Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

Festival Started by Hideyoshi

The Nagahama Hikiyama Festival is said to have originated in 1574 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave gold dust to Nagahama townspeople to celebrate his son's birth, and they used it to build festival floats (hikiyama).

Children's Kabuki

The festival's greatest highlight is "Children's Kabuki" where elementary school boys perform kabuki theater. The passionate performances of children on the gorgeous, elaborate floats move audiences.

Hikiyama Museum

The Hikiyama Museum in Nagahama displays 4 of the 13 existing hikiyama on a rotating basis each year. The floats with elaborate carvings and gold leaf decorations are highly regarded as works of art.

Nagahama Castle Town

Nagahama City is a historic town developed as a castle town by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The commercial area centered on Kurokabeスクエア features shops and galleries in old townhouses for enjoyable strolling.