Do you love to sing or dance? Signups are open for those who wish to join the Min’you-nagashi folk dance parade or put up a stage performance!

Let’s kick off this Uesugi Festival with an absolute blast of an opening!

Opening Festival Items

Min’you-nagashi Folk Dance Parade

Date: 29th April 2023 (Saturday, national holiday)

Time: 11:15 am ~ 1:00 pm (planned)

Location: From Yoneori Kaikan (Yonezawa Textile Hall) to Denkoku no Mori

Details: Participants will dance the traditional folk dances, Yonezawa Shinchou and Hanagasa Ondo.

Participation Fee: Free

Stage Performances

Date: 29th April 2023 (Saturday, national holiday)

Time: 9:30 am ~ 5:00 pm (planned)

Location: Denkoku no Mori outdoor event stage

Details: Performances showcasing folk performing arts, music and dance.

Participation Fee: Free

Note: Performing groups may need to be adjusted if there are too many signups

Registration Details

Signup Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

How to Signup: Fill in this registration form (PDF) and submit the completed form to the committee below.
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052

Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 

TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  

Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp
 

Naderayama Kankan Watari will be held on 26th February this year!

“Kankan Watari” is a phrase in the regional dialect which means “walking on thick layers of snow”. It is a must-try winter activity while you’re here in snowy Yonezawa! You can also catch a magnificent view of the cityscape and the neighbouring mountains while walking up in Naderayama!

We hope to see you there!

Date

26th February 2023 (Sunday)

* Event will not be cancelled regardless of weather conditions

Participants

100 (Children of middle school age or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)

Participation Fee
Please pay the fee on the day of the event.

Regular fee – 1,000 yen
High school students and below – 500 yen

Fees are inclusive of insurance. A souvenir will also be distributed to all participants.

Schedule

8:00 am – Meet at Atago Community Center
8:30 am – Group formation, Departure
11:30 am – Arrival at mountain peak
12:30 pm – Descent from mountain
2:00 pm – Return to Atago Sanso Mountain Villa (Warm amazake will be prepared), Dismissal

* There will be a post-activity get-together session at the villa after dismissal. An additional 1,000 yen participation fee is required (exclusive of drinks). 20 slots available on a first-come-first-served basis. Game meat, which has seen an uptick in demand, will be served!

What to Bring

Winter clothing (can also be waterproof), lunch, drinks, provisions

Equipment required

Long boots, gloves, hat, tights, towel, sunglasses, ski poles etc.

If you have snowshoes or kanjiki of your own, please bring them along with you.

How to Register

Send the following details by fax to 0238-53-2243 or email to kankanwatari@gmail.com

1.    氏名　Name (write in Katakana)
2.    年齢　Age
3.    性別　Gender
4.    Phone number

Registration Deadline

21st February 2023 (Tuesday)

Contact

For more information, please contact Kankan Watari leader KATO Yasuhiro at 090-8788-1058

* Details may be subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation.
 

Please note that the timing for the following item indicated on the venue map has been changed:

Snow Lantern Taiko Unveiling (Yonezawa Ohayashiren music performance group)

12 February 2023 (Sunday)
2:00 pm ~ 3:15 pm 11:00 am ~ 12:00 pm (Venue: Chinkon no Oka)

No changes will be made to the other activities.
 

Yume Project: Takeakari x Snow x Wish 2023 will be held in conjunction with Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival’s return from its 3-year hiatus!

The collaborative exhibit space entitled Candle Zone x Takeakari will be hosted in the open field in front of Denkoku no Mori.

You can also join the takeakari making workshop this Sunday on 5th February and brighten up the festival with your very own handmade takeakari bamboo lights! Lights that were made during the workshop will be used as decorations for the snow lantern festival.

We hope to see you there!

Candle Zone x Takeakari

Light up Dates and Times:

11th February (Saturday) – 5:30 pm ~ 9:00 pm
12th February (Sunday) – 5:30 pm ~ 8:00 pm

Location: Denkoku no Mori Open Field

Takeakari Making Workshop

Date: 5th February 2023

Morning session: 10:00 am ~ 12:00 pm
Afternoon session: 2:00 pm ~ 4:00 pm

Location: Okitama Culture Center 203 Kenshuushitsu

Participants: 20 per session

Fees: Free

Register using this form 

Takeakari Facebook (Japanese)
Takeakari Twitter (Japanese)
 

A Japan-Taiwan exchange exhibition showcasing Yonezawa will be held in Taiwan once again this year!

This exhibit will be the 3rd of its kind, held from 7th February to 28th February this year in the Beitou district of Taipei, where Yonezawa has also participated in its Hot Spring Festival in Taipei event for several years. There will also be hands-on activities created in collaboration with various Taiwanese partners to introduce participants to the hidden gems of Yonezawa!

In a world where many countries have adopted a “living with COVID-19” policy, this exhibit will showcase how Yonezawa culture and travel in the Tohoku region and Yonezawa have adapted to this new age.

For more information, please access the websites below (Traditional Chinese):

https://www.taiwanwildherbtea.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Taiwanwildherbtea