Sunari Festival

Sunari Matsuri: A UNESCO-Recognized River Festival Spanning 100 Days

In the quiet Sunari district of Kanie Town, Aichi Prefecture, a festival of extraordinary depth and beauty has been performed for over 450 years. The Sunari Matsuri (須成祭) is a river festival dedicated to Tomiyoshi Takehaya Shrine and Hachiken Shrine, rooted in the Tennō faith tradition of praying for protection against epidemics. Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 and designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 2012, this celebration weaves together elaborately decorated festival boats, sacred reed rituals, and centuries of community devotion into a living tapestry of Japanese cultural heritage.

Historical Origins: From the Age of Warring States to the Present

The precise origins of the Sunari Matsuri remain shrouded in the mists of time, but historical records confirm that the festival was already well established by the mid-16th century. In 1548, the legendary warlord Oda Nobunaga ordered the restoration of Gozu Tennō Shrine (the former name of Tomiyoshi Takehaya Shrine) and commanded that the festival be continued for generations to come. During the Battle of Kanie Castle in 1584, fought between the forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the allied armies of Oda Nobukatsu and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shrine was destroyed by fire — yet the festival endured in some form.

During the Edo period, the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan granted 50 koku of rice to support the Sunari Matsuri, and the festival appears in the "Kanbun Muramura Oboegaki," compiled between 1661 and 1673. It is also recorded in the "Owari-shi," completed in 1846. This deep historical continuity — spanning the age of warring states, the peaceful Edo era, and into modern times — is one of the key reasons for the festival's cultural significance.

Why Sunari Matsuri Was Designated a Cultural Heritage

The Sunari Matsuri received national designation as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on March 8, 2012, for the remarkable completeness and authenticity of its ritual traditions. The festival is composed of two main components: the Danjiribune (decorated festival boat) procession and the Miyoshi Nagashi (sacred reed floating ceremony). Together, these elements span approximately 100 days from early July through late October, earning the festival its beloved nickname "Hyakunichi Matsuri" (the Hundred-Day Festival).

In December 2016, the Sunari Matsuri was further honored as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription of "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals in Japan," a collective designation covering 33 of Japan's most important float-based festivals. The festival was recognized for its outstanding preservation of ritual practices rooted in Tennō faith — the belief that worshipping Gozu Tennō (the Bull-Headed King) protects communities from plague and disease — and for the way it demonstrates the deep relationship between Japanese communities and their waterways.

Yoi Matsuri: The Enchanting Evening Festival

The Yoi Matsuri (Evening Festival), held on the first Saturday of August, is a breathtaking spectacle of light on water. As twilight descends, a makiwara-bune (lantern boat) adorned with hundreds of glowing paper lanterns sets off from Kazari Bridge and glides upstream along the Kanie River, accompanied by the hypnotic sounds of traditional festival music.

The lanterns are arranged with profound symbolic meaning: the semi-circular makiwara lanterns number 365, representing the days of the year; the lanterns on the central mast (nyoi-dake) number 12, symbolizing the months (or 13 in a leap year); and the 30 red hōzuki (ground-cherry) lanterns at the front of the boat represent the days in a month. When the boat reaches the Miyoshi Bridge — a remarkable drawbridge that raises one half to allow the festival vessel to pass — the atmosphere reaches its crescendo. Finally, at Tennō Bridge, the hōzuki lanterns and mochi (rice cakes) are tossed to the cheering crowd below.

Asa Matsuri: The Morning Festival and Its Sacred Rituals

After the Evening Festival concludes, a remarkable overnight transformation takes place. During the "Yama-okoshi" (mountain raising), workers disassemble the lantern framework and reconstruct the boat as a danjiribune — a float boat carrying sacred dolls representing the deities Izanagi and Izanami, the mythological creators of Japan. Cherry and plum blossoms are arranged atop the roof, completing the transformation.

On Sunday morning, the Asa Matsuri (Morning Festival) begins. Chigo (sacred child attendants) board the resplendent danjiribune, which proceeds upstream with festival musicians playing traditional melodies. At Tennō Bridge, the children disembark to perform the "Tennō Bayashi" — a complete rendition of the festival music at the shrine. Meanwhile, branches of cherry and plum blossoms are thrown from the boat to the gathered crowd in a ritual called "Nage-hana" (flower tossing). It is said that those who bring these flowers home will be protected from summer illness, safe from lightning, and blessed with good romantic fortune.

Miyoshi Nagashi: The Sacred Reed Ceremony

One week before the main festivals, the "Yoshi-kari" (reed cutting) ceremony takes place. Young men dressed in white ceremonial robes travel downstream by boat along the Kanie River, tossing chimaki (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) as offerings, before reaching the reed-cutting grounds along the Nikkō River. The harvested reeds are brought back to the shrine, where they are enshrined as a sacred vessel for absorbing all misfortune and disease.

The day after the Morning Festival, the solemn "Miyoshi Nagashi" is performed. The sacred reed bundles, now believed to contain the community's accumulated calamities, are carried from the shrine to the Kanie River and released into the water in a cross formation. In earlier centuries, the reeds were allowed to float freely downstream; today, they are towed in a circle before being secured in the river. The reeds remain in the water for seven days, then are enshrined on a shelf within the shrine grounds for 70 days, before being ceremonially burned in the "Tana-oroshi" — the final act of the Hundred-Day Festival.

The Miyoshi Bridge: A Drawbridge That Opens Once a Year

One of the most dramatic moments of the Sunari Matsuri occurs at the Miyoshi Bridge, a unique single-leaf bascule bridge spanning the Kanie River. This remarkable structure features a truss design with one triangular section that pivots upward — and it opens only once a year, exclusively for the passage of the festival boat. The sight of the bridge rising as the lantern-adorned vessel approaches creates an unforgettable tableau that has become one of the festival's most iconic images.

Visitor Information and Nearby Attractions

The Sunari Matsuri takes place in the Sunari district of Kanie Town, easily accessible from Nagoya. The Kanie Town Tourism Exchange Center "Saito," opened in May 2018 near Tennō Bridge, serves as the gateway to understanding the festival year-round. The second floor houses the Sunari Matsuri Museum, featuring VR experiences of the makiwara boat, projection mapping of historical festival scrolls, and displays of actual festival implements. Admission is free, and the rooftop offers panoramic views of the town. A café on the first floor serves local specialties including white fig jam made with sake from the local Yamada Brewery.

Kanie Town is also renowned for its natural hot springs. The Owari Onsen Tokai Center is the only hot spring in Aichi Prefecture selected among Japan's 100 Best Hot Springs, offering an authentic experience with unadulterated, naturally heated, free-flowing mineral water. A free public foot bath called "Kanie no Sato" is also available near the station. Other attractions include the Kanie Town Historical and Folklore Museum, the Kanie Castle Ruins Park, and the scenic Saya River area with its beautiful iris gardens in early summer.