Jike Kiriko Matsuri 2026 Experience
The Jike Kiriko Matsuri features some of the largest Kiriko on the Noto Peninsula in Jike, Misaki Town, Suzu City. Its largest Kiriko reaches 16.5 meters and is covered in Wajima lacquer, gold leaf, and intricate carvings. The festival continues through the night as the Kiriko accompany the mikoshi through the town, before dawn brings a dramatic fire walking ritual at Susu Shrine.
A Brief History
The festival is held as the autumn festival of Susu Shrine, which is traditionally believed to have been founded more than two thousand years ago. According to shrine tradition, Kiriko have accompanied the mikoshi for around 250 years. By the early twentieth century, records show that six Kiriko were taking part in the festival. Their elaborate lacquerwork, carvings, and gold and silver leaf decoration developed during the late Edo and early Meiji periods.
Festival Experience
According to the references I had found, the Jike Kiriko Matsuri was scheduled to begin around 9 PM. After watching the Otani Festival earlier in the day, we decided to pass through Jike to see if we could catch a glimpse of the festival, even though it was still broad daylight.
It was around 4:30 PM when we arrived. We first passed by Suzu Shrine but were a little disappointed not to see any Kiriko around. A few minutes later, however, we suddenly spotted them standing tall in the distance.
There were four Kiriko lined up and already in the middle of the procession. Seeing them against the blue sky with the sea nearby was an impressive sight. The overall proportions were similar to Kiriko I had seen in other towns, but everything seemed enlarged. Even the long horizontal carrying poles were enormous, appearing almost as thick as a person’s face.
Because of their size and weight, these Kiriko were mounted on wheels and pushed and pulled by the local participants. Their decorations were also noticeably different from those of other towns we had visited. Even with the massive size, the intricate details and craftsmanship of the Kiriko were still clearly preserved.
From the direction they were traveling, we assumed the Kiriko were heading toward Susu Shrine, although the mikoshi appeared to be going in a different direction at the time.
We only stayed for about 30 minutes before heading home around 5 PM. Even though we did not stay for the nighttime festival, it was more than enough time to appreciate the impressive scale and beautiful craftsmanship of the Jike Kiriko.
