A festival to give thanks for the blessings of Shimabara’s spring water.

A festival to give thanks for the blessings of Shimabara’s spring water.

Shimabara is so rich in spring water that it is called the “City of Water.
There are about 50 spring water points in the city, and the total amount of spring water is said to be 220,000 tons per day.
There are many water-rich cities throughout Japan, but it is very rare to find such a large amount of water near a city center, such as in an arcade.

Since the first Shimabara Mizu Matsuri was held in 1987, it has become a festival beloved by the local residents as a celebration of gratitude for water, evolving over time to become one of Shimabara’s representative festivals.
Centered around the main object of the festival, the “ban-gasa” umbrella, traditional spirit boats and cut-glass lanterns from Shimabara decorate the streets with cool water and fantastical lights.
Additionally, panels reflecting on the history of the Mizu Matsuri will be exhibited, and a photo contest will also be held as part of the event, so capture your own moment of the Shimabara Mizu Matsuri and submit it.