List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties
Religious festivals and beliefs
70 designations. All were designated under Criteria 1.

List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties

Section Title: Religious festivals and beliefs
Table Section Text: 70 designations. All were designated under Criteria 1.

Name	Date	Remarks	Location	Image

Pilgrimage to Mount Iwaki (岩木山の登拝行事 iwakisan no tohai gyōji)	End of the 7th month – 15th day of 8th month	Collective climbing of Mount Iwaki by local people praying for safety and in gratitude of the harvest.	Hirosaki, Aomori	-

Hirosaki Neputa (弘前のねぷた hirosaki no neputa)	August 1–7	Parade of fan-shaped paper nebuta floats decorated with historical or legendary figures and accompanied by flutes and taiko.	Hirosaki, Aomori	-

Aomori Nebuta (青森のねぶた aomori no nebuta)}	August 2–7	Parade of nebuta floats decorated with historical or legendary figures and accompanied by flutes, taiko drums and Obon dances. The festival is said to commemorate Sakanoue no Tamuramaro and together with the Akita Kantō and the Sendai Tanabata festival, it is one of the three great festivals in Tohoku.	Aomori, Aomori	-

Floats of the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai (八戸三社大祭の山車行事 hachinohe sansha taisai no dashi gyōji)	August 1–3	Festival of three shrines: Ogami (霊神社), Shinra (新羅神社), and Shinmei (神明宮), with a procession of 27 floats and mikoshi accompanied by lion dances, masked warriors and people in traditional garb representing legendary or mythical characters.	Hachinohe, Aomori	-

Murone Jinja festival Matsuriba rites (室根神社祭のマツリバ行事)	17th–19th day of the 9th month	Parishioners of 7 towns and villages carry mikoshi from the shrine and place them on a scaffolding structure at a temporary shrine where various dances are performed.	Ichinoseki, Iwate	—

Floats of the Hanawa Matsuri (花輪祭の屋台行事 hanawa matsuri no yatai gyōji)	August 19, 20	Joined event of Saiwaiinari Shrine (幸稲荷神社) and Hanawa Shinmeisha shrine (花輪神明社) in which 10 festival floats are paraded through town accompanied by music.	Hanawa, Kazuno, Akita	A festival float cart with taiko drummers lit up at night

Floats of the Kakunodate Matsuri (角館祭りのやま行事 kakunodate matsuri no yama gyōji)<	September 7–9	Procession of floats with kabuki styled dolls, hayashi music and dance at a festival with origins in the 17th century.	Kakunodate, Akita	-

Akita Kantō (秋田の竿灯 akita no kantō)	August 5–7	Parade of more than 200 long bamboo poles (kantō) carrying 46 paper lanterns each. Together with the Aomori Nebuta and the Sendai Tanabata festival, one of the three great festivals in Tohoku.	Akita, Akita	-

Floats of Tsuchizaki Shinmeishasai (土崎神明社祭の曳山行事 tsuchizaki shinmeisha-sai no hikiyama gyōji)	July 20–21	Parade of mikoshi and 20 festival floats with almost life-sized dolls representing characters or scenes of historical narratives. The floats are provided by the neighborhoods.	Akita, Akita	-

The ritual of the tōnin (東湖八坂神社のトウニン（統人）行事 tōkoyasaka jinja tōnin gyōji)|	Various dates (Jan 6, March 24–25, June 20, 24–28, July 1–8, December 7) with the main event on July 7	Apart from a parade of floats the festival is particularly noted for ushinori where a man dressed as Susanoo-no-Mikoto rides a cow through the streets and for kumo mai (spider dance) in which a man dressed in red does somersaults on a platform on a fishing boat in the harbor.	Katagami, Akita	—

Shōreisai Festival Ōtaimatsu event (松例祭の大松明行事 shōreisai no ōtaimatsu gyōji)	December 31 and January 1	New Year fire festival in which large torches (ōtaimatsu) are lit and the state of burning is said to predict the year's harvest and catch.	Dewa Sanzan, Tsuruoka, Yamagata	—

