Kawagoe Matsuri, registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is held at Hikawa Shrine and dates back over 360 years to the Edo period. The festival is famous for its hikiyama floats — elaborate multi-story constructions bearing mythological figures — which are pulled through the kurazukuri warehouse district. The highlight is the 'hikkawase' contest, where two floats face off at intersections and rival teams compete with hayashi flute-and-drum music to see who can outplay the other. The nighttime illuminated float parade is especially magical.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Third weekend of October
- Region
- Kanto
- Prefecture
- Saitama
- City
- Kawagoe
Highlights
- ◆UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage-listed festival tradition
- ◆Towering hikiyama floats with elaborate Edo-era decorations
- ◆Competitive hikkawase musical face-off between neighborhood floats
- ◆Nighttime illuminated float procession through historic streets
- ◆Set against the backdrop of Kawagoe's iconic kurazukuri district