Each year, the last festival of Saitama City’s ‘summer’ festivals is the Kita Urawa Awa Odori. However, it always falls in Autumn! It is usually on a Saturday in September. But it was cancelled during the pandemic.
Kita Urawa Awa Odori
Each year, Saitama City has dozens of festivals known collectively as the Saitama City Summer festivals. The festivals are further categorized in to regions. As such, Kita Urawa Awa Odori is one of the Urawa Festivals. It is the last of not just the Urawa festivals, but of all summer festivals in Saitama City in 2023. Before the pandemic this festival was actually on the first Saturday of September, but in 2023 it will be on the last Saturday: the 30th.
Apart from dance performances parading the streets, there is usually attractions for kids. For example, in previous years they could dress up in fire fighting outfits and / or meet mascots. There are usually musical performances too. Before the pandemic, the awa odori and children’s portable shrine generally started around 5 pm. However, in 2023 the festival is finishing at 5 pm!
They festival usually goes ahead if there is light rain, but there maybe changes to the schedule or even cancellation if there is heavy rain, a typhoon or other unforeseen circumstances.
The featured image (at the top of the post) is from the Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau (STIB).
Information
Event: Kita Urawa Awa Odori 北浦和阿波おどり
Date: Saturday September 30th 2023
Time: from 2 pm to 5 pm
Cost: there is no admission fee
Venue: Happy Road Shopping Street, 〒330-0074 Saitama, Urawa Ward, Kitaurawa, 4 Chome−9−1 ネスト北浦和ステーションフロント. View on Google Maps.
Access
The festival is held on Happy Road Shopping Street, from the West exit of Kita Urawa station, on the Musashino line, up to the Kita Urawa branch of Aeon. The street is pedestrianized for the festival. There is no official parking for the festival and it is advised that you come on foot, by bike or by train.
For more seasonal and weekend events in Saitama, please see the main events category.
the dancers appear to be floating….