Handa Dashi Festival



Every five years this festival goes all out and instead of the regular 5-6 Dashi floats, ALL 30+ floats come out for a truly spectacular festival. This was one of the big years.

We did not arrive in Handa until later on in the afternoon and did not get to see all the floats assembled together, but by arriving late were were still interested enough to hang around for the evening when the floats were decorated in paper lanterns.

One of my favorite things about Japanese festivals is that the go for hours, and are often spread out enough so that you can always get a good look, maybe not of the most spectacular bits where it will be very crowded, but along the way there is a chance to get close and to experience the atmosphere.


We arrived at the train station and not really knowing where to go we wandered out with the crowd. Down the long main road we could see the crowd as the huge floats were pulled down the road. As usual there was a lot of noise, trumpets blaring and the teams pulling the floats yelling and shouting.


While watching the floats we decided to follow the floats up to the assembly point. As we walked we passed a number of floats and pull teams. One of the most noticeable things at this festival was the crazy haircuts.


Some of the floats featured mechanical dolls. This one waved his rod.


Dashi floats are not maneuverable. To turn them requires a great deal of effort and strength by the whole team


Inside the floats (to make matters worse for those pulling the float) sits a band playing traditional music


the parade is not a smooth roll past. It stops and start and jerks along.


I believe that each float is from a different part of town and represents a particular district. Each float was lead by an information board and a fellow to sprinkle salt on the ground to purify the path (guy in the funny hat on the right)


The guys yelling encouragement.


The workers


The watchers (best job)


Crazy haircut crew


Heading down the main street


Youngsters leading a team


Phew, we made it to the top of the hill and to the staging point. By this time there were still 10 of the 30 floats still to go out and it was a spectacular sight.


Next cab off the rank


Lots of photos up here


I liked the colour's.


Just keep scrolling


keep going


The sun was setting and the gold really shone brightly.


One of the reasons that Parades jerk along is that traffic has to cross through. Sometimes the floats wait for cars, sometimes the cars have to wait. Everyone's fate is in the hands of the ubiquitous traffic controllers and their wands. (Hi Pam and Jan)


We followed this crew up one of the side streets. We were not sure where they would end up, but it is sometimes good to stick with one float and see what happens


Another guy with his salt.


Kids pulling the float (a smaller one) around a corner


Push!!! We followed the float across town away from the main district.

The Evening spectacular

Following the small float we ended up outside a different train station where there was a group of floats, but not part of the main festival. We were a bit tired, so we lounged around on some grass beside some crazy kids who were yelling and throwing themselves into having fun.


Candles and Lanterns being set up


You can see the candles and lanterns on the ground and the floats were slowly decorated


As it got darker it became more spectacular


So lots of photos


and more photos


and more


After a while, you do get sick of seeing the same thing, so we headed back to the main festival


.. We walked...





Back at the main road, the street was full of floats decked out with lanterns and a huge crowd buzzed around wandering between the floats and the food and drink stands.


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As usual we did not stay for the fireworks and took the opportunity to escape before the main part of the crowd.

A very spectacular affair!





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