The Kiriko Matsuri is a collective name for a series of festivals held across Noto Peninsula from July through September, centred on massive kiriko — rectangular cedar-framed lanterns that can reach up to 15 metres tall and are carried through the streets at night. Each coastal town holds its own event, with the Wajima Taisai in August and the Abare Matsuri in Ushitsu among the most dramatic. The festivals honour local deities and are accompanied by taiko drumming, chanting, and the smell of bonfires on the sea breeze. The combination of glowing lanterns, fishing-village settings, and communal energy makes this a profoundly authentic experience.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- July–September
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Ishikawa
- City
- Noto Peninsula (various towns)
Highlights
- ◆Cedar kiriko lanterns up to 15 metres tall
- ◆Night processions along rugged coastal streets
- ◆Series of distinct festivals across multiple villages
- ◆Abare Matsuri features lanterns thrust into bonfires and the sea
- ◆Deep insight into Noto's living folk traditions