Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

金沢百万石まつり

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Carnival & ParadeKanazawa

DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking

Duration1 dayListed event span

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forMasks, paradesThe tradition of casting a well-known actor

LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: JPY

CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type

The story

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival in Kanazawa

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival commemorates Maeda Toshiie's 1583 arrival at Kanazawa Castle, founding the city and the Kaga domain, with the modern festival established in 1952 after earlier incarnations dating to 1923. Its signature Hyakumangoku Gyoretsu procession, featuring an actor as Toshiie on horseback since 1984, winds from Kanazawa Station's Tsuzumimon Gate to Kanazawa Castle Park each June.

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival commemorates a specific historical moment, the arrival of feudal lord Maeda Toshiie into Kanazawa Castle on June 14, 1583, an event regarded as the foundation of the city itself and the beginning of the powerful Kaga domain that the Maeda family would rule for generations.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The tradition of casting a well-known actor in the lead role of Maeda Toshiie, established in 1984, gives the procession a theatrical star quality that has become one of its most anticipated features, with different performers taking on the role in different years drawing renewed public attention

The mystery stays covered

The festival's name itself, referencing the one million koku of rice that measured the Kaga domain's historic wealth, ties the modern celebration directly to a specific and unusually well-documented feudal economic legacy

The city starts moving

The procession's route, beginning at the ornate Tsuzumimon Gate and ending at Kanazawa Castle Park, retraces symbolic ground central to the city's founding history

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Hyakumangoku Gyoretsu procession

Water and renewal

Living ritual

led since 1984 by an actor portraying Maeda Toshiie on horseback

The sacred route

Living ritual

travels from the Tsuzumimon Gate to Kanazawa Castle Park each June

The local code

Living ritual

commemorating the 1583 founding of Kanazawa and the Kaga domain

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Expect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

What to wear

Light layers suited to mild early-June weather, comfortable walking shoes for following the procession route through central Kanazawa, and a hat for daytime sun during the parade.

Safety

At Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Kanazawa you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

JPY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.60 N, 136.62 E Open in Google Maps

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Nearest airportKMQ — Komatsu Airport / JASDF Komatsu Air Base

TransportExpect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Kanazawa you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kanazawa via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Kanazawa, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare fares Festival gearLight layers suited to mild early-June weather, comfortable walking shoes for following the procession route through central Kanazawa, and a hat for daytime sun during the parade.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Japan and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival?

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival is listed for Past edition: 7 June 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Kanazawa, Japan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvisitkanazawa.jp

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

SourceSource link available

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June

Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival in Kanazawa

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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