{"id":25445,"date":"2017-03-02T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=25445"},"modified":"2020-11-28T03:25:14","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T18:25:14","slug":"niigata-uonuma-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Trip to Uonuma<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Uonuma is located in South Central Niigata, and is well known for its delicious rice and it\u2019s sake. The winters are cold and snow piles up along the roads in heaps. The snow is collected and saved for a unique method of food preservation; vegetables and sake are stored in a large storage facility and preserved using the excess snow from the previous winter season. The snow is also used for a summer snow festival held every July. Maybe that gives you an idea of just how much Uonuma locals love the winter season. With ski resorts and hot springs in large supply, what\u2019s not to love in this small city?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"With ski resorts and hot springs in large supply, what\u2019s not to love in Uonuma city?\" data-id=\"25459\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6979-2\/\" class=\"wp-image-25459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103532\/IMG_6979.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I recently made a trip to a small town in Uonuma to see a local festival, which is held each year in February. I dressed warmly and prepared for a long day, leaving my house at 5:30am to catch the earliest Shinkansen, I wanted to be there early, to see the very start of the Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival. I arrived at 11:00am, but the festival was running late according to my schedule. Settling myself in for a long wait, I was surprised when suddenly one of the venders beckoned me over. They were curious, I was a new face and a foreigner, and they decided to demonstrate some of that famous Japanese hospitality. I was plied with sake and soba and quickly adopted into this small tent of locals, who let me sit behind their booth, regaled me with stories of previous festivals, and kept watch on my backpack during the entire festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103309\/IMG_6829-1024x735.jpg\" alt=\"Enjoy with locals at the Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival in Uonuma city\" data-id=\"25450\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103309\/IMG_6829.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6829\/\" class=\"wp-image-25450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103309\/IMG_6829-1024x735.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103309\/IMG_6829-500x359.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103309\/IMG_6829.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This anecdote sums up my experience in Echigo Horinouchi, although the temperature was below freezing, and there were not many places to rest or warm up, the locals more than made up for these small inconveniences in kindness and generosity. I was blown away by how friendly and how welcoming everyone was, from the vendors, to the dancers to the festival goers, I saw nothing but smiling faces peering at me from between large puffy jackets and warm hats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This year marked the 30<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of the Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival. It originally started around 250 years ago but after a time the locals stopped the custom. It was revived 30 years ago, and has been going strong ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The festival is held to wish new couples luck in their marriage and to pray for the birth of many children. The men are showered in ice-cold water, or <em>jinsui <\/em>in Japanese<em>,<\/em>&nbsp;in order to strengthen them for the rigorous task of procreation. Japanese belief holds that cold water is good for strengthening and revitalizing a persons spirit in order to have healthy children, and you can see many festivals in the area that utilize the same idea, such as <em>Kanchu Suiei<\/em> (which is a time for swimming in the cold sea during the winter season).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The festival offered many interesting attractions throughout the day, and it all began around 1:00 with the Wadaiko Performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Food stalls at Uonuma's festival\" data-id=\"25447\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6785\/\" class=\"wp-image-25447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103230\/IMG_6785.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wadaiko Performance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wadaiko drums are a common accompaniment to most festivals in Japan; historically their uses have varied widely, from communication tools during combat to religious rituals to theatrical accompaniment, and it is not uncommon to see someone practicing wadaiko in the park. However, I have never seen them played in the snow. The rhythmic beating of the drums was joined by a flurry of snow jumping and dancing as each <em>tataku <\/em>hit the stretched hide. And although the snow was falling heavily, the drummers sported large smiles and perfect rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"643\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103423\/IMG_6905-643x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Wadaiko performance in snow\" data-id=\"25454\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103423\/IMG_6905.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6905\/\" class=\"wp-image-25454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103423\/IMG_6905-643x1024.jpg 643w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103423\/IMG_6905-314x500.jpg 314w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103423\/IMG_6905.jpg 804w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"793\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103353\/IMG_6889-1024x793.jpg\" alt=\"Wadaiko performance in snow\" data-id=\"25452\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103353\/IMG_6889.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6889\/\" class=\"wp-image-25452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103353\/IMG_6889-1024x793.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103353\/IMG_6889-500x387.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103353\/IMG_6889.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Yosokoi Dancing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yosakoi is a unique Japanese dance, which is performed all over Japan at different events and festivals. The dance is highly energetic, and combines modern music with traditional Japanese dance movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Yosakoi dance is especially well known for its use of <em>naruko<\/em>, which are small wooden clappers held in the hands of each dancer. Originally <em>naruko <\/em>were used to scare birds away from rice fields. The costumes vary widely, from colorful <em>yukata <\/em>to historical costumes or popular fashion. Regardless of the costume chosen, the entire team will usually wear the same attire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103450\/IMG_6934-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The Yosakoi dance is especially well known for its use of naruko, which are small wooden clappers held in the hands of each dancer.\" data-id=\"25456\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103450\/IMG_6934.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6934\/\" class=\"wp-image-25456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103450\/IMG_6934-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103450\/IMG_6934-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103450\/IMG_6934.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"926\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103504\/IMG_6962-926x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"25457\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103504\/IMG_6962.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6962\/\" class=\"wp-image-25457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103504\/IMG_6962-926x1024.jpg 926w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103504\/IMG_6962-452x500.jpg 452w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103504\/IMG_6962.jpg 1157w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103518\/IMG_6969-1024x668.jpg\" alt=\"Yosakoi is a unique Japanese dance, which is performed all over Japan at different events and festivals. \" data-id=\"25458\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103518\/IMG_6969.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6969\/\" class=\"wp-image-25458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103518\/IMG_6969-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103518\/IMG_6969-500x326.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103518\/IMG_6969.