Are you familiar with the Numata Town Yotaka Andon Festival?

The Numata Yotaka Andon Festival is one of Hokkaido's three major andon festivals, alongside the Shiretoko Shari Neputa Festival and the Yakumo Float Procession.

Its distinguishing feature is that it is a type of lantern used for fighting, which is rare even within Japan.
After the ornate lanterns parade through the town, they clash violently, shattering each other's lanterns into pieces.
The sheer power of it is so overwhelming that you can feel the ground shaking.

Here is a report from my visit to the Andon Festival on August 27, 2016, the second day of the event.

<Table of Contents>
1. What kind of place is Numata Town?
2. What is the Numata Town Yotaka Andon Festival?
3. Must-try gourmet food at the Andon Festival
4. The sheer power of the fighting lanterns, which I experienced firsthand!
5. Points to note when watching the festival
Final thoughts

Numata Town is a town with a population of approximately 3500 people, located at roughly the same latitude as Asahikawa City and close to the Sea of ​​Japan.

Numata Town is famous as the first municipality in Hokkaido to successfully breed fireflies, and fireflies are even depicted on its town sign.
This is proof that Numata Town has such clean water and abundant nature that it is possible to raise fireflies there.

In Numata Town, rice cultivation is actively pursued.
Rice from Numata Town is famous for its delicious taste, not only within Hokkaido but throughout Japan.

Why has rice from Numata Town become so famous?
The answer lies in "Snow-Grown Rice," which made Numata Town's rice instantly famous.

Numata Town is one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Hokkaido. In Numata Town, an initiative to find a way to utilize the snow began: snow-grown rice.

By using snow as a cooling system, we can store rice, prevent it from spoiling during hot summer months, and ensure that fresh rice is always available at your table.

Snow cooling is also used for other crops such as potatoes.
In addition to crops, it is also used for air conditioning in public facilities such as libraries and town-run nursing homes for the elderly.

This town aims to coexist with snow by utilizing it in daily life.

The Numata Town Yotaka Andon Festival is the only fighting lantern festival in Hokkaido.

The Andon Festival, which will be held for the 40th time in 2016, has its origins in Tonami, Etchu Province (present-day Toyama Prefecture).
During their return journey from Ise Grand Shrine, night fell, leaving the group unable to move. The villagers, who lived in what is now Tonami City, came out as a village to welcome them back.

It is said that the Andon Festival began when everyone brought their own lantern.
Then, in 52, this festival was passed down from Tonami City, the birthplace of the pioneers of the area, to Numata Town.

The festival is held every year on the fourth Friday and Saturday of August, attracting people from all over Hokkaido, with over 60,000 people captivated by its grandeur over the two days.

I actually went to see the Numata town lantern festival.
I arrived at the venue just before 6 PM on the second day.

Although the most exciting part of the festival, the clash of the lanterns, was still nearly two hours away, the venue was already bustling with many people.

First, we decided to grab something to eat, so we wandered around the venue.
Many shops from all over Hokkaido have set up stalls, and just walking around will make you hungry.

A wide variety of delicious foods are available, including fried chicken (called "zangi" in the Hokkaido dialect), seafood, and yakitori.
Since it was dinnertime, there were lines at every restaurant.

Among the gourmet offerings, the most noteworthy is the "Phantom Numata Black Wagyu Bun," made by the Numata Town Tourism Association using A5-grade "Japanese Black Wagyu" beef that had been raised at the Numata Town Agricultural Training Farm.

As the name "legendary" suggests, this is a rare item that you don't often come across.

Inside the black skin is a generous filling of fluffy, tender bean paste made with high-quality Japanese Black beef.
Apparently, it was a huge hit at the previous year's lantern festival and other events throughout Hokkaido, so as expected, there was a long line.

Why not try it at next year's Andon Festival?

Around 6:30 PM, the lanterns begin to parade through the town as it gradually gets darker.

