The 8 Best Events in Niigata Prefecture, Chubu

One of the three great fireworks festivals of Japan, this is the main event that heralds the finale of the Nagaoka Festival. It was selected in 2016 as No.1 fireworks events, as chosen by noted fireworks experts. A must-see is a super-massive ball of fireworks, the "star mine," which is a congeries of five different-colored fireworks launched from five angles, and select Ju-go tama balls crafted by each fireworks veteran, with crowd-pleasing designs. A total of 20,000 fireworks are launched, and attendees number close to one million. The Nagaoka Festival itself was launched in 1946 as the Nagaoka Recovery Festival, a prayer for recovery after the August 1, 1945 air raids.

For those who've wondered what it's like to be inside of a mosh pit in Japan, the Fuji Rock Festival is calling. While it's one of the world's tamest, cleanest, and most respectful concert festivals, the three-day event still brings major jams to its stages, attracting over 200 musicians a year, from international headliners to local up-and-comers. From hard rock to alternative music, it's a quirky festival that combines the best of Japanese hospitality with leather-clad band members. Make sure to keep an eye out for unique events throughout the festival, too-- steak eating contest, anyone?

A winter festival of Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, which is known as one of Japan's leading heavy snowfall areas. It began in 1950 with the local residents' concept of "enjoy the snow, as a friend of the snow." The main event is the residents' handmade "artworks made of snow." The collection of huge artistic works makes a big impression on the viewer. In addition, "festival plazas" in almost 30 locations in the city and surrounding villages, you can enjoy such things as regional cuisine, snow tea ceremony, and snow slides. And the "Snow Carnival," live music and shows held on a huge stage made of snow, is not to be missed.

The Ojiya Matsuri is a three-day summer festival held annually in Ojiya, Niigata prefecture, and is the largest in the city. A variety of unique performances follow one after another, including a costumed Bon Festival dance, a folk dance, bullfighting, and a mechanical lantern puppet parade. In particular, the fireworks display is known as being the largest in the prefecture with over 7,000 fireworks shells, lighting up the summer sky with a variety of multicolored fireworks including set pieces, chrysanthemum bursts, and waterfall cascades. The extra-large "civilian group participation" chrysanthemums that mark the finale are a must-see. The overwhelming impressiveness of the event is truly mesmerizing.

Murakami Taisai is held yearly from July 6-7 at Senamihaguro Shrine in Haguro in the city of Murakami. It is a traditional festival that has been celebrated since 1633 and is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Niigata Prefecture. The highlight of the festival are the 19 festival cars called oshagiri. They are over 5 meters tall and split into two levels: the first level houses the hayashi (Japanese orchestra), while the second level is full of decorations called nosemono. The dazzling floats house some items that are over 200 years old, and are paraded around the town for all to enjoy their engravings, laquering and goldsmithing.

One of Japan's "Three Weird Festivals," the Echigo Urasa Bishamon Hadaka Oshiai Taisai is desigated as a national Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property, with a history of around 1,200 years. This full-impact festival is alive with the spirit and enthusiasm of a throng of half-naked men jostling before an elevated shrine to Bishamonten, yelling, "Sanyo! Sanyo!" As they try to pray faster and closer than the others. Participation in the jostling contest is open to all who are interested (males only).

The Nigata Matsuri is a combination of four existing festivals: the Sumiyoshi Festival, the Commerce Festival, the Boating Festival, and the Port Commemorative Festival. The festival opens with over 10,000 people dancing to folk songs and chrysanthemum fireworks illuminating the darkness. The next day, festivities continue with the mikoshi (portable shrine) and taiko drums in the Sumiyoshi Parade, a procession of participants in traditional garb around 1 kilometer in length. Another highlight is the Niigata Sparkly Parade, with drum-and-fife bands, baton troupes, and Niigata Oldtown geisha riding floats. There is also the "aquatic mikoshi procession" that takes place when the mikoshi is carried over Shinano River, and from dusk citizens march with the mikoshi. The festivities come to a climax at night with a fireworks display set to music, lighting up the night sky. On the final day, a fireworks display caps off the festival with large-size wide chrysanthemum fireworks and waterfall fireworks.