A hōtō festival where lights and calls come alive in Nanao’s fishing town
Ishizaki Hōtō Festival
The 2026 edition of Ishizaki Hōtō Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/01Ended
- Season / frequency
- August, first Saturday (eve-of-festival event the previous day) / Every year
- Location
- Dōmae Square and the town of Ishizaki
- Area
- Ishikawa Prefecture・Nanao City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Required number of participants
- Around 100 people
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
In Ishizaki, Nanao City, large hōtō move through town to the sounds of flutes and drums. This kiriko festival of lights and calls is a tradition passed down in the fishing town.
About Ishizaki Hōtō Festival
The Ishizaki Hōtō Festival is a festival offering at Ishizaki Hachiman Shrine in Ishizaki, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Counted as one of Nanao’s 4 major festivals, it is closely connected to the culture of the fishing town on Nanao Bay.
A large team of carriers moves the towering hōtō through town, while the sounds of flutes, taiko drums, and gongs mingle with their calls.
Source: 石崎奉燈祭 - Wikipedia / 石崎奉燈祭 - 日本遺産「灯り舞う半島 能登 〜熱狂のキリコ祭り〜」能登のキリコ祭り
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the procession of a hōtō, about 15 meters tall and weighing about 2 tons, carried by around 100 people.
The hōtō moves through narrow lanes, passing just inches from the eaves of houses, as the carriers’ calls blend with the flutes, taiko drums, and gongs played by the young festival participants.
At dusk, the hōtō gather in Dōmae Square. At night, enjoy large calligraphic displays and warrior paintings illuminated by the lanterns, lively dances, and fireworks.
A hōtō festival where lights and calls come alive in Nanao’s fishing town
What to expect
During the main festival, the hōtō parade through town and gather in Dōmae Square at dusk for and a dance competition.
At the signal of the taiko drum, the carriers lift the hōtō and move it to the rhythm of the , their calls ringing through the town.
At night, the hōtō are lit up, and the lively dances are said to continue until late into the night.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：無料
必要人数：約100人
Location and access
- Venue and address
Dōmae Square and the town of Ishizaki / Ishizaki, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Train and bus
A 10-minute walk from JR Wakura-Onsen Station.
- By car
About 2 km and 10 minutes via National Route 249 from the Noto-Satoyama Kaidō’s Tazuruhama IC.
- Parking
There is free parking for 300 vehicles.
Source: 石崎奉燈祭（石川県／七尾市）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more.
Address Ishizaki, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)
The main festival in 2026 is scheduled for August 1 (Saturday), with the eve-of-festival event scheduled for the previous day, July 31 (Friday).
In most years, the main festival takes place on the first Saturday of August, and during the eve-of-festival event the hōtō make their way through town and around the area in front of Wakura-Onsen Station.
The highlights shift from the daytime events to the dusk shinji and dances, then to the lights and fireworks at night.
Source: 能登のキリコ祭りを楽しもう！開催日や駐車場情報も紹介！｜ブログ｜【公式】石川県の観光/旅行サイト「ほっと石川旅ねっと」
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 Ishikawa Prefecture / Nanao City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The hōtō pass through narrow lanes, so take great care near the carriers and along their route.
When watching, follow the instructions of festival committee members and staff, and keep away from the hōtō and any places that could obstruct its progress.
Traffic restrictions may be in place, so if you come by car, use the designated parking lot and watch out for pedestrians in the area.
Nearby attractions
Nearby, the Wakura Onsen Festival Hall is recommended as a place to learn about Nanao City’s major festivals, including the Ishizaki Hōtō Festival.
Festival and other items are displayed inside, including a life-size hōtō from the Ishizaki Hōtō Festival.
It’s a place to stop by and discover hōtō culture from another perspective, along with a walk around town on the day of the festival.
のとじま臨海公園水族館
石川県七尾市にある水族館
大地主神社
石川県七尾市にある神社
石川県七尾美術館
石川県七尾市にある美術館
石川県能登島ガラス美術館
石川県七尾市にある美術館
Origins and History of Ishizaki Hōtō Festival
The Ishizaki Hōtō Festival is said to have originated from a dashi modeled on those of Kyoto’s Gion Festival, which was once brought out for the summer festival at Ishizaki Hachiman Shrine.
After repeated fires destroyed the dashi and interrupted the festival, kiriko were received from Ushitsu in Oku-Noto around the middle of the Meiji period.
The festival is said to have been revived as a hōtō festival that joined shinji to appease fires with prayers for a good catch and bountiful harvests, taking the form it has today.
Official information
七尾市の石崎奉燈祭公式案内は、七尾市の石崎奉燈祭公式案内 です。
Ishizaki Hōtō Festival at a Glance
The Ishizaki Hōtō Festival is a festival in the fishing town of Ishizaki, Nanao City, where large hōtō are carried through the streets.
Its key features include the calls of around 100 carriers, the hayashi of flutes, taiko drums, and gongs, and the procession through narrow lanes.
Experience the local hōtō culture, passed down through generations, from the dances in Dōmae Square to the warrior paintings illuminated at night and the fireworks.
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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