Tengu Plaza and Giant Mask

Tengu Plaza and Giant Mask

Tengu Plaza in central Numata can be an intimidating place to happen upon at night, with its giant, long-nosed, red-faced being staring at passersby from a perch inside a small building with floor-to-ceiling glass panels. But there is no need to fear: this tengu is a guardian deity of the area, and the massive mask displayed at Tengu Plaza is a central feature of the annual Numata Festival, a spirited celebration of local heritage held over three days in August.

The mask weighs 150 kilograms, is 4.3 meters long, and has a 2.9-meter nose. During the festival, some 300 women parade it through the streets of central Numata along with another tengu mask stored at Kashozan Mirokuji Temple.

Tengu Plaza offers free parking for those wanting to get a close look at the giant tengu mask. Public bathrooms are available next to the parking lot, and there is a small grocery shop for picking up local produce and products such as jam, honey, and pickles.

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