Republish of the annual information for the seasonal pinwheel display at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Hydrangea information added in 2023.
Information for this annual June event has been on insaitama since the inauguration of the event. But this is the first year I have included hydrangea information. The ‘Hikawa’ hydrangea generally bloom roughly around the same time that the pinwheels are up. Last year, the pinwheels were actually up much longer than normal in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Kawagoe as a city (it was around as a domain for hundreds of years before that!). They went up three months early in March. Moreover, they changed color every few weeks which was unique to the 2022 event. I have left the 2022 post up for posterity! You can also take a look at the special 2019 red and white pinwheel X wind chime event for Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne here!
Pinwheels in Kawagoe
This year, 2023, the pinwheels are back to the ‘normal’ month of June event. However, two of the three sections went up a few days early today, May 28th 2023. Since 2021 there are three different areas you can see pinwheels at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. There is the original tunnel that runs alongside the shrine. However, that one is not yet up, but on May 30th 2023 they were prepping the area. Presumably, it will be ready by June 1st which is the official start of the pinwheel event annually.
There are also pinwheels under the stone torii at the side entrance to the precincts. In addition, since 2021, there is also a display in front of the Naoraidan, banquet hall, which until 2020 was the main parking lot of the shrine! This year the two tone pinwheels at these two locations are yellow / white and pale purple / white. You can also find a couple of plain cream pinwheels in the mix too.
Hydrangea
The main hydrangea associated with Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine are on the road to the south, running alongside the courtyard of the Naoraidan and leading to the stone torii. As of May 30th 2023 they are currently not yet blooming. But the hydrangea on the west of the shrine are currently blooming. They are on the shrine’s grounds, but you can’t actually see them from inside the precincts due to the trees and the shrine’s buildings. You need to go out the stone torii, walk west and take the first right down the side of the shrine. As if you were walking down to Shingashi Bridge where the famous sakura are.
In addition, there are some hydrangea around the new Kaikan (like a wedding hall), which was only unveiled earlier this year. However, currently that garden can only be accessed by wedding guests. You can see a couple of the hydrangea from beside the large orange torii though. You will also find a bush here and there on the grounds and in the courtyard of Naoraidan!
2023 Information
Event: Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Pinwheels (& Hydrangea) 川越氷川神社風車・あじさい
Dates: Sunday May 28th to Friday June 30th 2023 (all things equal) ⚠There maybe times that the pinwheels are taken down due to extreme wind or weather alerts.
Hours: office hours of the shrine 9 am to 6 pm. In theory, the pinwheels are up 24 hours, but the precincts close at night. Before the pandemic the precincts were open until 9 pm and they even lit the pinwheels up at night.
Cost: in theory “free”, but it is customary and polite to, at the very least, leave a donation in the prayer box. Please note that since 2021 parking is no longer free at the shrine.
Venue: Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, 2-11-3 Miyashita Machi, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0052, Japan. View on Google Maps.
Access
Please note as of April 2021 there is no longer any official and / or free parking for Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Dai Ichi car park is now the new pinwheel display area! But Dai Ni parking lot is still there, but it is now a coin parking lot. It costs 100 yen for half an hour. By public transport you can get a bus relatively near. The CO-EDO loop bus (Tourist bus) stops near the shrine. You can also walk from either Hon-Kawagoe, Kawagoe or Kawagoeshi stations, but it takes about 25 / 30 minutes.