout the festival