Luxurious Hikiyama floats lined up

The Hino Festival, which is said to have a history of over 800 years, has begun.　On May 2nd, there is Yoimiya (eve of a festival vigil) and on May 3rd, the main festival is held. Chigo-gyoretsu (children's parade) and Hikiyama floats consisted of 16 units will parade through the streets to the main shrine. I went to watch the Yoimiya in the afternoon of May 2nd. Hino Town is located at around the central of Shiga Prefecture, Japan.  This festival has been designated Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by Shiga Prefecture.

 The eve of the festival started at 6 pm, from dusk. Hikiyama floats belonging to each neighborhood association were towed from the storage house to the near-by roads.  And their accessory lanterns were lit up, creating a historical and majestic atmosphere. Participants played the Shinobue (a traditional transverse flute made of thin bamboo) and beat the traditional drums to liven up the atmosphere until late at night. They wore the Happi coats (a traditional uniform for Japanese festival) and some of them were chatting with a sake drink in hand. Many people in the neighborhood came with their families. In this way, the eve has a relaxed atmosphere. I wish I could watch it more, but due to the bus and train schedule, I had no choice but to return home at a little past seven pm. 

Many visitors from various area will come to watch the main festival next day. But I walked too much and hurt my leg a bit, so just be on the safe side, I gave up going to the main festival. I want to visit the main festival next year by all means.

Many of the floats were built during the Edo period, when Hino merchants flourished, and have been passed down to the present. They give a very antique appearance. 

↓ Sake drink would be served to the participants in the neighborhood inside the tent seen in the right. They seemed to be talking each other for tomorrow's festival.

Floats illuminated at night give a completely different impression from them during the daytime. I favor this atmosphere, so this is the reason I came to see the eve of the festival. Also, darkness can hide everything that we don't want to expose, don’t you think so?

There are 16 Hikiyama floats in total, but about 6 units of Hikiyama are gathered in this narrow area.　So, it is convenient for me to view Hikiyama floats.

Participants play musical instruments inside the float.

Participants use the ladder to board the float.