Otawara Yatai Festival (Otawara City)
Ornate golden floats and rhythmic "Buttsuke" drum battles.
DATE
TIME & SCHEDULE
18th April (Yoimatsuri)
7:00pm – All nine ornate floats gather at the Kanatouro Intersection.
7:40pm – Climax: The grand "Buttsuke" musical battle begins as floats compete with rhythmic drumming.
19th (Honmatsuri)
10:00am – Floats depart from the Otawara Shrine area.
11:00am – Introduction of floats and traditional Hayashi music at the main stage.
11:45am – Official festival ceremony at the Kanatouro Intersection.
12:30pm – Yatai display and lunch break at various points in the festival area.
2:00pm – Floats begin the afternoon parade and free movement.
2:15pm – Three-float "Buttsuke" battles take place simultaneously at three different locations.
6:00pm – Final gathering of all floats at the Kanatouro Intersection.
6:40pm – Grand Finale: The final nine-town "Buttsuke" drum battle reaches its peak.
7:30pm – Closing ceremony and official festival conclusion
COST
Free
How to enjoy the Otawara Yatai Festival
Experience Traditional Japan
Exciting atmosphere
Japanese Festival Music
Take many photos
Fun for the family
Fun for a group of friends
Enjoy 2–4 hours
🥁 Witness the thunderous 👹 Buttsuke golden float battle! 🏮
✨ Step into a 400-year-old tradition where history comes alive! 🏮
Originating as a sacred offering to Otawara Shrine, this festival features nine magnificent, hand-carved floats adorned with ⚜️ gold-leaf dragons and 🐲 mythical legends.
The energy is electric as these massive stages move through the streets, but the real magic happens at night!
Watch in awe during the “Buttsuke”, a fierce musical duel where teams gather to clash with 🥁 rhythmic drumming and soaring flutes to see who can maintain their beat! 🎶
With 🍡 delicious street food stalls, vibrant Tekomai dancers, and a local community brimming with pride, it’s the ultimate way to feel the true 👹 spirit of a Japanese town festival!
What else to do near the Otawara Yatai Festival
- Food / Drink
- Festival Street Food
- Local Bakeries and Cafe
- Otawara Specialties (local asparagus)
- Culture
- Visit Otawara Shrine (by foot)
- Visit beautiful Unganji Shrine and Nasu Jinja Shrine (by car)
- Visit Nasu Yoichi Denshokan (a museum dedicated to the legendary samurai archer Nasu no Yoichi, located just a short trip from the city center)
- Activity
- Enjoy a farm stay experience
- Stargazing
- Visit nearby hot springs such as Shiobara Onsen and Nasu Onsen
shiobara viva
Ride Experience
Shimazaki Sake Brewery
Nasu Animal Kingdom
Popular areas such as, “Asia Forest”, “Tropical Forest”, “Aqua Stage” and “Sky Stadium” are great for both children and adults.
Farm Stay
Otawara city is famous as a farm stay destination and has many places to stay or experience countryside activitiess .
Camp Sites
There are quite a few camping and glamping sites in the area.
Hotel (Onsen Ryokan style)
There are not many Onsen hotels (Onsen Ryokan) in Otawara City, so it is best to stay in Nasu-Shiobara City, Nasu Town, or Utsunomiya City, which has great hot springs (onsen).
Hotel (Western style)
There are not many Western-style hotels in the area, so it is best to stay in Nasu-Shiobara City, Nasu Town, or Utsunomiya City if you are looking for a Western-style hotel.
Nearby Accommodations
Akasawa Onsen Ryokan
Sansuikaku (Ryokan)
Iizukatei Hotel
Nasu Village
Check out Nasu Village in the Nasu forest. There are 20 cottages suitable for couples, friends & families or larger groups. All houses come with free Wi-Fi, a BBQ space and cooking equipment. Read more to find out more.
Access
(How to get to the Otawara Yatai Festival in Otawara City)
How to get there
Public Transport
20 min by Bus or 10min by Taxi from JR Nishi-Nasuno Station (1hr 30min from Tokyo) or JR Nasu-Shiobara Station (1hr 10min from Tokyo).
Car
15–20 minutes from Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC (2-hour drive from Tokyo).
Location & Address
Address
Kanatouro Intersection (金燈籠交差点)
Kanatouro Intersection, Yamanote 1-chome, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture 324-0051, Japan
〒324-0051 栃木県大田原市山の手1丁目 金燈籠交差点
Access from Tokyo
By Public Transport
Via JR Nasu-Shiobara Station (Total from Tokyo 1.5-2 hours)
Take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo to JR Nasu-Shiobara Station (70min). From Nasu-Shiobara Station, take a taxi (15 min) or bus (25 min).
*This is the easiest route.
Via JR Nishi-Nasuno Station (Total from Tokyo 1.5-2 hours)
Take the Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo to JR Nasu-Shiobara Station. At Nasu-Shiobara Station, change to the JR Utsunomiya Line and get off the train at JR Nishi-Nasuno Station (first stop 5min). From Nishi-Nasuno Station, take a taxi (15 min) or bus (25 min).
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
By Car
Via Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC on Tohoku Expressway (2-2.5hrs)
From Tokyo, it takes approximately 2-2.5 hours (120 km) via the Tohoku Expressway. Get off at Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC, and drive15-20 min.
Parking: Follow signs for parking (We recommend public transport if not used to driving in Japan)
We recommend using a travel app like Google Maps or Japan Transit Planner to find train times.
Contact Details (Event Organizer)
Official event page (External Link – Japanese)
Official city event page (External Link – Japanese)
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