Yabusame is the military art of discharging an arrow at a target while riding on a running horse. Each year in both Autumn and Spring Moroyama town celebrates this ancient military art form. However, in 2020 the Autumn Yabusame was cancelled on account of the Coronavirus. Moroyama is the onlyRead More →
Inomata Hundred Light festival, or Inomata 108 lights, is one of 312 Important Intangible Folk Properties of Japan. It is held annually on the 15th of August in the Inomata area of Misato in the Kodama District of Saitama. It is the bon ceremony of the town with an approximateRead More →
On April 27th 2020, months ahead of its scheduled date, the Nagatoro Tourist Assocation announced the cancellation of the 2020 Nagatoro Fundama Festival. Like the majority of events cancelled in 2020 it was due to concerns about the Coronavirus outbreak. It is too early to tell (September 2020) if theRead More →
The Misato “Big Bon” dance festival is held annually on August 11th, a public holiday for mountain day. It takes place in Niodori Park in Misato City, near Misato Chuo Station on the Tsukuba Express line. The dance festival starts at 4 pm and ends around 8.30 pm. However, inRead More →
Menuma Festival Kumagaya City Saitama Japan 2021 – This child friendly festival is held at the Menuma Sports Park on the first Saturday of August annually. It attracts about 10,000 spectators. Menuma Festival On April 8th 2020 it was announced that the festival would be cancelled for 2020 on accountRead More →
The Tanabata Festival (Star Festival) is held from August 4th to August 7th annually in Hikawa Shrine Kawagoe. They have a Wind Chime event simultaneously. This year, 2020, on account of the Coronavirus they are not opening the religious services to the public, just priests, but they will have theRead More →
The Nakasendo matsuri is just one of many festivals that is normally held in Omiya at the end of July and start of August each summer. They are collectively called “Omiya Summer Festival”. Unfortunately, but understandably, they were all cancelled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Official notification ofRead More →
Spark Carnival – The 33rd annual spark carnival, one of a collective of Omiya Summer Festivals, was due to be held on August 1st 2020. However, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the carnival was cancelled along with dozens of other festivals in Saitama City. The carnival is generally held onRead More →
Omiya Summer Festival at the west gate of the station is held annually on the 31st of July. However, due to the Coronavirus outbreak the event was not held in 2020. Omiya Summer Festival West Gate This fun and lively summer festival is ideal for kids as it has aRead More →
Inohana Amazake Festival or Inohana Sweet Sake Festival is one of those “only in Japan” type of festivals. And even within that category it is one of the more unusual ones. Near naked men, donning only a lion cloth, throw sake at each other. It is held on the fourthRead More →