Chichibu Night Festival

The Chichibu Night Festival (秩父夜祭) is an annual festival held in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on December 2nd and 3rd. It is one of Japan’s three major float festivals, along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Takayama Festival in Gifu, and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The festival features six massive, ornately decorated floats that are paraded through the streets of Chichibu at night. There are two types of floats: two kasaboko (笠鉾) and four yatai (屋台). The floats, which weigh up to 20 tons each, are pulled by teams of men called hikiko (曳き子), dressed in traditional festival attire. The floats are illuminated by hundreds of lanterns and are accompanied by traditional music played on flutes, drums, and other instruments.

One of the highlights of the festival is when the floats make their way to the otabisho (お旅所). The “Dangozaka no Hikiage” (団子坂の曳き上げ), where teams of men pull the floats up the steep Dangozaka slope, is a particularly impressive sight. The festival also features the Yatai Kaikan (屋台会館), where visitors can view the floats up close and see the intricate carvings and decorations in detail.

In addition, the festival offers food stalls selling local specialties, as well as other traditional performances and activities. The night concludes with a winter fireworks display of approximately 7,000 fireworks.

The Chichibu Night Festival has a history that dates back over 300 years and is closely tied to the local Shinto religion. The festival is said to have originated as a way of warding off evil spirits and bringing good fortune to the town and its people.

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Getting there
Details

Getting there

By Train

From Tokyo:

Take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line Limited Express to Seibu-Chichibu Station
Journey time: About 90 minutes
Transfer to a local bus or walk to the festival area

By Bus

From Seibu-Chichibu Station:

Take a local bus to the festival area
Journey time: 5-10 minutes

By Foot

From Seibu-Chichibu Station:

20-minute walk to the festival area

Details

Night Festival	December 2nd to 3rd	Chichibu Shrine
Fire Works	December 2nd to 3rd	Hitsujiyama Park
Official Website	https://www.chichibu-matsuri.jp/en/