Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture is now offering hands-on participation plans for the Kehi Jingu Grand Festival (Tsuruga Matsuri), one of the Hokuriku region's most prominent traditional festivals. These new programs allow visitors to directly experience the festival's three main highlights: portable shrine processions, festival float parades, and folk dance performances.
The Port City Tsuruga Tourism Association and Map Travel have developed these special participation experiences with support from the Japan Tourism Agency's Regional Tourism Appeal Enhancement Project. The programs aim to create meaningful cultural exchanges between visitors and local residents while fostering repeat visits to Tsuruga City. Designed primarily for Western travelers who appreciate Japanese traditional culture, these experiences are available both during the festival period and year-round.
(1) Portable Shrine Procession Experience
Learn about the significance and proper techniques of shrine carrying from the head of the Tsuruga Mikoshi Association, then share a pre-procession lunch with local shrine bearers before joining the procession itself. Participants receive a light meal, happi coat (district-specific), T-shirt to wear under the coat, white shorts, and tabi socks. Those interested can also join the naōrai (post-procession fellowship gathering) afterward.
(2) Festival Float Parade Experience
Tsuruga's festival float parade is the festival's biggest attraction, featuring warrior figures in Noh masks and armor that bring Sengoku-era battle scenes to life. Participants pull the floats alongside local residents during the parade. Each participant receives a happi coat (district-specific), T-shirt to wear underneath, white shorts, and tabi socks. Those interested can also observe the early morning matsuri-ire ceremony, where sacred pine branches are installed on the floats.
(3) Folk Dance Experience
Join 3,000 people of all ages from across the city for Tsuruga's folk dance performance, the festival's grand finale, wearing an original happi coat. Enjoy celebrating the festival's conclusion alongside local residents. Optional advance practice sessions are available, where participants can learn the three main songs under the guidance of a folk dance instructor.
(4) Float Museum Special Plan (Year-Round)
At the Minato Tsuruga Float Museum, which preserves the festival floats used in the Tsuruga Matsuri, visitors can experience commemorative photography dressed as Sengoku warriors or float pullers, and take a behind-the-scenes tour to see float preservation up close. View the actual floats used during the festival and learn detailed explanations about the festival's history and the secret construction of the floats - information only available on this tour. Participants receive original museum hand towels and float paper craft kits as gifts. The Float Preservation Association head shares the history of the Tsuruga Matsuri and the passion behind preserving this tradition.
(5) Float Special Dinner (Year-Round)
Enjoy a special dinner featuring float-motif tableware at a venue with excellent views overlooking the illuminated Kehi Jingu Shrine and Tsuruga Matsuri area. The floats are the festival's main attraction, captivating visitors with their gorgeous, magnificent appearance. While the float parade officially takes place on September 4th each year, this special dinner allows guests to enjoy the Tsuruga Matsuri atmosphere outside the festival period. Savor Tsuruga's seasonal delicacies while viewing the great wooden torii gate of Kehi Jingu Shrine, one of Japan's three largest wooden torii gates.
*Note: Programs (4) and (5) can be combined with (1) to (3). Lunch plans are also available.
You'll surely love this festival. Whether you can attend during the actual Tsuruga Matsuri or enjoy the year-round programs, be sure to visit Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture.
For details and reservations for each experience plan, please visit:
Sustainable Tsuruga
https://www.sustainable-tsuruga.jp/
