Tokamachi Kimono Festival

In front of a signboard of a coming-of-age ceremony, standing are those whose coming-of-age celebrations were held quite long ago.


Actually, of these three, two are 20 years old.


Walking along a temporary pedestrian street where carp streamers are flying


Matsunoi and Tenjinbayashi, locally brewed sake of Tokamachi City


From May 2 to 4, we stayed in Tokamachi City, which is famous of kimono. On May 3, they held Tokamachi Kimono Festival. At the same time, they also held a coming-of-age ceremony for those who became or would become 20 years old this year. Many of the new grown-up people were decently clad in kimono. Many of the female grown-up wearing furisode, a kimono whose sleeves hung down almost to the ground, can be seen here and there on streets. Also, those who were wearing kimono were provided with some privileges in some events.

The main street of the city was turned into a pedestrian precinct this day. Above the street carp streamers, ornament for Children's Day, another festival that would be held on May 5, were flying. If you were wearing kimono, you could be photographed and given the printed photo for free. Matsunoi and Tenjinbayashi, locally brewed sake of Tokamachi City, were provided for pedestrians, which I drank a lot.

Since my kimono friend was walking with an incredibly flashy peppermint-green wig, people in Tokamachi City and turists were watcing her in open-mouthed surprise. We were photographed by many people.

This day, it was very hot in Tokamachi, and we needed to run into a cool place soon after we walked just a few minutes. In such cases, a mug of beer is a relief.