A Fukuno night illuminated by grand lanterns and an intense tug-of-war
Fukuno Yotaka Festival
The 2026 edition of Fukuno Yotaka Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/05/01 〜 2026/05/03Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, from May 1 to the 3rd / Every year
- Location
- Central Fukuno, Fukuno Shinmei Shrine
- Area
- Toyama Prefecture・Nanto 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Fukuno Yotaka Festival brightens spring in Fukuno, Nanto City, as illuminated grand lanterns parade through the streets to the sound of Yotaka drums and calls. The tug-of-war late on the night of the 2nd and the procession on the 3rd are major festival highlights.
About Fukuno Yotaka Festival
The Fukuno Yotaka Festival is a spring festival of Fukuno Shinmei Shrine held in the Fukuno area of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.
On May 1 and the evening festival on the 2nd, large and small Yotaka lanterns parade through the streets accompanied by drums and calls.
The main festival on the 3rd features a dashi and iori- procession, Shinto rites, and performances of iori-uta.
It is a deeply rooted local festival that the people of Fukuno have protected and passed down through generations.
Source: 南砺市文化芸術アーカイブズ
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the grand lantern tug-of-war late on the night of the 2nd.
In this intense ritual unique to Fukuno, young men ride the lanterns as they pass each other on narrow streets, using their hands and feet to break one another’s suspended ornaments and frames.
At night, lights inside the lanterns illuminate the colorful washi-paper dashi and suspended ornaments, making them appear three-dimensional.
Yotaka drums, Yotaka songs, and the calls of “Yoiyasa, yoiyasa” also contribute to the festival’s energy.
Source: 福野夜高祭 - Wikipedia
A Fukuno night illuminated by grand lanterns and an intense tug-of-war
What to expect
In the evening, lanterns from each neighborhood gather around the Bank Four Corners area and proceed to worship at Shinmei Shrine to the sound of Yotaka drums.
Afterward, children’s lanterns and grand lanterns parade through their respective neighborhoods, followed late at night by the grand lantern tug-of-war.
The lanterns then return to their neighborhoods, where they are dismantled, and the night’s festivities conclude with the “Shanshan no Gi,” a hand-clapping ceremony.
On the 3rd, the main events are the dashi and iori-yatai procession, Shinto rites, and performances of iori-uta.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Central Fukuno, Fukuno Shinmei Shrine (〒939-1561 45-22 Fukuno, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture).
- Train and bus
JR Fukuno Station on the Johana Line is listed.
To reach Fukuno Station, transfer to the Johana Line at Shin-Takaoka Station.
- By car
About 3 minutes from Nanto SIC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, or about 10 minutes from Tonami IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.
- Parking
General parking is listed at locations including Fukuno Civic Center and Fukuno Cultural Creation Center Helios.
Source: 【福野】福野夜高祭 ｜ 旅々なんと｜五箇山NANTO観光機構｜富山県南砺市 / 福野夜高祭｜イベント｜【公式】高岡観光ナビ - 富山県高岡のおでかけ・旅行情報
Address 45-22 Fukuno, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 festival was held from May 1 to May 3.
The evening festivals take place on the 1st and 2nd, featuring Yotaka lantern parades and the tug-of-war late on the night of the 2nd.
On the 3rd, the dashi and iori-yatai parade as part of the main festival.
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 / Nanto City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The hikia takes place late at night on the 2nd, with the lanterns passing each other on narrow roads and fiercely smashing one another.
Traffic restrictions are in place around the venue, and general visitors who wish to watch nearby are directed to designated viewing areas such as Yotaka Chaya.
Some lanterns are over 6 meters tall, so please watch with care, keeping their direction of travel and your surroundings in mind.
For a long night of viewing, it is also a good idea to take care where you step and dress warmly.
Source: お知らせ > 2ページ - 南砺市商工会 福野事務所
Nearby attractions
The Yokomachi grand lantern is on permanent display at Fukuno Cultural Creation Center Helios.
Unlike the lanterns that parade through town on festival nights, this is a place where you can take your time looking at its structure and design.
Nearby attractions include Fukuno Cultural Creation Center Helios and the local produce market Fukunosato.
南砺市立福光美術館
日本の富山県南砺市にある公立美術館
福野文化創造センターヘリオス
富山県南砺市の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
高瀬神社
富山県南砺市高瀬にある神社
Origins and History of Fukuno Yotaka Festival
The Fukuno Yotaka Festival is said to have originated when townspeople welcomed a divided spirit from Ise Jingu with lanterns. The spirit had been brought from the shrine to establish Fukuno Shinmei Shrine after a major fire in 1652.
Lanterns grew larger toward the end of the Edo period, and their height was restricted in the Meiji period with the installation of power and telephone lines.
After a period when the war disrupted the dashi procession, restoration efforts advanced from the 1970s onward, and all 4 dashi were back together by 2006.
In 2004, the festival was designated a Toyama Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property, among other recognitions.
Official information
The Fukuno Yotaka Festival Preservation Council is responsible for preserving and passing on the festival, as well as related activities.
The 2026 event information lists central Fukuno and Fukuno Shinmei Shrine as the venues, and provides a telephone number for the Fukuno Yotaka Festival Liaison Council.
Information on booking spectator seats and related events is also available from the Fukuno Office of the Nanto City Business Association.
Fukuno Yotaka Festival at a Glance
The Fukuno Yotaka Festival is a spring festival that brings the streets of Fukuno in Nanto City to life with Yotaka lanterns and drums at night.
Highlights of the evening festivals on the 1st and 2nd include illuminated lanterns parading through town and the intense tug-of-war late on the night of the 2nd.
On the 3rd, dashi and iori-yatai parade, conveying the character of the festival of Fukuno Shinmei Shrine.
This festival has been passed down through a long history by generations of local people.
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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