Exclusively on “In Saitama”: information for the current colorful lantern display at an Inari shrine in Kawagoe for Hatsuuma! Hatsuuma literally means “first horse day”. It is the first day of the zodiac sign horse in the second month of the lunar calendar. In Shinto religion, it makes the moment when Inari Okami descended to Mt Inari in 711. Because of that, this event is tied to the Inari shrines. Because this year, 2026, is the year of the horse, this event may be more attended than in previous years.
Colorful lanterns for the Hatsuuma Festival
This is the third year in a row I have personally seen the lanterns. In the first year they were just red and only a few of them. I think it was the first year for them. But since last year, 2025, there are more and they are multicolored. They look even more striking thanks to the different colors. The official website of the temple that manages this shrine, doesn’t have information for the event online. But they do have a poster with the information for the event in the precincts. It maybe why these lanterns are not yet plastered all over social media. And probably the reason why there is little to no information online about this annual event at the Inari Shrine. I can confirm though, having visited the shrine at the temple today, January 16th 2026, that the lanterns are currently up.
The very first time I spotted these lanterns, in 2024, I was on my way to Kawagoe Hachimangu, on foot, when I passed Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Hongyoin. (Hereafter I just call it Naritasan). I spotted the lanterns through the marble pillars that surround the Inari Shrine. The Inari shrine is a small shrine to the fox on the grounds of Naritasan. Each year in February they have an Hatsuuma ritual at the shrine. The ritual is carried out for good health and fortune. In 2026 that will be on Friday February 13th. In 2026, they are accepting applications for fox mask shaped prayer talismans for family safety and business prosperity.
Information
Event: Colorful lanterns for the Hatsuuma Prayers 初午大祭
Dates: the lanterns will be up until at least February 13th 2026. (All things equal, they may have to temporarily take them down in very windy weather.)
Time: the precincts are open from 8 am to 4 pm. The hatsuuma prayers are on after a goma ritual on the 13th of February 2026. Last year that was around 11 am. Time not yet confirmed for 2026.
Cost: a donation, even as little as 1 yen, into the prayer box in front of the Inari shrine (its up steps). If you want to buy amulets they vary greatly in price, generally with prices starting from 500 yen.
Venue: Inari Shrine at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Hongyoin 成田山川越別院（本行院）, 9-2 Kubomachi, Kawagoe, Saitama 〒350-0055. View on Google maps.
Access
Naritasan is about a 20 to 25 minute walk from Kawagoe station. From Honkawagoe its about a 12 to 15 minute walk. The Koedo Kawagoe loop bus that goes from the East exit of Kawagoe Station stops in front of Naritasan. It is the third stop (2nd if you exclude the station) on the route, after Kitain.
There is a small parking lot on the grounds, but you can also park at Kitain. Kitain recently improved their charging system. It used to be a flat rate of 500 yen for the day, but they now charge 200 yen for the first half hour and 100 yen for every half hour after that. Which actually makes it cheaper than most if you are only visiting for an hour or two. The standard rate in Kawagoe for parking is 200 per half hour.
Information in English about Naritasan – and its famous monthly antique fair.
reminds me of Seoul/Korea last year a number of temples had lanterns displayed like this!
that’s cool to know. I love finding colorful events like this, especially in my beloved Kawagoe.