Tonami, Toyama

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Please improve this article if you can. (November 2006)

Location of Tonami in Toyama Prefecture

Tonami (砺波市, Tonami-shi^?) is a city located in Toyama, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 41,303 and the density of 429.26 persons per km². The total area is 96.22 km².

The city was founded on April 1, 1954.

Tonami is the city which is very beautiful judging from a balloon.

On November 1, 2004, the city merged with the town of Shogawa from Higashitonami District to form the city of Tonami.

[edit] Local Culture and Festivals

Sightseeing via hot air balloon is a popular activity in Tomami.

In 2006, the Yotaka festival was held on June 9th and 10th. Many parade floats purposely collide during the festival, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle. The Yotaka festival event originally began in the neighboring town of Fukuno. It features competitions between groups carrying mikoshi portable shrines. "Yoiyasa" is a traditional saying shouted by many during the event.

There is a tulip park in Tonami, as well as a nationally recognized tulip festival that is held every year. There are various tulip there, and there is it now old an event is. There is a windmill for water drawers transferred by the Netherlands in Tonami. In this windmill, "DE VRIENDS CHAP" (friendship) is written, and is a symbol of friendship.

A “Yotaka festival” is held every year in June in Tonami. It is performed in the downtown area near the train station. When it is night, lamps using paper shandes are lit. This festival is a prayer for a good harvest of the fields.

The Tonami tulip festival has 450 different kinds of tulips, and one hundred thousand tulips in all. The tulips are usually in full bloom. The festival were opened various events. Many tourists come from the whole of Japan. It is a festival of spring that represents Hokuriku. A new kind of tulip is announced every year. The kind in 2006 has a bright red hood. Sharp like a lovely hood is had as shown in the name. Why are tulips produced in Tonami when it is a cold district?

The sandy soil and subsequent drainage is suitable for tulip cultivation.
The heavy snowfall in winter keeps the soil temperature constant, and is not influenced by changes in meteorological conditions.
From the end of April and into May, when the bulb growth is enlarged, the duration of sunshine is long.
It is because of a traditional love of bulb production that farmers especially favor the cultivation of tulips.