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At this festival there were two Yosokoi groups. The first group hailed from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and made use of the <em>naruko,&nbsp;<\/em>clapping in time to the beat. They wore bright yukata, a wonderful contrast to the snow. The second group was a local Yosokoi group, and chose a more subdued hue for their attire, instead adding their own touch with cat masks and heaps of energy. This dance was a lot of fun to watch, and I recommend you get to the festival in time to see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"677\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103436\/IMG_6916-677x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"25455\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103436\/IMG_6916.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6916\/\" class=\"wp-image-25455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103436\/IMG_6916-677x1024.jpg 677w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103436\/IMG_6916-330x500.jpg 330w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103436\/IMG_6916.jpg 846w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 677px) 100vw, 677px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end everyone had the chance to join, slipping and twirling on the packed in snow, hands clasped and smiles beaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Parade<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the Yosokoi Dance a small ceremony was held to light the torches for the parade. &nbsp;<em>Yamabushi <\/em>started making the fire using a traditional friction method. After the fire was lit, they transferred the flame to the torches and later to the candles surrounding the stage. The procession began with a strange masked figure, who represented the god <em>Sarutahiro,<\/em> a figure from Japanese mythology. &nbsp;He was followed by the torchbearers who walked while blowing horns wrapped in thick cord. After them came a young woman dressed in white, she represented&nbsp;<em>Amanouzume<\/em>, or shrine maiden, another figure represented in traditional folklore. And behind her followed a group of men wearing traditional garb. This group is chosen each year based on the Chinese calendar,&nbsp;and perform a ritual known as <em>Zoushiki<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A parade at Sekkyu Hanamizuiwai\" data-id=\"25460\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_7020\/\" class=\"wp-image-25460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103546\/IMG_7020.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"573\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103615\/IMG_7071-573x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"25462\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103615\/IMG_7071.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_7071\/\" class=\"wp-image-25462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103615\/IMG_7071-573x1024.jpg 573w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103615\/IMG_7071-280x500.jpg 280w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103615\/IMG_7071.jpg 716w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"863\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103601\/IMG_7068-1024x863.jpg\" alt=\"A parade at Sekkyu Hanamizuiwai\" data-id=\"25461\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103601\/IMG_7068.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_7068\/\" class=\"wp-image-25461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103601\/IMG_7068-1024x863.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103601\/IMG_7068-500x421.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103601\/IMG_7068.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Water Shower<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The finale of the event is the held around 5:30 pm. New husbands from the previous year brave the cold temperatures in nothing but a pair of thin white trousers and submit themselves to a showering of <em>wakamizu<\/em> or god\u2019s water. After saying their prayers for children and harmony in their marriage the men must kneel down while six men with ice-cold buckets of water empty them over the husbands head and shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the men had all been thoroughly drenched, the sky alit with fireworks to call an end to the celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103644\/IMG_7123-1024x609.jpg\" alt=\"The Water Shower ceremony\" data-id=\"25464\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103644\/IMG_7123.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_7123\/\" class=\"wp-image-25464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103644\/IMG_7123-1024x609.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103644\/IMG_7123-500x297.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103644\/IMG_7123.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103629\/IMG_7120-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"25463\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103629\/IMG_7120.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_7120\/\" class=\"wp-image-25463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103629\/IMG_7120-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103629\/IMG_7120-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103629\/IMG_7120.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Umaimono-ichi \u2013 Festival Food<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As always at a festival you can find an array of delicious food for purchase. This particular festival hosted delicious soba, sake, a river fish, called <em>Ayu,<\/em>&nbsp;seasoned with salt and grilled on a stick<em>, <\/em>and grilled meat. But the most interesting thing featured at the festival was&nbsp;a very strange looking drink called <em>kajikazake<\/em>, which is essentially Japanese sake with a small fish floating in the sake (the variety of fish differs from place to place). I wasn\u2019t brave enough to try the<em> kajikazake<\/em>, so I stuck to the ordinary kind. Uonuma is also famous for <em>butamotsu&nbsp;<\/em>a kind of pork gut stew, so if you are interested be sure to give that a try as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"25448\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-uonuma-festival\/img_6799\/\" class=\"wp-image-25448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/29103226\/IMG_6799.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival is held at the Hachiman-gu Shrine, which is about a five-minute walk from Echigo Horinouchi Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>By Train<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Urasa Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From here take the Local JR Joetetsu Line towards Nagaoka for Echigo Horinouchi Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From here walk straight out of the station, through two traffic signals and take a right at the second traffic signal. The festival is easy to spot from here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"645\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/29115318\/DSC_8300web-1024x645.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"24533\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/29115318\/DSC_8300web.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/niigata-sado-island\/dsc_8300web\/\" class=\"wp-image-24533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/29115318\/DSC_8300web-1024x645.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/29115318\/DSC_8300web-500x315.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/29115318\/DSC_8300web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.visit-uonuma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Uonuma City Tourism Association<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Would you like to discover Uonuma more? Click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visit-uonuma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> for more information<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need help? For accommodations or sightseeing inquiries, please <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visit-uonuma.com\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contact us<\/a> any time (English available)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Name<\/td><td>Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Category<\/td><td>Festival<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Address<\/td><td>3442-3 Horinouchi, Uonuma-shi, Niigata-ken 949-7413<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Access<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Opening Hours<\/td><td>1:00pm &#8211; 6:00pm ( For the date, it depends on every year.)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Price Range<\/td><td>&#8211;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Payment options<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><em>Sponsored by&nbsp;UONUMA City Tourist Association<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Trip to Uonuma Uonuma is located in South Central Niigata, and is well known for its delicious rice and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":25464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_meta":"","_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,2091,26,2051,23,1],"tags":[1398,1258,1306,1362,2079],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Come to Uonuma city in Niigata prefecture to see 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