#Eda85daysinJapan | Chapter 4 (Hokuriku) | Kanazawa โ Hyakumangoku Festival
๐๏ธ 5โ7 June 2026
๐ Kanazawa Castle & around the city
Kanazawaโs once-a-year festival is Hyakumangoku Festival โ ็พ่ฌ็ณ็ฅญ / Million-Koku Festival. It marks Maeda Toshiie entering the castle on 14 June 1583. In 2026 it was 5โ7 June. I was there for all three days.
I felt so blessed and grateful I made it in time to join for the very first time. Also my very first Japanese parade celebration.
It didnโt feel like something put on for tourists. More like the cityโs annual party. You could tell how much heart and sweat the locals put into it.
5 June I watched the Childrenโs Lantern and Taiko Drum Parade โ ๅญใฉใๆ็ฏๅคช้ผ่กๅ. Kids with lanterns and drums walking around the castle area. I was only watching, but already found it so cute. They were adorable โ very happy, and so neat.
6 June I watched the Hyakumangoku Parade โ ็พไธ็ณ่กๅ / Million-Koku Procession โ from the balcony of a shopping centre. Thatโs the main one. It starts near Kanazawa Station, goes through the city, and enters the castle through Ishikawa-mon. Historical dress, music, lion dance, Kaga tobi firefighters, Toshiie and Matsu arriving at the castle. From the balcony you could see the whole line going down the street. I got to learn about the traditions, the locals, the rituals, and the history of Kanazawa they put into the parade. After that there were portable shrine processions near Oyama Shrine as well, and Hyakumangoku Odori Nagashi โ ็พไธ็ณ่ธใๆตใ / Hyakumangoku Dancing Parade โ from 6pm.
7 June I went to Minโyo Hana Emaki โ ๆฐ่ฌก่ฏ็ตตๅทป / Folk Song Picture Scroll โ first. I managed to stay for a show which adult artists, then young adults, then primary kids โ they all played the same song. How amazing is that โ thatโs ๅณๆฟ, passing it on. After that I went to Kaga Hyakumangoku Bon Shogatsu โ ๅ ่ณ็พไธ็ณใ็ๆญฃๆใ โ at the castle. Booths for local products, and portable shrine processions that invited everyone to join.
