Nihonmatsu Chochin Matsuri, held 4–6 October at Nihonmatsu Shrine, is widely regarded as one of the three great autumn festivals of the Tohoku region. Seven massive wooden yatai festival floats, each representing one of the city's traditional districts, are decorated with 250–350 hand-painted paper lanterns and paraded through the old castle-town streets after dark. The warm amber glow of thousands of lanterns reflecting on the stone-paved lanes creates an otherworldly atmosphere steeped in history. The festival dates back over 350 years and is a Fukushima Prefecture Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Early October (4–6 October)
- Region
- Tohoku
- Prefecture
- Fukushima
- City
- Nihonmatsu
Highlights
- ◆Seven yatai floats each bearing up to 350 glowing paper lanterns
- ◆Atmospheric night parade through historic Nihonmatsu castle-town lanes
- ◆350-year tradition designated Fukushima Intangible Folk Cultural Property
- ◆Hand-painted lanterns crafted uniquely for each district's float
- ◆Taiko drumming and flute music echoing beneath the lantern-lit streets