Experience a traditional autumn shrine festival in Fukaya this October. The Uwanodai Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival takes place over three days, featuring mikoshi processions, sacred dance performances, lion dances, and festival music performed by six local floats. Visitors can also enjoy special gathering performances that bring together the festival’s floatsRead More →
While driving from Genshoin Temple to the cosmos fields at Miraikan in Kazo, I passed this shrine in the Mitakaya area of Hanyu and just had to pull in. There are no staff or office at the shrine, that I could see, but I got the impression that the shrineRead More →
The Autumn Equinox (September 23rd in 2026) is one of the most fitting times to encounter higanbana, also known as red spider lilies. Their Japanese name literally means “Higan flower”, linking them to the Buddhist observance that takes place three days either side of the spring and autumn equinoxes. TheRead More →
Information for the Kasukabe Shishimai performance at Choshi guchi Katori shrine annually in January, July and October Choshiguchi Shishimai Choshiguchi shishimai (lion dance) was brought to Kasukabe from the current Koshigaya city in 1697. It is a lion dance to music with three single “lions” performed at Choshiguchi Katori shrineRead More →
Each year in October portable shrines (mikoshi) and festival floats (dashi) are paraded through the town for the Koshigaya Autumn Festival, of Hisaizu Shrine. However, they canceled the festival throughout the pandemic, even in 2023. The 400 year old festival only came back in 2024. Surprisingly, despite its proximity toRead More →
Each October, Senshoji temple in Yashio city have an autumn event. Last year it was an Autumn Festival, this year it is “Autumn Lights” (Aki no Tomoshibi). Senshoji Temple is a prominent Jodo sect temple in Japan, founded in 1600. At the one-day experiential festival, families can create paper-bag lanterns,Read 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 →
The Takedera Night Festival began as a new summer project just four years ago. The focus is the beautiful bamboo lanterns, but the highlight is the firework display. In addition to the bamboo lantern and fireworks display, there is also traditional dance and there will be food trucks on theRead More →
The annual Grand Festival, known as Reitaisai in Japanese, of Sezaki Sengen Shrine is one of the earliest summer festivals in the Soka area. It is known for its traditional mikoshi processions, children’s events, and lively rows of festival stalls. The shrine, dedicated to Konohanasakuya‑hime, has long served as aRead More →
Every July, Kawaguchi’s Hatogaya Hikawa Shrine displays scores of colorful goldfish lanterns (金魚ちょうちん) under the eaves of the gate and front of the shrine. They are not lanterns in the typical sense, but more of a lantern-shaped paper goldfish decoration. During the same period at the goldfish lanterns the shrine’sRead More →