KAWAGOE FESTIVAL

SAT • 19 OCT
COST BY AGE GROUP:
$30 (4 & Up)
$30 (3 & Under if a seat is needed)

ITINERARY:
Depart 1 p.m.
Kawagoe 2–8:30 p.m.
Return 10 p.m.

The tour cost includes bus transportation. It is not recommended to bring small children, as the festival will be very crowded. There will be about a 20-minute walk from the bus to the festival area. Spectacular festival floats, adorned with crafted dolls and traditional Japanese festival decorations, are paraded through the center of Kawagoe’s Kurazukuri Area, known for its traditional “old Japan” architecture. Spectators will be amazed by the sheer scale of the many festival floats as they pass by one another. The Kawagoe Festival’s biggest highlight is the “Hikkawase,” when the floats meet at an intersection, face each other, and compete with traditional Japanese music featuring flutes, drums, and hand bells. Though the competition has no winner, the exchange of festival music and the wildly moving lanterns is truly fantastic. This festival is designated as a National Folk Cultural Property under the title of “Kawagoe Hikkawase Festival Float Event.”