Noto Kiriko Festival: Summer Night's Strange Festival with Giant Lanterns Dancing Wildly

What is the Kiriko Festival?

Noto's Kiriko Festival is the collective name for dozens of festivals held throughout Noto Peninsula in summer to autumn (July-October). "Kiriko" are giant lanterns called "hoto," with some in certain regions reaching 20m tall and weighing several tons.

Magnificent Festival of Carrying Kiriko

At Kiriko festivals, many carriers carry kiriko parading around, dancing magnificently to drum and flute music. Nighttime kiriko shines fantastically lit from inside, coloring Noto's nights. Kiriko festivals in various locations including Udotsu, Suzu, and Wajima each have individual character.

Noto's Kiriko Hall

Wajima City's Kiriko Hall exhibits actual kiriko, allowing experiencing the kiriko's presence even outside festival season. Popular as a facility for touching Noto Peninsula's rich festival culture.

Practical Information for the Festival (2026)

More than 200 Kiriko festivals are held across the Noto Peninsula from summer into autumn. The ones described here are the representative festivals for which official information has been published.

Abare Matsuri (Ushitsu, Noto Town; held on 3 and 4 July 2026)

• Dates: the first Friday and Saturday of July each year. In 2026 that was Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July
• 3 July: 7:30-8:00 Shinto rites (Yasaka Shrine) / from 8:00 the portable shrine sets out and the kiriko are purified / 14:00-17:00 Tanagi-zume (the kiriko procession) / 17:00-20:30 Yobare / 20:30 fireworks (Iyasaka Hiroba) / 21:00-23:00 the kiriko gather at Iyasaka Hiroba for the wild dance of the great torches
• 4 July: from 8:00 the portable shrine tours the neighbourhoods / 14:00-17:00 Machi-zume (the kiriko procession) / 17:00 the portable shrine reaches the resting place / 20:30 the Sakatare portable shrine sets off / 21:30 the Hakusan portable shrine sets off / 22:00 the Sakatare shrine processes at Kajikawa / 23:00 the Hakusan shrine processes at Kajikawa / 23:30 the Sakatare shrine at the Kannoji torches / 2:00 a.m. the Hakusan shrine at the Kannoji torches / 3:00 a.m. the Hakusan shrine returns to the shrine (the climax)
• Venue: the whole of the Ushitsu district of Noto Town / Yasaka Shrine (91 Ushitsu-ri, Noto Town) / Iyasaka Hiroba
• Temporary car parks: Ushitsu New Port temporary car park (about a 15-minute walk to Iyasaka Hiroba) / the car park in front of the fishery cooperative ice plant (about 12 minutes) / Toshimayama Park temporary car park (about 15 minutes). All are unpaved crushed-stone surfaces, and no shuttle bus runs
• Traffic restrictions: 3 July 14:00-18:00, 18:00-20:00 and 20:00-24:00; 4 July 14:00-18:00, 18:00-20:00 and 20:00 until 4:00 the next morning. A map of the closed areas is published on the official website
• A tip for watching: the climax runs from midnight into the early hours. The last trains and buses will long since have gone, so plan on staying overnight or coming by car

Ishizaki Hoto Matsuri (Ishizakimachi, Nanao City; 1 August 2026)

• Date: the first Saturday of August each year. In 2026 that was Saturday 1 August. Note that it is held on the Saturday only, not over the weekend
• Venue: Ishizakimachi, Nanao City (Hachiman Shrine)
• Parking and traffic restrictions: temporary car parks are provided and traffic restrictions are in force (see the leaflet on the Nanao City official website for details)
• Note: visitors are asked to refrain from flying drones in the area
• Enquiries: Ishizaki Hoto Matsuri Executive Committee (at the Ishizaki District Community Centre), tel 0767-62-2835

Wajima Taisai (Wajima City; 22-25 August 2026)

This is the collective name for the summer festivals of four districts of Wajima City. In 2026 it was held on a reduced scale because of the effects of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. If you are planning to visit, check the latest situation in advance with the Wajima City Tourism Association (tel 0768-23-1146).

(Source: Abare Matsuri official website; Noto Town tourism guide; Nanao City official website)

📚 Sources

This article draws on official tourism information from Noto's municipalities and Ishikawa Prefecture, information published by preservation groups and tourism associations related to the Kiriko festivals, and guidance on related facilities such as the Wajima Kiriko Art Museum, organizing the appeal of Noto's traditional Kiriko festivals from a general perspective. The Noto region still bears effects of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and the festivals' status and related facilities' operations may have changed. Festival dates and facilities' hours and closed days also vary by year, so please check the latest holding, recovery, and operating status on the official municipal and facility information before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow one to two hours to visit related facilities, or several hours to about half a day into the evening if watching an actual festival.
• What to bring / prepare: Night festivals can be chilly, so bring a jacket, and comfortable shoes for outdoor viewing. Value consideration and etiquette toward local people when watching.
• Suggested route: Learning the festival's background at a related facility such as the Wajima Kiriko Art Museum before watching a festival at its site lets you savor Noto's festival culture more deeply.
• Ways to enjoy the surroundings: Visiting together with Noto's seafood and hot springs, not just the festival energy, lets you enjoy the trip while supporting the region.
• Points to note: The earthquake may change whether festivals are held, and dates differ by year. Anticipate traffic restrictions and crowds, and plan by checking the latest information.