Floats of the Shinjō Matsuri (新庄まつりの山車行事 shinjō matsuri no yatai gyōji)	August 24–26	Festival initiated in 1756 during the Great famine of the Hōreki era by Tozawa Masanobu, head of the Shinjō Domain in order to raise the spirits of the people and to pray for abundant harvest.	Shinjō, Yamagata	Lit up large model of a snake

Kanazawa Hayama Gomori (金沢の羽山ごもり kanazawa no hayama gomori)	16th–18th day of the 11th month	Event related to Hayama no Kami in which after purification, local men climb Hayama where they receive the kami's oracle.	Fukushima, Fukushima	—

Tajima Gion Festival Otōya ritual (田島祇園祭のおとうや行事 tajima gion matsuri no otōya gyōji)	July 18–21	Festival held to drive away disease-inducing spirits. The festival includes various events such as a procession of young brides accompanied by hayashi, children kabuki on four floats, daidai kagura and the carrying of mikoshi.	Minamiaizu, Fukushima	Procession of young women clad in kimono

Aizu rice planting festival (会津の御田植祭 aizu no otaue matsuri)	July 2 (Keitokumachi) and July 12 (Takada)	Rice planting festival as a prayer for abundant harvest held at Inari Shrine, Keitokumachi and at Isasumi Shrine.	Keitokumachi Kitakata and Takada Aizumisato, Fukushima	—

Hitachi-Ōtsu Ofune (boat) festival (常陸大津の御船祭 hitachi ōtsu no ofune matsuri)	May 2–3, every 5 years	Spring festival of Sawawachigi Shrine in which a mikoshi is placed on a real fishing boat (dimensions: 14 m × 2.6 m × 3.8 m (45.9 ft × 8.5 ft × 12.5 ft) and 7 t (6.9 long tons; 7.7 short tons)) and paraded through town by 300 men, praying for a good catch and maritime safety.	Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki	—

Hitachi Float Procession (日立風流物 hitachi furyū-mono)	May 3–5	The grand festival of Kamine Shrine in which four community create floats that serve as multi-level puppet theatre for karakuri puppets.	Minamiaizu, Ibaraki	Tall colorful structure with multiple levels for dolls.

Karasuyama Yamaage Festival (烏山の山あげ行事 karasuyama no yamaage gyōji)	Friday, Saturday and Sunday around fourth Saturday in July	Dating back to 1560 when the daimyō of Shimotsuke Province enshrined Gozu-Tennō in Yakumo Shrine to stem a disease. The festival is characterised by a display of festival floats (yatai), and various entertainments such as sumo, shishi kagura, and most notably outdoor performances of kabuki and dances of young girls.	Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi	Large board with a painting of a waterfall.

Floats of Kanuma Imamiya Shrine (鹿沼今宮神社祭の屋台行事 kanuma imamiya jinja-sai no yatai gyōji)	Second weekend in October	Procession of 20 yatai festival floats accompanied by music and dance.	Kanuma, Tochigi	Decorated float with festival participants.

Hokkōji rice eating ceremony (発光路の強飯式 Hokkōji no gōhanshiki)	January 3	Compulsory rice eating as part of the Hokkōji Myōken Shrine festival.c	Kanuma, Tochigi	—

Katashina Monkey Chasing Festival (片品の猿追い祭 katashina no saruoi matsuri)	Day of the monkey in the 9th month	Hotaka Shrine festival with a 300-year history going back to a story involving an evil white monkey that was defended by the village.	Hanasaku, Katashina, Gunma	—

Floats of Kawagoe Hikawa Festival (川越氷川祭の山車行事 kawagoe hikawa matsuri no dashi gyōji)	Third weekend in October	Festival of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine featuring a festival float parade, dances, music, and as the main event a musical battle (hikkawase) between the floats.	Kawagoe, Saitama	-

Music and Floats of the Chichibu Festival (秩父祭の屋台行事と神楽 chichibu matsuri no yatai gyōji to kagura)	December 2–3	Main festival of Chichibu Shrine with six carved floats, kagura dance and music.	Chichibu, Saitama	-

