The umbrella sky in Gyoda is is one of the most beautiful umbrella skies in my personal opinion. I think its the row of flowers that line the path that make it. This event has no official website and the 2026 information is not yet mainstream so it is your chance to get a photo of the sky with no other people there! But, no doubt, social media will do its thing and within a few days, word will have got around. Moreover, this year there is also wind chimes and mist on the castle grounds. Since 2025 year they are calling it the “Floating Castle Path Umbrella Sky” (浮城の径にアンブレラスカイ).
Gyoda Umbrella Sky
I had heard they put some umbrellas up in 2021, but information was never published anywhere other than social media. In 2022, Gyoda city did put up a bit of information, but I didn’t actually see it until after I visited – and intensely searched the net! I had chanced a visit, keen to check out if the whispers of an umbrella sky in Gyoda were true, and was delighted to find they were! Now, I get the inside track early on. Until 2022 this was a July / August event, but since 2023 it is a June event. In 2026 it was late to start, in early July rather than mid June, but it is on until the end of September.
The umbrellas are displayed on a quaint walkway that leads from the east of Oshi Castle to the Gyoda City Hall. Flower pots line the pathway either side. In 2023 and 2022 one section of the umbrellas were in a heart shape. I am not sure, yet, if that section is up this year. But the main display is up and the umbrellas are different colors to the last five years. Moreover, this year, there is also wind chimes and mist at the castle:
Wind Chimes and Mist at Oshi Castle
At another part of the castle grounds, to the side of the castle, there are wind chimes up this year. There are also some clear balls in the mix. In addition, there is a sea of mist, pictured with the chimes, but the mist is only on weekends and public holidays, from 10 am to 4 pm, until the end of August.
★The hanachozu week and light up events, that the castle park is known for, take a break for summer. The next ones will be in October.
Information
Event: Gyoda Floating Castle Path Umbrella Sky 浮城の径にアンブレラスカイ・ 行田市アンブレラスカイ
Date: from early July to end of September 2026. The wind chimes and mist are until the end of August 2026.
Time: Daytime. The mist is from 10 am to 4 pm.
Cost: there is no admission fee
Venue: Oshi Castle, 忍城, 17-23 Honmaru, Gyoda, Saitama 361-0052. View on Google Maps.
Access
The Oshi Castle ruins are about a 15 minute walk from Gyodashi Station on the Chichibu Railway line. If you are using the JR Takasaki line you can get a bus from Gyoda station. Take a city loop bus from the station and get off at Oshi Castle Ruins. They announce the bus stop stop name in English too. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes from Gyoda station to the ruins on that bus.
If you come by car, there is free parking on the grounds. Sometimes the main parking lot can be very congested (it is very small), but there is also another parking lot which is usually less busy. The entrance to that is further west on route 128.
P2023.05
have you let mary poppins know?
I have her on speed dial…!! I need to catch up on your adventures – in the diary for tomorrow!