Let's go see the extravagant floats, recognized as a Japan Heritage site.【The Takaoka Mikurumayama Museum】

  • Toyama
  • Sightseeing
Mikurumayama (Image courtesy of Toyama Tourism Promotion Organization)

What kind of festival is the Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival?

The spring festival of Takaoka Sekino Shrine is held on May 1 every year. It is the oldest and most historic float festival in Toyama Prefecture. Seven floats called Mikuruma-yama parade through the old town of Takaoka with musical accompaniment. The sight of the seven gorgeous floats pulled together with the portable shrines is a spectacle to behold. The Takaoka Mikuruma-yama is on display throughout the year at the museum.
Photo courtesy of Toyama Tourism Promotion Organization

How did Mikuruma-yama begin?

The Takaoka Goshozan, which plays a leading role in the festival, was a court carriage used in 1588 when Hideyoshi Toyotomi asked Emperor Goyozei to go to Jurakudai, a government office and residence built in Kyoto, and was given to Toshiie Maeda. It is said to have been given to the townspeople by Maeda Toshinaga, the second lord of the domain, when he built Takaoka Castle in 1609.

What kind of float is Mikurumayama?

The elegant decoration, which retains traces of the Azuchi-Momoyama culture, features gorgeous metal fittings by master craftsmen of the Edo period, and is decorated with excellent craft techniques such as lacquer work and dyeing and weaving. The Goshawara floats are mounted in the form of a Goshawara, and have been passed down from generation to generation by the residents of Yamacho, following the Gion festival in Kyoto, while being added to the Hoko-yama floats.
Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan Exhibit (Top decoration of Mikurumayama and wheels)

Where is Yamacho?

The area in the center of the town, which is one step down to the west from the samurai residences that surrounded Takaoka Castle when it was built by Maeda Toshinaga, is laid out in a grid pattern. The 10 towns of Dori-machi, Omadashi-machi, Moriyama-machi, Kifune-machi, Komadashi-machi, Genpei-cho, Sanban-machi, Ichiban-machi, Naniban-machi, and Sakashita-machi are called "Yamamachi".
Ten mountain towns and the vehicles they own

Why are there 10 Yamachos and 7 Mikurumayama?

Of the "Yamamachi," Dori-machi, Omade-machi, Moriyama-machi, Kibune-machi, Komade-machi, and Niban-machi have one float per town, while Ichiban-machi, Sanban-machi, and Genpei-cho share the "Ichibanmachi Dori" (First Street) float. Sakashita-cho does not own a float, but a lion head, the Gendai lion, which leads the oshiyama.
Seven miniature torumayama

Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan

This hall allows visitors to enjoy up-close viewing of the prestigious Takaoka's metalwork, lacquer work, dyeing and weaving, and other decorative arts. Takaoka Mikurumayama is designated as both a national Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property and Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and its historical charm and traditions are recognized as Japan Heritage (Japan Heritage) In 2016, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Takaoka Castle, built by the second lord of the domain, was abandoned in accordance with the One-Country-One-Castle Law of the Genna period, and its vassals moved back to Kanazawa, but the third lord, Maeda Toshitsune, devoted himself to promoting industry in Takaoka, and the city developed as the second largest commercial and industrial city in the Kaga domain after Kanazawa. The townspeople of "Yamamachi" are responsible for the economic development of the city, while at the same time passing down the magnificent Mikurumayama. Come to the Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan to experience the superior craftsmanship supported by the spirit and financial power of the townspeople of Takaoka.
Heisei no Mikurumayama (not part of the festival)
Upper part of the Heisei no Mikurayama (the size conveys the power of the mountain)
Takaoka Mikurumayama Kaikan website

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