Floats of Sawara (佐原の山車行事 sawara no dashi gyōji)	Friday, Saturday and Sunday following July 10 (Gion Festival); Friday, Saturday and Sunday around the second Saturday in October (Shinjuku Suwa Shrine Festival)	300 year old festival featuring floats decorated with 4 m (13 ft) tall dolls. There are ten dashi floats during the Gion Festival of Yasaka Shrine and 14 dashi at the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine.	Katori, Chiba	Float-stand-in-a-line,sawara-float-festival,katori-city,japan.JPG

Shiramazu Grand Festival (白間津のオオマチ（大祭）行事 shiramazu no ōmachi gyōji)	Fourth Friday, Saturday and Sunday in July, once every 4 years	Festival incorporating a variety of rituals and performances including a procession with a red-masked demon, drums, flutes, girls with wooden staffs, mikoshi, and men carrying decorated sake barrels.	Minamibōsō, Chiba	—

Mona village taro Festival (茂名の里芋祭 mona no satoimo matsuri)	February 19–21	Festival of the twelve shrines in Mona that includes the offering of taro.	Tateyama, Chiba	—

Kibune Shrine Boat Festival (貴船神社の船祭り kibune jinja no funa matsuri)	July 27–28	Boats decorated in flowers make their way out to sea accompanied by boat songs. Also included in the festival is a rowing boat race and Kashima odori dance.	Manazuru, Kanagawa	Boat decorated with colorful flowers.

Floats of the Murakami Festival (村上祭の屋台行事 murakami matsuri no yatai gyōji)	July 6, 7	Grand Festival of Senami Haguro Shrine with a procession of 19 yatai floats, 14 horses and 4 kasaboko parade floats around the site of the former Murakami Castle.	Senami Haguro Shrine, Murakami, Niigata	A two-level cart with large wheels and people in festival dress.

Sanpoku Botamochi Festival (山北のボタモチ祭り sanpoku no botamochi matsuri)	December 2 (Nakahama and Sugitaira), January 12 (Ganjiki)	Event in which people prepare botamochi sweets for the tutelary kami as gratitude for a successful harvest and fishing.	Murakami, Niigata	—

Namerikawa Nebuta Nagashi (滑川のネブタ流し namerikawa no nebuta nagashi)	July 31	Large burning torches on rafts called nebuta are sent out to sea symbolizing the sending away of drowsiness and filth and praying for a healthy year without disease.	Namerikawa, Toyama	—

Uozu Tatemon Festival (魚津のタテモン行事 uozu no tatemon gyōji)	First Friday and Saturday in August	Parade of large, 16 m (52 ft) tall, 10 m (33 ft) long, triangular shaped floats decorated with about 90 lanterns each, praying for a good catch and safety at sea.	Uozu, Toyama	-

Takaoka Float Procession (高岡御車山祭の御車山行事 takaoka mikuruma yama matsuri no mikuruma yama gyōji)	May 1	Float parade with seven dashi floats known locally as mikuruma yama (lit. cart mountains) decorated on top by sculptures of mythical animals from where umbrella like structures cover large kabuki-like figures.	Takaoka, Toyama	Colorful float with figure on top.

Floats of Jōhana Shinmei Shrine (城端神明宮祭の曳山行事 jōhana shinmei-gū sai no hikiyama gyōji)	May 4–5	Parade of six hikiyama floats with large sculptures of Japanese deities such as Ebisu or Daikokuten, accompanied by lion dances, music, mikoshi and men carrying halberds.	Nanto, Toyama	—

Keta Cormorant Festival customs (気多の鵜祭の習俗 keta no u matsuri no shūzoku)	December 16	A cormorant is released to the gods and based on its movement the year's harvest and weather is forecast.	Keta Shrine Hakui, Ishikawa	—

Wakabata Procession of the Kumakabuto Festival (熊甲二十日祭の枠旗行事 kumakabuto hatsuka-sai wakubata gyōji)	September 20	Parade of mikoshi and tall red banners accompanied by bells and drums and lead by the masked dancing deity Sarudahiko no mikoto.	Nanao, Ishikawa	—