The lanterns, created by teams representing organizations such as the town hall and agricultural cooperative, are approximately 7 meters tall, 12 meters long, 3 meters wide, and weigh a staggering 5 tons.

The process involves using bamboo and other materials to create a framework, inserting light bulbs, applying washi paper, waxing it, and then painting it red.
This lantern is as tall as 7 meters. It apparently takes about 3 to 4 months to make.

Furthermore, since each team has a different method of construction, even when creating the framework, some teams use only bamboo, while others use iron wire and welding, so the lanterns that are made from scratch are truly diverse.

Each lantern, meticulously crafted by the group of friends, is powerful and magnificently ornate.

First, the lanterns carried by students from the local Numata Elementary School and Numata Junior High School will be paraded through the streets.
Charming local dances and performances warm up the venue as it gradually gets colder.

And now, the clash of the lanterns begins.

The lanterns enter in pairs.

They confront each other, making noises and waving their lanterns up, down, left, and right to intimidate one another.

Then, one of the lanterns swings its head up high, and the two collide head-on with tremendous force.

The lantern with its head raised shakes its head up and down as it collides with the other lantern, destroying the "hanging lantern" that is suspended in front of the other lantern.

The sound of lanterns breaking apart, the ground shaking, the shouts of men clashing together, and the cheers of the crowd.

It is said that completely destroying the lantern will ward off evil spirits.

Watching it, I felt a little sad, thinking, "What a beautiful lantern...", but they proceeded to destroy it without hesitation, with a clean and unwavering resolve.
We do that alternately.

Furthermore, since they repeatedly clash with other teams, they prepare more than 10 "hanging lanterns."

The festival, which includes the eve of the celebration, runs for three consecutive nights, culminating in the most exciting and lively atmosphere on Saturday night.

• Paid seating
By purchasing tickets in advance, you can sit and watch the event from a location where you can clearly see the lanterns clashing against each other.

The venue gets quite crowded, so to get a good view, you have to wait there from early on. However, if you have a ticket, you can still enjoy the show even if you arrive just before it starts.

However, you cannot choose your seat location, so if you want a better seat, such as one near the front, even within the paid seating area, you need to go early.

Ticket prices for reserved seating (2016)
Day 1 (26th): 1,000 yen
Day 2 (27th): 1,500 yen

・Cold weather protection measures

Even though it's August, the nights get quite chilly.
Bring a windbreaker or a scarf.

Final thoughts

The sight of the magnificent and ornate lanterns clashing violently is truly breathtaking.

Each time the cars collide, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd. If you were to see it up close and feel the sound and the tremors, you wouldn't be able to help but cheer along.

Why not go see it next year? It's sure to be a wonderful memory of the end of summer!

Numata Town Yotaka Andon Festival

Date: Held every year on the fourth Friday and Saturday of August.

For inquiries: Numata Town Tourism Association
Address: 2-3-6 Honchome, Numata-cho, Uryu-gun, Hokkaido 078-2203, Japan
Direct phone number: 0164-34-6373
Fax: 0164-35-2844
HP:http://www.town.numata.hokkaido.jp/section/nougyou/ujj7s30000001g7v.html

transportation
~Automobiles~
・Approximately 60 minutes from Asahikawa via National Route 233
(Using the Yunai Tunnel (Asahikawa-Tadoshi Prefectural Road) will bring you much closer...approximately 45 minutes!)
・Approximately 20 minutes from Fukagawa via National Route 233
・Approximately 30 minutes from Rumoi via National Route 233
- Approximately 120 minutes from Sapporo via National Route 275 (90 minutes using the Hokkaido Expressway)
~JR~
- Approximately 60 minutes from Asahikawa via the Hakodate Main Line and Rumoi Main Line.
・Approximately 15 minutes from Fukagawa on the Rumoi Main Line
・Approximately 40 minutes from Rumoi on the Rumoi Main Line
- Approximately 80 minutes from Sapporo via the Hakodate Main Line and Rumoi Main Line.

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