I went to Sanno-san last night. Sanno-san is the nickname of a god in Hie Jinja (Hie Shinto Shrine). Hie Jinja in downtown Toyama holds a big festival on June 1 and 2 every year.

Last night I went there. It was quite difficult to find a parking lot. I wondered how many people were going to the festival. I often go the festival on May 31, the eve of the festival, to avoid crowded people. Even the eve, there were many people. Oh, but most people come the festival to pray (I've never met Japanese who believes in Shinto religiously). They just enjoy strolling along more than 1200 stalls around the shrine. I was one of them.

I walked along stalls and checked something interesting or new. But there were so many people that I had to stop again and again. I had Hiroshima-yaki, Japanese thin and flat pancake cooked on a hot plate with bits of meat, seafood, corn, noodle and chopped cabbages. To get the food, I had to wait for 20minutes in a long waiting line! Though I don't like to wait in the line, the long line for Hiroshima-yaki made me curious. It must have been yummy. I enjoyed watching how to cook Hiroshima-yaki and pedestrians in yukata. The taste was...not bad, but I'm not sure it was worth waiting for 20minutes :-( Anyway, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the festival, waiting for the food.

Sounds like alot of fun! and you enjoyed the
festivals.
I love Japanese festivals，too.
My parents' hometown is famous for Dekansyo
festival in mid August.
It's too bad I can't go this summer.(Jun 2, 2005 12:10:39 PM)

I love Japanese festivals， too. But one of my friends asked me why Japanese festival is always similar， just eat and walk. He seems to join. I have never taken part in festivals in other countries， so I can’t guess why he complains :-((Jun 6, 2005 02:21:39 PM)