The largest puppet festival in Japan, Iida Puppet Festa is now happening at Iida city, Nagano. Many unique puppet theatres join the festival including professional, amateur and student troupes offering 480 stages in total. There are variety of puppetry shows from traditional to modern styles in one place. Some research travelers from previous European Capitals of Culture have visited the festival to be inspired by the quality and uniqueness of Japanese puppetry. Their visits had borne fruit in the invitation of Japanese puppet theatres and collaboration programs with them in the frame of European Capital of Culture. Date: 2-7 Aug.

Iida Puppet Festa   Website here