Discover Uozu: Tatemon Festival, Aquarium and Landscapes

Uozu offers several distinct highlights for your trip: the Tatemon Festival, an aquarium showcasing local aquatic life, the Mirage Land amusement park and the Dousugi landscape in the Minamata Valley. If you’re looking for a hotel in Uozu, you can first consider whether culture, wildlife, leisure activities or nature will shape your stay.

Tatemon Festival: Cultural Heritage and Participation

Uozu’s Tatemon Festival, also called “Uozu no Tatemon-Gyōji,” was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List on December 1, 2016. The festival floats are about 16 meters tall, hung with more than 90 lanterns and weigh about five tonnes; around 80 people pull them. Alongside its cultural heritage status, pulling the floats together is a distinctive part of the festival tradition: the floats’ impressive size is matched by the participation of many people.

The festival takes place at Suwa Shrine, 1-16 Suwa-chō, Uozu. Every year, a very large number of people gather there on the festival day. Those who would like to take part can help with preparations, raising the floats, pulling or carrying them, and dismantling them. Since participation opportunities and recruitment periods may change, it’s best to check the latest dates and options in advance.

Uozu Aquarium and the Region’s Waters

Uozu Aquarium permanently exhibits around 330 animal species from the waters of Toyama Prefecture and Toyama Bay. Its exhibits range from mountain streams in the Northern Alps to the depths of the Sea of Japan. This journey from mountain stream to marine environments gives the aquarium a clear regional focus.

At the Toyama Bay large aquarium, feeding demonstrations feature divers feeding large fish such as yellowtail. If you specifically want to see a demonstration, check the current schedule before planning your visit.

Mirage Land: Views and Pony Experiences

Mirage Land is an amusement park in Uozu Sōgō Park and is considered a popular destination for families and children. Its 66-meter Ferris wheel offers views of both Toyama Bay and the Tateyama mountain range. It brings together views of the coast and the mountains.

The Frontier petting zoo is located inside Mirage Land. Children and adults can ride and feed three friendly ponies by the sea, with views of the sea and the Tateyama mountain range. Operating hours and reservation procedures for this activity may change, so check the latest information about the petting zoo before your visit.

Dousugi Trees and the Minamata Valley

In the Minamata Valley, many Dousugi trees surround enormous rocks. Together with the valley’s rich natural surroundings, they create an extraordinary landscape. The trees grow mainly in Katakai Prefectural Park, where Uozu City has established a walking trail. While the Ferris wheel offers views of the bay and mountain range, the Dousugi landscape centers on the interplay of trees, rocks and valley.

To protect the surrounding natural environment, private cars are not permitted beyond the Dousugi Trees parking lot. Trail conditions may vary by season, so check the latest trail information before your visit.

For the broader travel overview: Toyama Prefecture.