The shape of it
About
Kawagoe's biggest annual event, the UNESCO-listed Kawagoe Festival, fills the 'Little Edo' warehouse district with towering, ornately carved floats (dashi) pulled through the streets to live ohayashi music. The highlight is the hikkawase, where floats meet and their musicians face off to the cheers of the crowd.
Highlights
- Giant Edo-style floats (dashi) topped with figures, pulled through the old town
- Hikkawase float face-offs with duelling ohayashi musicians, lantern-lit at night
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage float festival with over 370 years of history
- Atmospheric 'Little Edo' streetscape of kurazukuri clay-walled warehouses
Plan it well
- Kawagoe is about 1 hour from central Tokyo on the Tobu Tojo Line (from Ikebukuro) or Seibu Shinjuku Line.
- Stay into the evening - the floats are illuminated and the hikkawase is most dramatic after dark.
- Expect very large crowds; wear comfortable shoes and follow the one-way pedestrian routes.
- Confirm the exact 2026 dates with the official site before booking travel.
Where it happens
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