[Kawagoe City] The charm of all 29 floats and over 370 years of tradition that you can experience at the Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan, where the Kawagoe Festival is eagerly awaited
I am a local creator, TOMO∞JYAMO.
Kawagoe comes alive every October; last year, in 2024, 19 floats participated and 738,000 people visited.
The 100th anniversary of the municipal organization in 2022 (Reiwa 4) saw even more excitement than usual.
I will introduce the "
Kawagoe City Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan", a facility where you can experience the Kawagoe Festival, which boasts over 370 years of tradition, whenever you visit.
Kawagoe Festival to be held on October 18 (Sat) and 19 (Sun), 2025
The Kawagoe Festival (Kawagoe Hikawa Festival float event) has its roots in the "Reitaisai" (Annual Festival) held by Hikawa Shrine on October 14, and consists of the "Shinkosai" (Procession) and "Float Events (Festival)" that take place immediately after.
It is a historic festival that has continued since the Edo period, and the entire town is wrapped in energy and excitement.
At the Kawagoe City Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the Kawagoe Festival all year round.
The entrance is filled with the atmosphere of the Kawagoe Festival, with festival music playing.
Kawagoe City Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan Admission Fee
For individuals, it is 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students; preschool children are free.
The common admission ticket for municipal tourist facilities (City Museum, Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten, City Art Museum, Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan) is 600 yen for adults (200 yen off) and 400 yen for high school and university students (150 yen off).
*You can also view it for free on November 14 (Saitama Citizen's Day), December 1 (Kawagoe Citizen's Day), and the following Sunday, December 7.
The happi coats catch your eye as soon as you enter.
You can freely wear a happi coat and take commemorative photos.
Please make use of this photo spot to feel the atmosphere of the Kawagoe Festival.
Stickers and other items perfect for souvenirs and gifts are also on sale
The postcards depicting the streets of Kawagoe and the floats were delicately drawn with a tasteful design.
A wide variety of keychains and stickers are also on sale.
The float pin badges are popular, so please be sure to buy one if you find them.
As you proceed, Ota Dokan welcomes you, and the atmosphere changes instantly.
It becomes an impressive space, and those who love architecture, history, and festivals will be especially excited.
Two authentic floats are on display (exhibition as of June 2025)
Two authentic floats pulled in the Kawagoe Festival are displayed while being rotated periodically.
In the exhibition hall, two videos are played periodically.
You can experience the atmosphere and history of the Kawagoe Festival through videos lasting 8.5 minutes and 1.5 minutes.
The interview date reflects the situation as of June 24, 2025.
On the left is the Matsue-cho 1-chome Ryujin FloatShoryukai Hayashi-ren
It was produced in 1951 and participated in the Kawagoe Festival for the first time the following year, 1952, for the 30th anniversary of the municipal organization.
It started as a four-wheeled cart with steering on the front wheels, a float-style structure without a doll.
In 1988, it was extensively renovated into a full-scale float with a double-tiered tower and a rotating stage, and it was unveiled at the Kawagoe Festival the following year, 1989.
A rare shape with two small Karahafu roofs in front of the transom is also a feature of this float.
It is a Ryujin (Dragon God) with striking red hair, and the mask worn by the doll is the "Kurohige" (Black Beard) from the Noh play "Kasuga Ryujin".
In 1998, it was designated as a Kawagoe City Designated Tangible Folk Cultural Property.
On the right is the Imanari Uzume FloatImanari Hayashi-ren
Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto is on board, and compared to other floats, it is slightly smaller.
The Imanari float has a four-wheeled, single-pillar, balustrade-attached structure.
It is said that the prototype was made during the Tenpo era, making it one of the oldest floats in Kawagoe, and it is designated as a Prefectural Designated Tangible Folk Cultural Property.
Currently, the Sankubo-cho Raiko Float and Minamidori-cho Nasori Float are on display.
They can be viewed until Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Hayashi (festival music) performances are held on Sundays and holidays at 13:30 and 14:30.
Please check the Hayashi performance schedule.
Happi coats that represent the colors of each town, creating a sense of unity for the festival
They have the role of identifying which town a person belongs to.
