Johana
Johana, a Little Kyoto in Ecchu
Johana is a region with approx. 9,000 people belonging to Nanto City and is located on the southern end of the Tonami Plain in the southwestern part of Toyama Prefecture. The town was developed in the neighborhood of Zentoku-ji Temple which was relocated from the nearby Fukumitsu town in the late Muromachi period. The town became more prosperous during the Edo period under the governance of the Maeda Family who ruled Kaga Province. Silk production helped in the development of the town significantly since it is located at the foot of Mt. Gokayama (World Heritage), the famous silk production area.
Sightseeing Highlights in Johana
Johana Hikiyama Center
Exhibition about the town’s most historical festival with a 300-year history is open throughout the year.
Johana Betsuin Zentoku-ji Temple
The massive temple building impresses people with the dignity of its 500-year history.
Nawaga-ike Pond
Some 50,000 beautiful white Asian skunk cabbages bloom all around the pond in May.
Sakuraga-ike Park
An artificial lake with an approx. 3-km circumference. Surrounded by beautiful nature, the park hosts many leisure facilities such as playing equipment, a skating park, a barbeque house and camp site.
*The park will be closed for renovations for two years as of June 2024.
Johana-za, Traditional Entertainment Center of Johana, Nanto City
A multi-purpose community house whose architectural design incorporates a traditional machiya townhouse of Johana and theatre. Traditional Mugiya Dance and Iori Songs are performed regularly.
Traditional Townscape
Machiya townhouses and Kura storehouses line the nostalgic cobbled streets along this historic Gokayama Kaido trade route.
Important Annual Events in Johana
Tsugomori Market
The last day of February is the time when merchants from Johana Town and the people from the mountains conducted business around Mt. Gokayama. A market is opened on the day based on this old tradition.
Hikiyam Festival
The Hikiyama Festival is an annual spring festival dedicated to Johana Shinmei-gu Shrine. It is designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Japan and was designated as the Intangible World Heritage by UNESCO in December 2017. The festival, which includes a Chinese lion dance and a procession of large floats, has been taking place for 300 years. Especially noteworthy are the floats called Iori Yatai which people from the town’s six regions pull around the town by themselves. A float is six meters high and 7 tons. Participants sit on the float playing music with shamisen (three-string Japanese guitar), whistle and drums along with the singing of Iori-uta songs. Iori-uta is a traditional song whose origin comes from Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Lanterns that are lit in the evening greatly enhance the festive mood.
Mushiboshi Airing Ceremony at Zentoku-ji Temple
More than 1,000 important temple treasures and valuable historical articles belonging to the Kaga Maeda Family are dried in the sun.
Mugiya Festival
The somewhat sad song’s tunes and energetic dance will impress the audiences’ heart.
Nanto Saisai Festival
An event in which people can enjoy and experience tradition, culture, food, nature and the people of Johana.
Traditional Crafts of Johana
Johana Makie Lacquer Decoration
Also known as white lacquer makie, the makie lacquer decoration of Johana is extremely beautiful and sophisticated.
Silk Item
Silk items of Johana are the proud result of a 400-year history.
Food & Specialties of Johana
Kaya-yaki
Kaya-yaki is a simple, crispy cracker made solely from Japanese nutmeg seeds, flour and sugar.
Toyama Dried Persimmon
Using a kind of persimmon called Sanja-gaki, dried persimmons from Johana are very popular as a gift for someone special from the end of December to the New Year’s-time.
Grilled Loach
Carefully grilled with charcoal fire, loaches are light and tasty.
Kabura Turnip Sushi
Locally grown turnips and mackerel are fermented in koji rice malt and become a perfect sushi combination for winter.
- Access
- Johana Station on JR Johana Line
- Contact
- Johana Tourist Information Center (Nanto City Tourism Association)
- TEL：0763-62-1201 / FAX：0763-62-1202
- E-mail： nanto-k@p2.tst.ne.jp
- URL： http://tabi-nanto.jp/