Published October 20, 2026 at 7:43 PM JST

Each June, Kanazawa celebrates its founding lord with a costumed parade, tea ceremonies, lion dances and an evening Noh performance beside the castle, all within a compact and walkable city.

Quick answer: The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival is the city's biggest early-summer event, held in Ishikawa Prefecture to commemorate Maeda Toshiie entering Kanazawa Castle in 1583. It is typically held over three days in early June, with the main parade on the Saturday, though organizers set the exact days each year. Highlights include the Hyakumangoku Parade, a torchlit Noh performance, tea ceremonies and evening dance parades.

What the Festival Is

The Hyakumangoku Festival, known in Japanese as Hyakumangoku Matsuri, is a three-day celebration that fills central Kanazawa with samurai costumes, music and a festive early-summer mood. The name echoes the great wealth of the Kaga domain, which was famous for its rice harvest, and the event honors Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga domain and the founder of the castle town that grew into modern Kanazawa.

According to the festival's official English page, the event commemorates the day on which Toshiie entered Kanazawa Castle, recorded as June 14, 1583. That date is taken from a shrine journal kept at Oyama Shrine, the shrine that enshrines Toshiie. The festival itself is held around the first weekend of June, and in 2026 the 75th festival ran from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7, according to the official page.

The program mixes solemn ceremonies and playful street events. Early events include shrine rituals and tea offerings, while the central day features the grand parade, evening dances and a Noh performance by firelight. Visitors do not need tickets for most of the street events, though some activities such as the tea gatherings have their own fees.

The festival is also a way for locals to celebrate their identity. Kanazawa is known for gold leaf, Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing, Kenrokuen Garden and a refined cultural atmosphere, and the Hyakumangoku Festival adds a lively samurai-era chapter to that picture.

History and Origins

The festival has an interesting lineage. According to the official page, it descends from the Kanazawa City Festival, which was held from 1923 to 1945 alongside a festival at Oyama Shrine. After the Second World War, a six-year festival called the Oyama Festival was organized from 1946 by the shrine's supporters.

The current festival began in 1952 as a Commerce and Industry Festival led by the city and the Kanazawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over time it grew into the city's largest early-summer event. In 1984, at the 33rd festival, an actor played Toshiie in the main parade for the first time, and the official page says the event has since become a major occasion that is broadcast nationwide.

The historical figures at the heart of the festival include Maeda Toshiie, who lived from 1538 to 1599 and is remembered as a loyal retainer of Oda Nobunaga and one of the senior elders under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His wife, Matsu, is also honored, and the official page describes her as a woman who worked to make peace and later became a Buddhist nun. In the parade, performers portray these figures along with other members of the Maeda family.

A pre-festival event has also been added in recent years. A press release for the 75th festival described a drone show called Night Canvas held in Kanazawa Castle Park in May 2026, which told the life story of Toshiie and was designed to build excitement before the main festival.

The Hyakumangoku Parade

The parade is the heart of the festival. According to the official schedule for 2026, it was held on Saturday, June 6, from 2 to 6 in the afternoon. It reenacts Toshiie's entry into Kanazawa Castle with costumed performers, marching bands and local residents, traveling from the east side of Kanazawa Station through the downtown area to Kanazawa Castle Park.

A Japan tourism site describes the parade as featuring participants in historical costume, including warriors and princesses, with more than two thousand local residents taking part. It adds that groups perform traditional arts of Kanazawa and that Kaga Tobi firefighter groups reenact the traditional firefighters who served the Kaga lords in the Edo period. Another Japanese guide says the parade opens with a marching band and a Kaga Tobi ladder-climbing display, while the second half features the actors portraying Toshiie and Matsu.

Lion dances are part of the procession, too. A schedule published by the Kaga Lion Dance Preservation Association lists several Kaga lion dance groups taking part in the 2026 parade, and a Japanese travel article mentions a performance in which samurai figures subdue the lion. The finale reenacts Toshiie's arrival at the castle, with actors playing Toshiie and Matsu, many of them well-known performers.

Viewing places are plentiful because the route runs through a compact city center. The starting ceremony is held in front of the east plaza of Kanazawa Station near the Tsuzumi Gate, the station's landmark gate, which makes it an easy place to begin. A Japanese event listing cited about 510,000 spectators the previous year, so arrive early if you want a good spot.

What Happens Over the Three Days

The official schedule for the 75th festival gives a good picture of the three-day rhythm, although each year's program differs slightly. On the first morning, a ritual called Omizutori, the drawing of sacred water, and a memorial service for tea whisks are held at Kanazawa Shrine and Seisonkaku. Later that morning a prayer ritual for the festival's success is held at Oyama Shrine, followed by a Shinto tea offering in the afternoon.

On the first evening, children's lantern and taiko drum parades move through Shiinoki Green Space and Kanazawa Castle Park, according to the official page. Another Japanese event listing for 2026 describes a Kaga Yuzen lantern floating event on the Asano River on the opening night, with about 600 lanterns drifting downstream, though the timing and details are best verified each year.

