Okazaki."Ieyasu Gyoretsu" festival

Finding the parade

This festival is the main event in Okazaki's sakura season and so we decided to go have a look. As with most festivals we get only vague directions and we spent the first part of the time trying to find the parade. From the station and facing the castle, the parade was on the other side of the castle and to the left. Not knowing this we followed the crowd and went right and meandered through all of the hanami parties and along a river before finding the parade.

Would I recommend coming to the festival..probably not, I would recommend that you go to Inuyama's if it is on the same day. But we enjoyed the time. Very family friendly and you could make a day out of it.

Along the river bank were many events. Looks like this is where the parade would finally end up. At the moment it was full of people staking out spots, others watching dancing on a stage and yet others enjoying their own parties. Very crowded but quite stunning along the river. We got on the bridge for 10 minutes, trying to cross.

An archer in traditional outfit

More guys on horseback. A bit of an archery demonstration

Various groups sung and danced on a stage as we looked around. They provided a great happy buzz in the air.

An archer galloping

The Parade

WHAT!!!! school marching bands...we came to see Samurai!!! but there were so many bands we actually gave up on the parade.

But then finally as we were leaving the marching bands ended and we had the rest of the parade. The mayor, Miss Okazaki and all the rest

The parade was pretty casual. We have been to others where the groups worked hard to dance in unison, but they were mainly religious. This was more relaxed. Lots of waving and fun.

Japanese Dixie band...they were actually pretty good. Loved the outfits.

I love the traditional flutes

More of the parade

This band had it easy.

Clowning around

Porters

These guys had the best dance in the festival. We would have taken video, but we were laughing so much we forgot. Lots of yelling and over acting as they threw the poles with the pom-pom's to each other.