Demachi's children's kabuki, passed down on the hikiyama stage
Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival
The 2026 edition of Demachi Children's Kabuki Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/29 〜 2026/04/30Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on April 29 and the 30th / Every year
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Tonami City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 10 min–2 h 40 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Age restrictions
- Ages 5–13 (child performers)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A spring festival in the Demachi district of Tonami, where children perform kabuki on a stage set atop a hikiyama float. Through offerings at Shinmei Shrine and performances that tour the neighborhoods, the festival keeps hikiyama and jōruri culture alive today.
About Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival
The Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival is a spring festival held at Demachi Shinmei Shrine in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture.
Children perform kabuki on stages set up on palace-style hikiyama floats, which are pulled through the neighborhoods as offerings.
This traditional event, passed down in the Demachi district, brings together hikiyama floats, jōruri, and children's kabuki.
Source: 出町子供歌舞伎曳山祭 - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The highlight is seeing child performers act out kabuki on the stage atop a hikiyama float.
After the introductory speech, performers present the program to shamisen and jōruri accompaniment, then visit performance venues throughout the neighborhoods.
In the evening, the 3 hikiyama floats are also lined up for “the 3-neighborhood float procession,” offering a chance to see the floats and children's kabuki together.
Demachi's children's kabuki, passed down on the hikiyama stage
What to expect
During the festival, child performers from the host neighborhood ride on the hikiyama float and perform kabuki as an offering at Shinmei Shrine, then visit performance venues throughout the neighborhoods.
On the first day, there is an introductory procession called “Oneri,” a purification ceremony, and performances with the 3 neighborhood floats lined up. The second day centers on performances at various locations and the final performance.
After the final performance, the child performers also toss rice cakes to the crowd.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
対象年齢：5～13歳（子供役者）
Location and access
- Address
Tonami City
Host municipality 富山県砺波市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 schedule was listed as running from April 29 (Wednesday, public holiday) to April 30 (Thursday).
The schedule lists children's kabuki performances from morning until evening on the 29th, and from late morning until evening on the 30th.
The festival is held annually on April 29 and the 30th.
Source: 出町子供歌舞伎曳山祭り（富山県／砺波市）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more. / 出町子供歌舞伎曳山 / 富山県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Toyama Prefecture / Tonami City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The performances take place at several neighborhood locations, so if there is a particular performance or venue you want to see, check the schedule for the day before visiting.
In rainy weather, performances may be held in the hall at the Tonami City Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Hall or at temples in the neighborhood.
Check the latest announcements for the specific performance locations and times in 2026.
Nearby attractions
The Tonami City Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Hall exhibits 3 hikiyama floats, kabuki costumes, wigs, jōruri puppets, and related historical materials.
Pre-festival final rehearsals and special children's kabuki performances are also held at places such as Tonami Tulip Park and the adjacent Tonami City Cultural Hall.
A place to experience Demachi’s hikiyama culture and Tonami’s local culture alongside the festival.
となみ散居村ミュージアム
富山県砺波市にある博物館
チューリップ四季彩館
富山県砺波市にある植物園 · Museums
松村外次郎記念庄川美術館
日本の美術館
砺波市美術館
富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
砺波郷土資料館
富山県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
Origins and History of Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival
Demachi's hikiyama tradition is said to date back to the Tenmei era in the mid-Edo period; a record from 1789 mentions the Nishimachi float.
It is said that by around 1811, the 3 floats from Nishimachi, Higashimachi, and Nakamachi had come together, and children's theater was being performed.
Since 1969, the host neighborhood has rotated one at a time, and the tradition continues today with the host neighborhood visiting performance venues.
Official information
The website for the Tonami City Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Hall is listed.
The hall is a center for preserving and passing on the festival, and exhibits hikiyama floats, costumes, and related historical materials.
Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival at a Glance
The Demachi Children's Kabuki Hikiyama Festival is a spring festival in the Demachi district of Tonami, where children perform kabuki on stages atop hikiyama floats.
The festival and local performing arts come together through performances offered at Shinmei Shrine, performances that tour the neighborhoods, and the 3 hikiyama floats being lined up together.
Hikiyama floats and children's kabuki, dating back to the Edo period, have been passed down through a rotating system in which one neighborhood takes its turn as host.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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