The fifth ever Chichibu Colorful Night Walk is confirmed However, this time it is on in Autumn rather than winter – on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from Friday September 18th to Sunday November 15th. Moreover, it’s the second one this year (2026). They also had a winter event earlier in the year, from the end of January until mid-March. At that time, the price of renting the popular NAKED Inc lanterns had gone up fivefold to 3000 yen. But great news for the Autumn Night Walk – the lanterns will be free to rent. However, they are only available on select dates – see “Additional Events”.
Chichibu Colorful Night Walk Autumn 2026
This year the Chichibu Night Walk event is back… for the second time! The first, was in winter (January to mid March), and the second one starts Friday night, September 18th, 2026. Chichibu Night Walk started in 2023 as “a new winter festival” run by NAKED Inc. It is no longer run by NAKED Inc, Chichibu City now manage it, but it still features NAKED Inc lanterns, which can be rented for free on select dates. Just like earlier in the year and previous years, they have changed some of the locations slightly for the next event. Presumably to keep it interesting.
Chichibu city is one part of the Chichibu area. There is a saying in Saitama that the Chichibu area has a festival every day of the year. Moreover, there are actually approximately 400 festivals annually in Chichibu. However, some of them overlap on the same day, so there are actually days when there is no festival. But if you include even smaller festivals, or count the likes of the flower festivals that are on for many days in a row, the saying is quite true!
The 5th ever Colorful Chichibu Night Walk
The participating locations use projection mapping to create a festival atmosphere for this colorful Night Walk event that is on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays nights during the period of the event. They use unique designs for the light up and projection mapping, are modelled on four things that Chichibu is famous for: the ‘Yomatsuri’ night festival, Icicles, Chichibu Meisen and shibazakura. In addition, there are additional events and a collaboration with bars in the area on select dates.
The main locations and main elements to the event in AUTUMN 2026:
- Chichibu Shrine – radiating lanterns are installed on the approach leading to the main hall of the shrine.
- Jigenji Shrine – new to the list since 2025. There is projection mapping on the main hall.
- Shorinji Shrine – another of Chichibu’s famous shrines. Also new to the list since 2025.
- Myoken no Mori – flower‑pattern lights, a wagasa (Japanese umbrella) dome, and drifting smoke effects. The upgraded projection mapping on the wagasa dome is also a must‑see.
- Seibu Chichibu Station Monument Plaza – new to the list in Autumn 2026. Flower-pattern lgiths welcoming visitors at the gateway to Chichibu. An image below:
Additional events
- Opening ceremony: two days after the event starts on Sunday September 20th. At Myoken no Mori park, from 5.30 pm, with Bumeru-chan, one of the mascots of Chichibu City. There will also be a mini event beforehand, from 5 pm, with live music.
- Free rental of NAKED Inc Distance Lanterns, subject to availability, on selected Saturdays: September 20th and 26th, October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st, November 7th and 14th. They can be rented between 5.30 pm and 8 pm. They can be rented from Myoken no Mori Park. Using the lanterns at partner shops gives small perks.
- On the same dates as the lantern rental, there is a Chichibu Night Bar Festival.
- On Saturday September 26th they have a candy event for children, which starts and ends at Myoken no Mori Park. Children can collect sweets at Shorinji and Jigenji and there will be a final candy grab challenge at the goal.
- Night Pilgrimage with a Monk on October 10th, 24th and November 14th. The route is from Seibu Chichibu Station to Jigengi, Shorinji, Chichibu Shrine and Myoken no Mori Park. It costs 3000 yen per person.
- Special Goshuin (shrine stamp) at Jigenji and Shorinji. There is a limited quantity; first come, first served. The stamps can be bought on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the period of the Night Walk.
- There is a market on Saturday September 26th at Chichibu Railway Station rotary. They will have a tribute band live, comedy, jazz, kids dance, food stalls, craft beer and a stamp rally.
Suwa Shrine Festival
On Saturrday 26th and Sunday 27th the Suwa Shrine Festival is on at the grounds of Chichibu Shrine. It is a subordinate shrine of Chichibu Shrine. There is a Chinowa Kuguri for the occasion and special distribution of kaya-ho offerings. On the Saturday they have a Naguta performance and children’s lantern parade. Moreover, the Chichibu Onbashira Festival is on the Saturday for the first time in 11 years. A procession goes from Banba-dori to the grounds of Chichibu Shrine, from 1 pm. On the Sunday they have a kagura performance at Chichibu Shrine.
Event Details
Event: Chichibu Colorful Autumn Night Walk 秩父夜街彩さんぽ 秋
Dates: on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from Friday September 18th to Sunday November 15th 2026.
Hours: from 5.30 pm to 9 pm
Cost: there is no admission fee and for the autumn version the lanterns are free to rent.
Venues: The main station for this event Chichibu Station. The principal sites are…
- Chichibu Shrine – on Google Maps.
- Myoken no Mori – on Google Maps.
Editor’s note: Original 55445 Republished 20230201. Locations that participated in the past: Imamiya shrine was replaced by Ohanabatake. Ohanabatake station participated in winter 2026, but not in Autumn 2026. Banba street not participating Autumn 2026. Previously they had Japanese-style patterns are projected around the Koike Cafe, formerly Koike Tobacco Store. 20260913.98068.