Floats of the Seihaku Festival (青柏祭の曳山行事 seihaku-sai no hikiyama gyōji)	May 13–15	Festival of Ōtokonushi Shrine with huge 12 m (39 ft) tall hikiyama floats decorated with large kabuki-style dolls, and large barrel-shaped drums in an event meant to drive away disease-bearing spirits and to secure the safety of the local people.	Nanao, Ishikawa	-

Yoshida Fire Festival (吉田の火祭 yoshida no hi matsuri)	August 26–27	Fire festival in which huge lit and paraded through town announcing the close of the climbing season on Mount Fuji.	Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi	Ignition torches in the main street of Yoshida Fire Festival.JPG

Kosuge Hashiramatsu Festival (小菅の柱松行事 kosuge no hashiramatsu gyōji)	Weekend following July 14, every 3 years	Shinto event in which two children on two 4 m (13 ft) tall structures made of branches compete to strike a light with a piece of flint.	Kosuge Shrine, Iiyama, Nagano	—

Floats and Drums of Furukawa Festival (古川祭の起し太鼓・屋台行事 furukawa matsuri no okoshi daiko yatai gyōji)	April 19–20	A parade of priests, dignitaries, mikoshi, flag carrying men and lion dancers is followed by a procession of yatai floats and hayashi music in the evening of the first day.	Ketawaka Miya Shrine, Hida, Gifu	-

Floats of the Takayama Festival (高山祭の屋台行事 takayama matsuri no yatai gyōji)	April 14–15 (Spring festival of the Hie Shrine), October 9–10 (Autumn festival of the Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine)	Float festivals with 12 (11) decorated yatai floats, three (four) with karakuri mechanical dolls representing characters from Japanese myths or legends during the spring (autumn) festival.	Takayama, Gifu	-

Ōgaki Festival Yama Floats Procession (大垣祭の軕行事 ōgaki matsuri no yama gyōji)	Weekend before May 15	Parade of 13 yama floats decorated with dolls and karakuri mechanical puppets. The festival shows features of festival culture from eastern (Chūkyō) and western (Kinki) Japan.	Ōgaki, Gifu	Festival float with attached small roofed stage and dolls

Mitsuke Tenjin Hadaka Matsuri (見付天神裸祭 mitsuke tenjin hadaka matsuri)	Weekend preceding the 10th day of the 8th month	Naked festival involving purification of the participants on the beach, miko kagura dances, oni mai (demon dances) and as the highlight, the violent carrying of mikoshi.	Mitsuke, Iwata, Shizuoka	—

Boat Procession of Ōe Hachiman Shrine (大江八幡神社の御船行事 ōe hachiman jinja no ofune gyōji)	Mid-September	Youths manipulate model boats while singing and chanting.	Sagara, Makinohara, Shizuoka	—

Floats of Kamezaki Shiohi Festival (亀崎潮干祭の山車行事 kamezaki shiohi matsuri no dashi gyōji)	May 3–4	Shio-hi (low tide) festival of Kamezaki in which five tall two-tiered dashi floats with distinct roofs are dragged to the beach with puppet plays performed on the upper storey to the accompaniment of noh and nagauta songs.	Kamisaki Shrine, Kamezaki, Handa, Aichi	-

Floats of the Inuyama Festival (犬山祭の車山行事 Inuyama matsuri no yama gyōji)	First Saturday and following Sunday of April	Display of 13 three-storied dashi floats known locally as yama (車山) and produced by 13 towns. During the day hayashi music from the lowest floor accompanies theatrical pupppet performances on the top level.	Inuyama, Aichi	-

Sunari Festival (須成祭の車楽船行事と神葭流し sunari matsuri no danjiri bune gyōji to miyoshi nagashi)	Early July to late October, festival eve on first Saturday in August	Also known as 100 day festival. During the Yoi-matsuri eve in August, boats decorated with paper lanterns are festooned in the river.	Tomiyoshi Tatehaya Shrine and Hakken-sha Shrine, Kanie, Aichi	Sunarimatsuri1.JPG

