Favorite Rural Matsuri (Festivals) Advice

[twassel]

Hi Everyone,

What are your favorite rural matsuri? I am tired of the large city matsuri and love the traditional ones in small towns. I am hoping to return to Japan sometime this year with my wife (she is Japanese from Tokyo) and I want to introduce her to the countryside where people really get into the festivals, (and really really drunk)

I'll start it off with two of my favorites:

Wajima Taisai, in Wajima-shi Ishikawa-ken
Great old style festival full of kirko lanterns, mikoshi in the sea, and a fight over burning strips of paper

Sagicho Matsuri, Omihachiman-shi Shiga-ken
Fighting matsuri where large mikoshi are slammed into each other and then burned

Thanks, and I am looking forward to finding some new hidden gems.

Todd

[MMM]

I like the Danjiri Fight Festival in August in Amagasaki, Hyogo Pref.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by MMM

I like the Danjiri Fight Festival in August in Amagasaki, Hyogo Pref.

Never heard of this festival, what is it about?

[MMM]

This video might help....

Danjiri＜尼崎 築地　だんじり山あわせ 2009＞ - AOL Video

[Tsuwabuki]

Ayabe's is really cool.

And, of course, I am partial to Fukuchiyama's.

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by MMM

I like the Danjiri Fight Festival in August in Amagasaki, Hyogo Pref.

How about a much "harder" Danjiri in Kishiwada, Osaka? Been wanting to go see it.

[twassel]

Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki

Ayabe's is really cool.

And, of course, I am partial to Fukuchiyama's.

Which matsuri do you mean? do these towns have Danjiri as well?

Osaka's Danjiri is great but WAY too many people, more spectators than participants.