西川祭是日本名古屋市舉辦的傳統祭典活動，通常在名古屋市中心的西川區域舉行，所以才叫西川祭，西川祭經常包括傳統的舞蹈、太鼓表演和神輿巡遊，當然，當地特色美食是祭典活動中絕對不可少的，整個祭典現場通常會佈置燈籠和彩旗，營造出歡樂又充滿傳統氛圍的景象，為甚麼我會知道這些事情呢？因為台中市與名古屋市共同舉辦的台日慶典，就把這些原本必須到名古屋市才能看到的日式祭典，搬過來了。
我對日式祭典的印象，都是從小時候看過的日本動漫作品中了解的，人們身著日式浴衣，穿梭各種琳瑯滿目攤位，一口吃著香氣撲鼻的章魚燒，一邊駐足觀看一些攤位提供傳統遊戲，孩子們雀躍地圍繞在金魚攤前，試著用紙網把金魚撈起來，而街的另一邊，則是一群穿著傳統服飾的男男女女抬著裝飾華麗的神輿在街道上前行，每當神輿搖晃時，周圍的觀眾都會熱烈鼓掌，增添更多熱鬧氛圍。
現場真的很多男女換上日式浴衣，我知道很多女生，當有機會到日本旅行時，都會特意安排穿上日式和服的行程，體驗穿和服走在街道上的樂趣，沒想到，不用出國就可以在這裡體驗，此外，還有日本弓道體驗，弓道起源於古代日本的武士文化，當時的武士學習弓箭技術作為戰場上的重要技能，隨著時代發展，弓道逐漸轉變鍛煉身心，追求和諧與完美的藝術形式，以上這些話語是我偷聽到弓道導師介紹時說的，真是太酷了，不過，體驗價錢倒也不便宜。
本來最吸引我的是現場販售的日式特色食物，不過說實話品項不多，看起來並沒有很吸引我，且很多都是台灣商家的商品，價錢也稍貴一些，還是晚點去吃台式宵夜比較實在，不過，還是聚集了不少人潮，加上主舞台的表演活動，也吸引了往來的遊客駐足圍觀，憑心而論，這個祭典還蠻用心的，和我常逛的夜市相較，多了不少日式風情。
The Nishikawa Festival is a traditional festival held in Nagoya, Japan, usually taking place in the Nishikawa area of Nagoya City, which is why it's called Nishikawa Festival. It often features traditional dances, taiko drum performances, and mikoshi (portable shrine) processions. Of course, local specialty foods are an essential part of the event. The festival venue is typically decorated with lanterns and colorful flags, creating a lively and traditional atmosphere. How do I know all this? Because the Taiwan-Japan Festival jointly organized by Taichung City and Nagoya City brought these Japanese festival elements, which you'd normally have to go to Nagoya to see, right here to Taiwan!
My impression of Japanese festivals mostly comes from the anime I watched as a kid. People wear traditional yukata, wandering through rows of vibrant stalls, munching on deliciously fragrant takoyaki. Kids excitedly crowd around goldfish scooping booths, trying to catch fish with delicate paper nets. Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, groups of men and women in traditional attire carry beautifully decorated mikoshi, their energetic cheers and the audience's applause heightening the festive vibe.
At this event, there were indeed a lot of people dressed in yukata. I know many women plan trips to Japan specifically to try wearing kimono and enjoy walking around in traditional attire. Surprisingly, we can now experience that right here without leaving the country! Additionally, there was a Japanese kyūdō (archery) experience. The instructor explained that kyūdō originated from the samurai culture of ancient Japan when archery was a key skill for the battlefield. Over time, it evolved into an art form focusing on mental and physical harmony. I overheard these explanations from the instructor—it was so cool! That said, the experience fee was a bit pricey.
Initially, I was most drawn to the food stalls selling Japanese specialties. But honestly, the selection was limited, and the food didn’t seem very appealing. Many of the items were from Taiwanese vendors, and the prices were a bit steep. I decided it would be more practical to grab some Taiwanese late-night snacks later. Still, the festival managed to attract a crowd, and the performances on the main stage drew in tourists to stop and watch. To be fair, the organizers put in a lot of effort, and compared to the night markets I frequent, this event definitely had a distinct Japanese vibe.
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