Saikasai – Asaka City Summer Festival. This festival is on the first Sunday of August and the preceding Saturday and Friday annually. The festival was on in 2022 too, but they didn’t have the popular firework display to avoid crowding. But, thankfully, the fireworks are back in 2023. However, theyRead More →
Each year in July Fukaya have two festivals: the Tanabata Festival in early July and the Fukaya Festival at the end of July. There is also a smaller festival, near Okabe station, “Fureai Carnival” in the middle of July. The Fukaya Festival is held on the last Saturday of JulyRead More →
The Candy Doctor Festival is a fun translation of Chichibu’s “Ameyakushi” festival. Ameyakushi can mean candy doctor. But its actually not that far fetched a translation, because the festival does have its roots both in candy and a doctor, kind of!… Ameyakushi “Candy Doctor” Festival The Ame is actually forRead More →
Ose Shishimai, or The Lion Dance of Ose, is on in 2023 in Yashio City for the first time in four years. The festival is also sometimes called “Doronko Shishimai”, or muddy lion, because it frequently rains on the days of this small, local religious festival! The Lion Dance ofRead More →
For the first time in four years, the vibrant Spark Carnival is scheduled for August 2023. Spark Carnival The Spark Carnival combines pulsating samba with a traditional type of Japanese summer festival, where portable shrines are carried through the town. It is on August 1st annually, regardless of what dayRead More →
The Nagatoro Funadama festival will be on this August (2023), all things equal, for the first time in four years. It is one of the most breathtaking summer scenes in Saitama. If you missed the spectacular Yorii Tamayodo Suitengu festival, this is another chance to see stunning festival boats withRead 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. Furthermore, it is the unique bon ceremony of the town withRead More →
Information for the 2023 Honjo Gion Festival. ４年ぶりに本庄祇園祭りが開催されます。 Honjo Gion Festival The Honjo Gion Festival is held annually on the Saturday and Sunday that precede “Marine Day”, a national holiday in mid July. However, the festival was cancelled between 2020 and 2022, so this will be the first time inRead More →
Information for this “Only in Japan Saitama” one of a kind “mud” festival. Hirakata no Doroinkyo 平方のどろいんきょ Mud Festival The Hirakata no Doroinkyo or Hirakata Mud Festival is not only an “Only in Japan” festival, it is an “Only one of its kind” festival. Due to the uniqueness, illustriousness andRead More →
Information for the annual Konosu Summer Festival, which was cancelled three years in a row due to the pandemic. Konosu City have scheduled it for 2023 for the first time in four years. Konosu Summer Festival A festival with more than a hundred years of history on one of Japan’sRead More →