After a four-year absence, one of Saitama’s most beloved fireworks displays is finally returning. The 32nd Koedo Kawagoe Fireworks Festival will be held on Saturday, November 21st, 2026. It brings approximately 6,500 fireworks to the skies above Kawagoe’s Aina Shinsui Park. This year is particularly special as the event movesRead More →
I am no expert on yabusame by any means. As far as I am aware, the yabusame in Moroyama is the most famous in Saitama Prefecture, while this one in Kawagoe is smaller and lesser known. That said, this year marks only the 13th occurrence of Kawagoe Yabusame, so itRead More →
My post about Kawagoe Festival is one of the most read annually. I have a lot of information in it, but it is impossible to put everything into it as it would get too long. One thing I would like to add, but haven’t been able to squeeze in, isRead More →
The Kawagoe Festival is one of the largest and best Autumn Festivals in all of Japan. Moreover, the festival is an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan. In addition, the Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals are an UNESCO cultural heritage. The festival started at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in 1648 afterRead More →
Kawagoe Remix is a fusion of food, music and art. The event has changed quite significantly since the pandemic, so I have revamped the original 2015 post to reflect all the changes. All the photos in this post were taken (by me) at the 2023 event. It was on inRead More →
Information for the candle night and temple light up for Pink Ribbon Month at Saimyoji (Saimyouji temple) in Kawagoe annually in October. The temple is also known as Yokoyama Saimyouji, or Saimyoji or Saimyo / Saimyou Temple. Interestingly, Saimyouzi is the official English spelling of the temple. The temple isRead More →
Information for two ‘summer’ festivals near Kasumigaseki and Matoba train stations. However, this year, the annual “Kahokusai” with a Night Fair, in the Kakuei Shopping District (Kasumigaseki, Kawagoe) is on in October. The second, Kakuei Homes Summer Festival, on in neighboring Isehara-cho, will be on in August as usual. However,Read More →
Horo festival, also known as Horokake matsuri, is a religious celebration and unique cultural event. September is the month for cultural and religious events after all! There are so many in fact, that I only pick a select few to share, such as the distinctive Horo Festival. This event hasRead More →
Sweet Potato Digging, Kawagoe, Autumn 2026 – Kawagoe is famous for many things, not least its sweet potatoes. Even the city’s main mascot Tokimo is a mash (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of the sweet potato “imo” and the symbol of Kawagoe the bell tower “Toki”. Moreover, there is evenRead More →
The Senba (/Semba) Sengen Shrine Grand Festival, celebrating Hatsuyama, is one of Semba local’s most cherished summer traditions. I have had this information included in the Semba-gashi Kawazu-zakura post for the last few years, but it doesn’t seem to have good visibility. So, although it is short notice; information forRead More →