Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Matsuri: Dates, Times, Access & Crowd Tips

Overview

Kanazawa’s signature early-summer festival, commemorating the entry of Maeda Toshiie, founder of the Kaga domain, into Kanazawa Castle. Counting the Commerce and Industry Festival begun in 1952 as the first edition, its main event, the Hyakumangoku Procession, features actors playing Toshiie and his wife Matsu at its center, along with Kaga Tobi firefighters, Kaga Shishi lion dancers and samurai processions, taking about 4 hours to proceed from Kanazawa Station to Kanazawa Castle.

When: Usually 3 days in early June (the Hyakumangoku Procession is on Saturday; June 5–7 in 2026, procession on June 6)
Venue: Central Kanazawa (from the Tsuzumi-mon Gate on the Kanazawa Station East Plaza to Kanazawa Castle Park, the Kenrokuen area and more)
Official website: https://100mangoku.net/
Official website (English) ↗

Area

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Highlights

The biggest draw is the Hyakumangoku Procession, a parade in gorgeous costumes centered on the actors playing Toshiie and Matsu. Along the way, Kaga Tobi firefighters, Kaga Shishi lion dancers and others perform, and in the evening there is Hyakumangoku Odori Nagashi, with locals dancing through the streets, and Takigi Noh in Kanazawa Castle Park.

Times

Hyakumangoku Procession14:00–18:00

Departs from in front of the Tsuzumi-mon Gate on the Kanazawa Station East Plaza and enters Kanazawa Castle Park through Ishikawa-mon Gate. Official information for 2026. Held in light rain

Procession performancesAbout 14:50 to about 16:30

Performances in turn at 5 spots along the route (1st around 14:50, 2nd around 15:10, 3rd around 15:40, 4th around 16:00, 5th around 16:30). Times and places may vary slightly. Official information for 2026

Hyakumangoku Odori Nagashi (street dancing)18:00–20:00

National Route 157 / Hyakumangoku-dori. June 6 in 2026

Hyakumangoku Takigi Noh (torchlight Noh)19:00–21:00

Kanazawa Castle Park. June 6 in 2026

Children’s Lantern and Drum Procession18:00–21:00

Departs from Shiinoki Cultural Complex. On the first day, June 5, in 2026

Hyakumangoku Tea Ceremony8:30–16:00

Kenrokuen and surrounding area. June 6 and 7 in 2026

Times can change from year to year. Check the official website for the latest information.

Tips

Tips for travelers

✓The Hyakumangoku Procession leaves Kanazawa Station at 14:00 and takes about 4 hours to reach Kanazawa Castle. Besides the station area, waiting at a performance spot along the route is also recommended
✓For a guaranteed seat, buy a paid viewing seat (2026: Kanazawa Castle Park Hyakkenbori area, 500 seats, front row 6,000 yen, second row and beyond 5,000 yen). No refunds if canceled due to rain
✓On June 6, large-scale traffic restrictions are in place in the city center from 13:00 to around 18:00, with local buses detouring or suspended (2026). Avoid driving and use public transport or walk
✓After the procession passes, there is Odori Nagashi in the early evening and Takigi Noh at night, so you can enjoy the festival all day
✓During the festival, the Hyakumangoku Tea Ceremony is also held around Kenrokuen

Access

Getting there

Nearest stations: Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen, IR Ishikawa Railway and others)Right outsideIn front of the Tsuzumi-mon Gate, the starting point of the Hyakumangoku Procession
From major stations: Tokyo: Rail (Hokuriku Shinkansen) to Kanazawa Station (About 2 hr 25 min)
Osaka: Rail to Kanazawa Station (About 2 hr 30 min)
Nagoya: Rail to Kanazawa Station (About 2 hr 30 min)
Komatsu Airport: Airport bus timed to flight arrivals and departures to central Kanazawa
Extra buses & shuttles: IR Ishikawa Railway runs the special ‘Hyakumangoku Matsuri’ trains and adds cars to regular trains (2026). Park-and-ride is also recommended to ease congestion in the city center
Getting back: From 13:00 to around 18:00 on June 6, buses through the city center detour or are suspended, so allow plenty of time to get around (2026)
Some ports of the public bike-share ‘Machi-nori’ are closed during the festival (2026)
The procession ends at Kanazawa Castle Park. Buses and walking routes back toward Kanazawa Station get crowded

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Crowds

Crowds & best timing

Busiest times: Saturday afternoon of the Hyakumangoku Procession (especially around Kanazawa Station, the starting point, and the performance spots)
Quieter times: Daytime on the first day (Friday) and the final day, Sunday
Time needed: The Hyakumangoku Procession lasts about 4 hours (14:00–18:00). It is scheduled to pass the paid viewing seats from around 15:15 to around 17:30 (2026)

Weather

Weather & what to wear

Evening temperatures: Kanazawa’s June normals are a high of 25.6°C and a low of 18.4°C. Some days are warm enough to make you sweat, and nights get a little cooler
What to wear: Short sleeves with a light jacket to throw on. If you’ll wait along the route for a long time, bring a hat, drinks and sunscreen
Rain, snow & typhoons: The Hyakumangoku Procession is held in light rain. Check official announcements for any cancellation
Where to check for cancellations: Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Matsuri official website (https://100mangoku.net/), Kanazawa City Tourism Policy Division (076-220-2194)

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Etiquette

Local rules & etiquette

!Take your trash home, or sort it and put it in the designated places
!Do not step into the procession’s path or touch the participants
!Refrain from using tripods and selfie sticks when the route is crowded
!Follow the rules inside Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle Park
!Public trash bins are rare in Japan. Bring a small bag and take your trash with you.
!Smoking while walking is banned in many cities. Use designated smoking areas.

Facilities

Toilets: Toilets along the route get crowded, so use those in commercial facilities or stations early
Lockers & luggage: Coin lockers at Kanazawa Station tend to fill up on the day. It’s best to leave luggage at your hotel before heading out
Paying at food stalls: Some street stalls may be cash only, so bring cash as well
ATMs: Convenience store ATMs at Kanazawa Station and in the city center
Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven stores) usually accept cards issued overseas.
Wheelchairs & strollers: The paid viewing seats include wheelchair spaces (sold out in 2026). The route gets crowded, so allow extra time when getting around with a wheelchair or stroller

Food

Local favorites: Seafood rice bowlsKanazawa odenJibuni (duck and vegetable stew)Wagashi (Japanese sweets)
Vegetarian & halal: Vegetarian and halal labels are rare, so it helps to look up nearby restaurants in advance

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