🎎 Three Kingdoms Festival三国祭

The Sanguo Festival is an annual ritual held at the Sanguo Shrine in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, from May 15 to 21. This festival dates back to the mid-Edo period and is one of the "Three Great Festivals of Hokuriku," alongside the "Mikurayama Festival" in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, and the "Seihaku Festival" in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The highlight of the festival is the Chūnichi Festival, held on the 20th. Giant warrior doll floats parade through the streets, accompanied by the sounds of flutes, drums, and shamisen. The current floats are about 6.5 meters tall, while those from the mid-Meiji period exceeded 10 meters, and it is said that the imposing heads of the warrior dolls could be seen from nearby villages. On the day of the Chūnichi Festival, six floats gather in front of the Sanguo Shrine. After completing the rituals for the portable shrine and the floats, the procession begins, led by Float No. 1. When the floats reach the station area, the festival reaches its peak, and they gradually return to their respective districts. The spectacular scene of the floats parading through the streets, flanked by vendors on both sides and bustling crowds in the middle, is definitely worth seeing.

The annual festival of the Sangu Shrine is one of the "Three Great Festivals of Hokuriku." It is held from May 15 to 21 each year, with the highlight being the Chūnichi Festival on the 20th. The procession features warrior doll floats that reach a scale of 6.5 meters, creating a spectacular sight.