A festival of towering lanterns and drumbeats with a fiery climax
The Yonago Gaina Festival is Yonago City's main summer event, taiko drums beating powerfully as people carry rows of lanterns on poles several times their own height. This celebration in northwestern Tottori Prefecture takes place at the end of July or beginning of August and attracts large crowds for two days of traditional revelry.
How to Get There
The majority of festivities are located right outside Yonago Station, so access is easiest by train.
On express trains it takes around 60 minutes to get to Yonago from Tottori Station. Alternatively, taking express or local trains from Matsue Station will get you there in around 20–30 minutes.
Quick Facts
Around 6,000 fireworks are sent aloft during the festival's climax
The name “Gaina” means “big” or “grand” in the local dialect.
A two-day celebration with fireworks and performances
The two-day festival takes place around the station area and at Minatoyama Park, climaxing with an impressive fireworks display over Lake Nakaumi, a spectacle best seen from the park. Other highlights include a huge lantern procession and a taiko drum performance.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.