Matsue-cho 1-chome Ryujin FloatShoryukai Hayashi-ren wears blue-green happi coats.
Imanari Uzume FloatImanari Hayashi-ren wears yellow happi coats.
A float that was being created by a wealthy person in Imafuku
A float that was left unfinished was on display.
Up to this point, it took one year for design and two years for construction, using zelkova and cypress wood that had been naturally dried for over 10 years.
So far, it has cost approximately 36 million yen.
To complete this, it will cost over 130 million yen more.
A wealthy person in a neighborhood without a float began building one, but passed away while it was still under construction,
and it seems it was decided to display it at the Kawagoe Festival Museum.
A total of 29 floats
Every year, 15 to 20 floats participate in the Kawagoe Festival in rotation, and all 29 floats participated for the 100th anniversary.
On average, they are about 8 meters tall and weigh 3 to 4 tons, and are moved by a large number of people using two 40-meter pulling ropes.
Floats are referred to by the name of the doll on them.
This year, 2025, 16 floatswill participate.
The biggest highlight of the Kawagoe Festival is
"Hikkawase"
Several floats facing each other perform a musical competition with festival music (flutes, drums, gongs, and dancing). There is no winner or loser; it is a greeting between the deities on the floats and between the neighborhoods.
The festival participants raise their lanterns high and cheer.
The "Hikkawase" at night, in particular, is at its peak and is full of power.
The Kawagoe Festival is the time when Kawagoe shows the most excitement.
In February 2005, the Kawagoe Festival was designated as a
valuable urban festival that conveys the style and elegance of the Edo period's Tenka Matsuri (Great Festival),
and the "Kawagoe Hikawa Festival Float Event" became aNationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Also, in November 2016, it was
registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan".
Under the protection of the Hikawa deity, the people of Kawagoe, who supported the prosperity of the castle town,
have proudly protected the Kawagoe Festival for over 370 years, backed by their economic power, and have developed it while adding Kawagoe's unique characteristics.
Exhibits of historical materials and past posters of the Kawagoe Festival
The collection of past posters is a masterpiece.
At the "Kawagoe City Kawagoe Festival Museum", you can also experience the history of the Kawagoe Festival to date and immersive projection mapping videos.
The lanterns at the entrance also evoke a sense of history.
There is only a little time left until the "Kawagoe Festival," where festival lovers full of Edo-style human kindness gather.
Kawagoe Festival Related Schedule
10/18 (Sat) 13:00- Hikawa Shrine Shinko-sai *Shotate-no-gi: 12:45
10/19 (Sun) 14:30-16:30 Hikawa Shrine Main Hall Special Viewing
*The Kawagoe Festival is held between 10/18 (Sat) and 10/19 (Sun) from 10:00 to 22:00.
The 2025 Kawagoe Festival pamphlet can be downloaded from here. Also, it seems a Kawagoe Festival photo contest is being held, so if you are interested, please take a look
here.
Why not take a look at the pamphlet, check the highlight times, and plan your own "Kawagoe Festival" to fully enjoy the history and food of Kawagoe?
I plan to go with my family from the evening of 10/19 (Sun).
The 2025 Kawagoe Festival pamphlet can be downloaded from here. Also, it seems a Kawagoe Festival photo contest is being held, so if you are interested, please take a look
here.
Why not take a look at the pamphlet, check the highlight times, and plan your own "Kawagoe Festival" to fully enjoy the history and food of Kawagoe?
I plan to go with my family from the evening of 10/19 (Sun).
*It would be encouraging if you could follow me from my profile.
Thank you for reading until the end.
■Kawagoe City Kawagoe Festival Museum
■2-1-10 Motomachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture 350-0062 (Google Maps link) ■TEL: 049-225-2727 ■Business hours: 9:30-17:00 ■Closed: 2nd and 4th Wednesday, year-end and New Year holidays ■Payment methods: Cash, electronic payment, credit card ■
Official Website
■Access: Located right in front of the "Kura no Machi" stop on the Koedo Loop Bus. 1-minute walk from "Fudanotsuji" stop on the Tobu Bus West bound for Shinmeicho. 15-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line.