Saturday is the main day. The Hyakumangoku Tea Gathering runs in tea houses in and around Kenrokuen Garden, the parade passes through the afternoon, and in the evening the Odori Nagashi dance parade fills the streets between Minami-cho and Katamachi with teams dancing in yukata. At the same time, a torchlit Noh performance is held in Kanazawa Castle Park.

Sunday offers a gentler pace. The tea gathering continues around Kenrokuen, the Kaga Hyakumangoku Bon Shogatsu event continues in the castle park with lion dancing, taiko and portable shrine processions, and a folk song showcase called Min'yo Hana Emaki is held at the Kanazawa Kagekiza Theater. The Bon Shogatsu event, whose name suggests a summer New Year, is free according to the official schedule.

Noh, Tea, Dance and Music

Takigi Noh, or Noh performed by firelight, is one of the most atmospheric events. The official page lists the Hyakumangoku Takigi Noh from 7 to 9 in the evening in Kanazawa Castle Park, with taiko drums in the program. A Japan tourism source describes a bonfire lit with the castle behind it and traditional Noh performed beside the flames. Kanazawa has a strong Noh tradition, so the performance feels at home here.

Tea is another pillar. The Hyakumangoku Tea Gathering is held at tea houses in the area around Kenrokuen Garden, and Kanazawa has long been a city of tea culture. The official page lists a fee for the gathering, so visitors who want to join should check the current details and any reservation requirements.

The Odori Nagashi on the evening of the parade day gives the festival a joyful finish. Teams dance in yukata along city streets, and a travel article reports that spectators can join in some sections. Folk songs, taiko and lion dances also appear in the castle park, so music is a constant companion throughout the weekend.

How to Enjoy It as a Visitor

Kanazawa is easy to reach. According to the Japan tourism site, the trip from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station takes about two and a half hours on the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen. The official page also lists flights to Komatsu Airport from Tokyo as an alternative. The parade begins near the east exit of Kanazawa Station, which means you can step off the train and start watching.

Plan your viewing carefully. Choose a spot along the route early, bring water and sun protection since June days can be warm, and carry a light rain jacket in case of showers. Public transport is the easiest way to get around the city, and an event listing notes that there is no parking for spectators.

Hotels may fill quickly during festival weekends, so it is sensible to book accommodation well in advance. Many visitors also use the festival as a chance to visit Kenrokuen Garden, the castle park and the Higashi Chaya district, all within a short ride or walk of each other.

Follow staff instructions, keep walkways clear and be considerate when photographing performers. Parade participants are working hard in costume, so a friendly smile and a respectful distance are appreciated. Check the official website for the latest details, since schedules and event locations can change.

Local Food, Area Highlights and Recognition

Kanazawa is celebrated for its seafood, sweets and traditional crafts, and the festival is a good time to explore them. The city's tea culture means wagashi, the delicate Japanese sweets, are easy to find, and the nearby Omicho Market is a well-known place to sample local seafood. Menus and availability change, so ask at the tourist information center for current suggestions.

The festival is closely tied to the city's key sights. Kanazawa Castle Park hosts the Noh and the Bon Shogatsu events, Kenrokuen Garden is the setting for the tea gatherings, and the Kaga Yuzen lantern floating event ties in the city's silk dyeing heritage. Together they make the festival a showcase of what Kanazawa is proud of.

In terms of recognition, the sources consulted describe the Hyakumangoku Festival as Kanazawa's largest event and a nationally broadcast occasion, but no national or UNESCO designation for the festival itself was found. The Kaga Lion Dance Preservation Association's 2026 schedule lists local lion dance groups taking part in the parade.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival held?

It is typically held over three days around the first weekend of June, with the main parade on the Saturday. In 2026 the official dates were June 5 to 7, and the organizers announce the exact days each year, so check the official website before booking travel.

What is the festival celebrating?

It commemorates Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga domain, entering Kanazawa Castle on June 14, 1583. The parade reenacts that arrival with costumed participants, bands, lion dances and local groups, and the day ends with evening dance and Noh performances.

Do visitors need tickets to watch?

Watching the parade from the street does not require a ticket, according to Japanese event listings. Some activities, such as the tea gatherings, have their own fees, so check the official program for the events you want to join.

Further reading: the official Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival page for visitors, the Japan National Tourism Organization page on the Hyakumangoku Festival and a Japanese travel magazine guide to the festival.

Keep exploring: Owara Kaze no Bon: Three Lantern-Lit Nights in a Toyama Hill Town; Takayama Festival: Twice-a-Year Floats in a Preserved Mountain Town; Aizu Festival: Lords, Lanterns and Bandaisan Dancing in Aizu-Wakamatsu; Niigata Matsuri: Folk Dancing on Bandai Bridge and Riverside Fireworks.