Boats of the Owari Tsushima Tennō Festival (尾張津島天王祭の車楽舟行事 owari tsushima tennō matsuri no danjiri-bune gyōji)	Fourth Saturday and following Sunday of July	Festivals involving six danjiri, boat versions of the terrestrial dashi floats, which are multi-tiered structures housing life-size dolls and depicting scenes from noh drama.	Tsushima, Aichi	Tsushimatennosai1.JPG

Oni Festival of Toyohashi Shinmei Shrine (豊橋神明社の鬼祭 toyohashi shinmei-sha no oni matsuri)	February 10–11	Ritual masked and unmasked dances including varieties of kagura and dengaku. The highlight is the rivalry between a red-masked demon (oni) and a long-nose-masked tengu.	Toyohashi, Aichi	飽海神戸神明社の鬼祭り

Floats of the Kuwana Ishidori Festival (桑名石取祭の祭車行事 kuwana ishidori matsuri no saisha gyōji)	First Sunday of August and the preceding Saturday	Procession of around 30 saisha festival carts accompanied by ōdaiko and hayashi.	Kuwana, Mie	IshidoriMatsuri.JPG

Danjiri of the Ueno Tenjin Festival (上野天神祭のダンジリ行事 ueno tenjin matsuri no danjiri gyōji)	Sunday before October 25 and the preceding Friday and Saturday	Procession of danjiri, i.e. daishi or hikiyama style floats, accompanied by drums and bells.	Iga, Mie	Ueno-Tenzin festival.JPG

Whaling Floats of Toride Shrine (鳥出神社の鯨船行事 toride jinja no kujira bune gyōji)	August 14–15	In an event seen as a prayer for abundant fishing, four gold decorated whale-boat-shaped dashi floats are pulled through town in pursuit of a mock whale.	Higashitomida-chō, Yokkaichi, Mie	Men manipulating a decorative model of a boat and a whale.

Floats of the Ōtsu Festival (大津祭の曳山行事 ōtsu matsuri no hikiyama gyōji)	Weekend before the second Monday in October	Parade of thirteen festival floats and mikoshi accompanied by music and chanting with participants wearing tanuki masks.	Tenson Shrine, Ōtsu, Shiga	—

Potato Contest of Ōmi Nakayama (近江中山の芋競べ祭り Ōmi Nakayama no Imo-kurabe Matsuri)	September 1	Formal contest comparing the length of taro followed by climbing Nogamiyama.	Hino, Shiga	—

Mikami Zuiki Festival (三上のずいき祭 mikami no zuiki matsuri)	Mid-October	Autumn festival of Mikami Shrine as a gratitude for the harvest with portable shrines made of the zuiki plant.	Mikami Shrine, Yasua, Shiga	—

Floats of the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival (長浜曳山祭の曳山行事 nagahama hikiyama matsuri no hikiyama gyōji)	April 13–16	Display of hikiyama floats in which hayashi music and children kabuki are performed. The festival was initiated in the tenshō era by Toyotomi Hideyoshi celebrating the birth of his son.	Nagahama, Shiga	—

Yamaboko Floats of the Kyoto Gion Matsuri (京都祇園祭の山鉾行事 kyōto gion matsuri no yamaboko gyōji)	July	Dashi float parade accompanied by hayashi music. The festival originates from a goryō-e ritual in 869 when 66 halberds were used to pacify disease causing spirits.	Kyoto, Kyoto	-

Miyaza of Wakide Shrine (涌出宮の宮座行事 wakide no miya no miyaza gyōji)	Various (February 15–17, March 21, September 30, October 16–17)	Religious rituals typical for communities of shrine parishioners (miyaza) such as various types of offerings, ritual rice planting (taue) and the lighting of large torches.	Kizugawa, Kyoto	—

