Taimatsu-akashi Festival Sukagawa

Hi there,

Am travelling to Japan for the second time in November. We're arriving on the 12th in Tokyo (staying there for a night to try and fight the jetlag), and are interested in attending the Sukagawa fire festival the following day. We're travelling on a fairly modest budget so can't really afford expensive hotels or ryokan for the night. Just wondering what the most practical way to attend the festival would be? We have JRail tickets so we can travel, but obviously travel will be limited the night of the festival. Having a look around the net we've found the relatively cheap Chisun Hotel in Koriyama, although just wondering if anyone has any advice for attending this festival - how to get there, where to stay, and of course if it's worth it :)

Thanks in advance.

From Wikitravel:http://wikitravel.org/en/Sukagawa

One of the most spectacular festivals held every year in Sukagawa is the Taimatsu Akashi (torch festival). The festival has a 400-odd year history, and was started to commemorate the defense of the city against an attack by a feudal lord. In order to ward off their would-be attackers, residents constructed a number of giant torches and set them alight on top of a hill. The festival includes a parade, during which the 10m long torches are carried throught the streets of the town, before finally being erected on top of Midorigaoka park and then set alight. Torches are constructed and/or sponsored by local schools and businesses, whose students or employees later carry them in the parade.

The festival is free and takes place on the second Saturday of November every year. The parade generally starts around midafternoon, culminating in the erection and lighting of the torches from about 6 or 7pm.

Access to the festival is free, and there are usually free buses available from outside the station to Midorigaoka park.

Try this website for photos (the torches are especially impressive):

http://www.fujet.net/wordpress/?p=1076

and here:

This festival with a 400-year history is counted as one of the three grandest fire festivals in Japan.

One big torchwood and many other smaller ones are prepared and carried by townspeople from the center of the city up to Mt. Goro from 3:30 pm to around 5 pm, and then the torches are lit from 6:30 pm to around 9 pm.

Taimatsu Akashi (Bonfire Festival)

Mt. Goro in Midorigaoka Koen (park), Sukagawa, Fukushima Pref.

JR Tohoku Honsen Line to Sukagawa Sta., and then walk 10 min.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eventcalendar/search_result_en.php?num=833

Hi there MaccySan,

I've been witnessing this festival every year and I could say that it's really worth watching it. Very impressive massive torches being burnt down. It started early afternoon with a parade of groups of people and students bringing their torches to the site and a street dance. An array of vendors selling Japanese foods surrounds the area. But the burning of torches will start around 6-7:00pm. It really gets crowded around 6:00pm. If you're from Tokyo, you can reach Sukagawa by bullet train to Kouriyama and then from there ride a train that would stop at Sukagawa Station (train for Kuruiso and Shin Shirakawa, it depends upon the time). Train from Kouriyama to Sukagawa costs 230 yen only. Then from Sukagawa Sta., you can walk to reach the site (around 30 mins.). It's easy reaching this site or you can ask a map from any staff at the station. They're very friendly. Or you can ride a taxi too (costs around 800 yen).
There's a very near hotel in Midorigaoka Park (site of burning), only 4-5mins. walk from the hotel to the site. Hotel name is Grancia Sukagawa. Haven't tried this one though, There are also other hotels in Sukagawa which is near to the site. Hotels like: Wing Hotel and Sunroute Hotel. They're just facing each other. Don't forget to wear winter coats as it gets very cold at that time already. Hope this helps :-)

lorrine

Thanks for the responses, they are very helpful :)

Definitely sounds like it is worth the trip up. Probably still going to be jetlagged but sounds like a fascinating sight that we may as well see while we're nearby. Will check into those hotels you've listed, hopefully will be able to find something nearby!