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The Iwase Hikiyama Fighting Float Festival

For two nights in May, feel the ground shake as Iwase’s historical districts settle ancient rivalries, ramming 11 floats into a thunderous test of will—a spectacular collision of history, pride, and six tons of wooden force.

Discover the historic port town of Iwase in Toyama, Japan, home of the legendary Hikiyama Fighting Float Festival.

Visit Iwase, Toyama

The Fighting Floats in Living Color

Highlights from the 2025 Iwase Hikiyama Fighting Float Festival

The Festival

Tracing its roots back over 300 years, the Iwase Hikiyama Fighting Float Festival began as a prayer for bountiful catches and safety at sea. Originally a daytime procession, it evolved into a night, fighting festival, reflecting the rough and spirited nature of the port fishermen.

An unforgettable night of culture!

Emma K.

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The Book

Eleven massive illuminated floats.

Three centuries of tradition.

Two nights of controlled chaos.

Hidden along the Sea of Japan in a historic port town, the Iwase Hikiyama Fighting Float Festival is one of Japan’s most extraordinary living traditions.

Each spring, enormous wooden floats blaze through the night, crashing through narrow streets and shaking the ground beneath the crowd. But beyond the collisions is something deeper: craftsmanship, teamwork, and generations of pride passed from father to son, neighbor to neighbor.

Yasaa!! Yasaa!! is the first definitive record of this festival, captured through rare photographs, oral histories, and firsthand documentation. It preserves a tradition rarely seen outside Japan: a story of impact, community, and the people who continue to pull the floats forward into the future.

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Contact

Questions or stories about the festival?

Contact

Email

info@visit-iwase.com

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