Sakoshi boat festival (坂越の船祭 sakoshi no funa matsuri)	Second weekend in October	Large boat festival with a large fleet of wooden Japanese ships centered around boats carrying mikoshi and including rowing boats, lion boats, pleasure boats and boats for music and song.	Ōsake Shrine, Sakoshi, Akō, Hyōgo	Play media

Boats of the Kōchi Festival (河内祭の御舟行事 kōchi matsuri no mifune gyōji)	Fourth weekend in July	Three elaborately decorated boats and barges including a lion dance barge slowly make up their way from Koza Shrine along the Koza River to Kōchi shrine, represented by Seisho island, where offerings are made.	Koza, Kushimoto, Wakayama	—

Shingū Hayatama Festival Otō Fire Festival (新宮の速玉祭・御燈祭り shingū no hayatama sai otō matsuri)	February 6–7	Festival of Kumano Hayatama Taisha in which about 2000 men in white clothes run down stairs torch in hand.	Shingū, Wakayama	—

Nachi Fire Festival (那智の扇祭り nachi no ōgi matsuri)	July 13–14	12 vermillion mikoshi decorated with ogi fans and mirrors and 12 huge 50 kg (110 lb) torches waved next to them.	Nachikatsuura, Wakayama	—

Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival (戸畑祇園大山笠行事 tobata gion ōyamagasa gyōji)	Fourth Friday, Saturday, Sunday in July	Parade of ōyamagasa floats that are decorated by flags during the day and turned into pyramids of light by a large number of lanterns at night.	Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	-

Daiko of the Kokura Gion Festival (小倉祇園祭の小倉祇園太鼓 kokura gion matsuri no kokura gion daiko)	Friday, Saturday, Sunday around the third Saturday of July	Grand festival of Kokura Yasaka shrine characterised by large drums with drums pulled along on floats.	Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	—

Saidai-ji Eyō Nakedness Festival (西大寺の会陽 saidai-ji no eyō)	Third Saturday of February	About 9000 naked men competing to get one of two sacred wooden sticks (shingi) dropped from a window of the temple.	Saidai-ji, Okayama, Okayama	Half naked men.

Pine pole Festival of Tokakuji Temple (等覚寺の松会 tokakuji no matsue)	Third Sunday in April	Shugendō ritual where various events such as mikoshi carrying and lion dances are followed by ritual imitations of rice planting (taue), halberd dances and paper cutting, which are typical yamabushi performances.	Hakusan Taga Shrine, Kanda, Fukuoka	—

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (博多祇園山笠行事 hakata gion yamakasa gyōji)	July 1–15, with the peak of the festival between July 10–15	Festival of Kushida Shrine celebrating Susanoo-no-Mikoto through a parade of large dashi floats called yamakasa, variously decorated with dolls.	Fukuoka, Fukuoka	-

Floats of the Karatsu Kunchi Festival (唐津くんちの曳山行事 karatsu kunchi no hikiyama gyōji)	November 2–4	Procession of 14 hikiyama floats in the shape of samurai helmets, sea bream, dragons and other fantastical creatures, the oldest, a red lion dates to 1819.	Karatsu, Saga	-

Yatsushiro Myōken Shinkō Festival (八代妙見祭の神幸行事 yatsushiro myōken sai no shinkō gyōji)	November 22–23	Transfer of the shintai from Yatsushiro Shrine to Shioya Hachiman-gū (known as o-kudari) and exhibition of decorated floats and a mythical creature, half snake half turtle on the first day.	Yatsushiro, Kumamoto	—

Floats of the Hita Gion Festival (日田祗園の曳山行事 hita gion no hikiyama gyōji)	Weekend following July 20	Float festival with 9 yama floats with a peculiar multi-layer doll structure.	Hita, Ōita	-

Shioya Bay Ungami Sea Festival (塩屋湾のウンガミ shioya-wa no ungami)	First day of gai following Obon	Various rituals followed by a boat race in an event that is seen as a prayer for abundant harvest and fishing.	Ōgimi, Okinawa	—

Sentence(s)

Hakata Gion Yamakasa was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

final_sentence: Hakata Gion Yamakasa was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.