Miyoshi Festival and fireworks – I haven’t been in many years, but for a number of years in a row we attended this local festival in Miyoshi town beside Tokorozawa. The featured photo at the top of the post was taken on my last visit to the festival, in 2007! One of the reasons I liked this particular ‘summer’ festival is because it is in September when the evening temperatures have dropped enough to make a difference. It is still hot when the sun drops, but not uncomfortably hot like at the end of July and early August. I also like that it has a more local feel and isn’t as crowded as some of the other summer festivals.
Miyoshi Festival
This year, for the first time, the festival will be on the end of September, not the start of the September like in previous years. Presumably, because nowadays even the start of September can be very hot. The festival is held around the area of Miyoshi sports park and the town hall. There are a number of festival stalls, some with food / drink others with festival games. Dozens participate in the traditional ‘Waodori” dance, where you dance in a circle, moving around the podium. Some dancers are part of a dancing group, but many spectators join in and it is fun to both watch and participate.
They usually have an international element to the festival as well, including some performances. In 2024 they brought back the international element for the first time in five years. They also have taiko drum performances, hayashi (traditional festival music), and traditional dance as aforementioned.
Miyoshi Fireworks
For the finale, they launch about 2,000 fireworks. I think that, while the festival is quite local and small, it attracts people from surrounding cities and towns too, because it is a nice way / place to say sayonara to summer! Also, after this festival, fireworks are less frequent for the rest of the year. But don’t worry: there are a few scheduled for October, including the world record fireworks in Konosu!
Information
Event: Miyoshi Festival 2026 第33回みよしまつり
Date: Saturday September 26th 2026. It will be postponed until Sunday September 27th if there is bad weather on the 26th.
Time: 3 pm to 8.30 pm
Cost: there is no admission fee, bring some yen to enjoy the festival food and games!
Venue: Miyoshi machi undo park (Miyoshi Sports / Exercise Park) and around the area of the Miyoshi Town Hall, 1118-1, Fujikubo, Miyoshi, Iruma District, Saitama 354-0041. View on Google Maps.
Access Miyoshi Festival
The park is quite far from the nearest stations. Mizuhodai and Tsuruse stations on the Tobu Tojo line are both about a 30 to 35 minute walk away. But they request that you avoid coming by car, as parking is extremely limited, and come by public transport.
Miyoshi is home to the very excellent Santome:
Within Santome there is also an Environmental and Educational Plant tour and an Environmental School and Storyteller Museum.