Etchu Owara Kaze-no-Bon

Etchu Yatsuo is a town in the mountains on the southwest part of Toyama City. In the Edo period (1603 -1868), the town flourished in the sericulture industry and developed as a post town. Even today, houses with characteristic white walls stand along the cobblestone road centered on Suwamachi Hondori street. You can enjoy the old town atmosphere.

Suwamachi town is one of the 11 towns selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Roads. In these towns, Owara Dance is held for three days from September 1 every year. It is said to have begun around the Genroku era (1688 -1740). It is a folk song event that has been cherished by local people for more than 300 years.

Several thousand lanterns line the streets of town with a very classic scene. Sounds of shamisen, fiddles, and drums can be heard with men and women dancing and singing to the note. The first and second days will be held from 3pm and the last day from 7pm to 11pm. We especially recommend the night when the lanterns are lit.

Wa-Odori dance, where people dance in a circle, and Machi-nagashi dance, where people dance their way through the town, are held in each town. The costumes of the dancers and local people are different in each town, and you can enjoy the atmosphere in each town.

You can also visit the Yatsuo Owara Museum. The building is a revival of a traditional house. You can see images and documents of Owara Dance.