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The gorgeous floats are one of a kind! The proudest festival of Saitama.
The Kawagoe Festival is a traditional autumn festival held every year on the third Saturday and Sunday of October. Many people come from all over the world to visit, and it is the most energetic moment of the year in Kawagoe City.
The festival with a 370-year long history has been nationally designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Heritage in 2005 and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Kawagoe Festival is characterized by its long history and recognized cultural value.
Many tourists come for the luxurious floats of each city. The approximately 8-meter-high floats are decorated with detailed embroidery and elaborate carvings. It has a surprisingly heavyweight of 3-4 tons, with a human-shaped doll at the top. You can enjoy the spectacular combination of the floats being pulled in the townscape of traditional Japanese warehouses while playing lively music.
Don't miss the musical battle known as "hikkawase," which happens when two floats pass each other. This is when the town's excitement is at its peak, and you can feel emersed in the true joy of the festival.
The clothing that people wear is also unique to the festival day. There is no doubt that you can have an extraordinary experience as if you have gone back in time to old Japan.
Kawagoe Festival, representing the autumn season of Kawagoe City
Streets are filled with people
Gorgeous floats shining at night
Take beautiful photos in front of the Toki no Kane (The Bell of Time)!
Some reviews are AI-translated.
When I originally planned my trip to Kawagoe, I only intended to visit Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, Kitain Temple, and the Kurazukuri streets to take in the nostalgic atmosphere of “Little Edo.” It wasn't until after I had finalized my itinerary that I unexpectedly discovered my visit would coincide with the annual Kawagoe Festival. Curious and excited, I decided to change the order of my original itinerary and experience this major local event in person.
As it turned out, this last-minute change was definitely worthwhile. Although I couldn't stay until night to fully enjoy the lively festival, everything from the morning preparations and the gradually growing festive atmosphere in the streets to the ornate floats beginning their procession left a deep impression on me. It added an unexpected and unforgettable memory to what had originally been a trip focused on exploring Little Edo.
I didn't get a chance to see the Kawagoe Festival in person, but the festival museum has lots of info about its history. There are real festival floats on display and even videos introducing the festival. 😁
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