This festival of the sea is held every year on the first Saturday and Sunday of July. One of three major Esashi festivals, it is an event that heralds the beginning of summer to the people of Esashi.

Giant ritual rope tying・The legendary "Heishi rock" of the Shimenawakazari

The main event of the festival is the Heishi Rock shimenawakazari (tying of a ritual rope), performed by the men of the sea from Esashi working in unison. A team of fishermen tie a rope weighing 500 kilograms around the unusally shaped, 10m tall Heishi rock as it stand upon the foreshore. After the rope is tied, the Esashi Kagura (Shinto ceremony), which descends from the nationally designated intangible cultural heritage Matsumae Kagura, is performed and the event concludes with this noble ritual. There are also plenty of other exciting events, such as the Kitamae Boat Race Competition.

Enjoy Esashi's early summer with some Robatayaki (fireside grilling) with a view of the Sea of Japan

* Please refrain from using the Robatayaki grill for food purchased outside of the venue

We invite you to dance the "Esashi Ondo" and "Esashi Jinku" with us. Participation as an individual or a guest from outside the town, as a neighborhood association, or as a business unit are all welcome. No experience is necessary. We also offer yukata rentals so please feel free to join and enjoy some dancing. Parade participants are also eligible for a participation award.
* We also offer dance workshops and CD rentals

On the island, a giant herring kite is spread, and as the music plays, the participants themselves place lanterns around the kite to create the shape of the herring using light.

(The creation of the light herring is scheduled to be projected on a screen inside the venue via a web camera)

We will then head down the island and divide into the Kamome boardwalk and the foreshore, illuminate some lanterns, and pray toward the sea together. At the end, a surprise using lights awaits.