5 UNESCO World Heritage Registered Festivals near Tokyo!
Why experience UNESCO World Heritage Festivals near Tokyo?
Japan’s festival culture is an extraordinary blend of tradition, artistry, and community spirit.
Near Tokyo, you’ll find five UNESCO World Heritage-registered festivals, including the Kawagoe Festival, Chichibu Night Festival, Yamaage Festival, Kanuma Autumn Festival, and Hitachi Sakura Festival. These vibrant celebrations offer an unforgettable glimpse into Japan’s cultural heritage, featuring ornate floats, lively performances, and centuries-old traditions.
Discover more about these must-see festivals below—or explore our Culture & History experiences page for even more inspiration!
1 ) Kawagoe Festival
🔥Battle of the Floats!
Feel the True Japanese 🎉 Festival Spirit in a Historical District
Come join us at one of the liveliest 🎉 festivals in Japan this fall!
Known for its thrilling 🔥“competition” of massive floats, the Kawagoe Festival is held on the third Sunday of October and the day before (Saturday) this year. The bustling festival reaches its climax when the ✨magnificent floats 👏🏻challenge each other along with traditional festival 🎶music performance. The splendid floats, epic performances, and the ✨lively celebration will surely be a 📷memorable Japanese festival experience!
The area is also known as “Koedo (Little 👘Edo)” because of its traditional architecture, adding a unique vibe to this 370-year-old festival!
All you need to know about Kawagoe Festival
Festival Dates
Held for two days on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October.
Cost
Free
Nearest Station
Tobu & JR Lines: Kawagoe station
Seibu Ikebukuro Line: Hon-Kawagoe Station
How to get there
10-20 min walk from the stations.
Contact
Tel: +81 (0)49-222-5556
What else to do in Kawagoe ?
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
2 ) Chichibu Night Festival
✨A Night to Remember!
Witness Dazzling 🎆Fireworks at a Colorful 🏮Night Festival!
Praised as one of the ✨top three float festivals in Japan, the Chichibu Night Festival is perfect for your winter experience in Japan! This 300-year-old 🎉festival is held every year on the 2nd and 3rd of December.
The exquisitely carved floats, charming paper 🏮lanterns, and the stunning 🎆fireworks bring vivid colors to the winter night full of 🍡festivities. Watch out for the Kabuki performances staged on the floats!
The highlight is the evening of the 3rd, when the floats are pulled all the way up on the Dangozaka hill — a cue for the 🎆fireworks to start!
All you need to know about Chichibu Night Festival
Festival Dates
Cost
Free
Nearest Station
JR Line: Chichibu station
Seibu Chichibu Line: Seibu-Chichibu Station
How to get there
3-10 min walk from the stations.
Contact
What else to do in Chichibu Area?
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
3 ) Yamaage Festival
👹👸🏻Come Watch Dynamic Kabuki on a Stunning Outdoor Stage!🎨🎋
🎎This outdoor kabuki spectacle, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Event, is worth a special trip!
Watch as the people of Karasuyama construct a beautiful outdoor stage of 🎋bamboo and washi (traditional paper) and perform ancient legends! 🏯This festival is over 450 years old and is said to have started when the lord of Karasuyama castle wanted to ward off a terrible disease.
Join us in watching these legends of daring escapes and intrigue and be awed by the majesty of the backdrops, which are broken down and moved several times throughout each day.
All you need to know about the Yamaage Festival
Festival Dates
Usually held on the fourth weekend of July every year
Cost
Free
Nearest Station
JR Line: Karasuyama station
How to get there
5-10 min walk from the station.
Contact
Tel: +81 (0)287-84-1977
Places of Interest
Shimazaki Sake Brewery
What else to do in Nasu-Karasuyama?
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
4 ) Kanuma Autumn Festival
👀Come Watch the 💥💥Clash of the Taiko Drums on Hand Carved Wooden Floats!
🎌A UNESCO Intangible Folk Cultural Asset!🎌
This two-day festival celebrates peace and a good harvest while still having reverence for the difficulties of the past. 🏯 Along with the usual mikoshi (portable shrines) Yatai, or hand-carved elaborate wooden floats parade through the streets, but watch out!
🎶The taiko (Japanese drum) musicians riding on each float battle their drums against each other as they pass, sending your heart rate sky-high as the drums 💥thunder around you! Once night falls, these battles are illuminated against a stunning backdrop of fireworks, making a scene straight out of a postcard. This is an amazing and unique festival not to be missed!
All you need to know about the Kanuma Autumn Festival
Festival Dates
Usually held on a weekend in early October every year
Cost
Free
Nearest Station
JR Line: Kanuma station
Tobu Line: Shin-Kanuma station
How to get there
10-15 min walk from the stations. (Located inbetween JR and Tobu Stations)
Contact
Tel: +81 (0)289-63-2188
Places of Interest
Silk Travel
What else to do in Kanuma City?
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
5 ) Hitachi Sakura Festival
🌸🎎🌸Come enjoy the cultural treasures of Hitachi among the Sakura!!🌸🎎🌸
🏮🎎🏮🎎A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Treasure!🎌 Watch the incredible five layer stage fold out atop the floats, bringing heroic battles to life before your eyes!✨
At over 15 meters tall, the giant floats tower above you in an incredible display!👏 The music will transport you as they show comedic folktales through music and puppetry, as the 🌸Sakura🌸 creates a magical pink curtain around you. 🎭With shows in the front and back, there’s no way to miss the exciting performances!🎭
This is an incredible Japanese cultural experience absolutely not to be missed!🏮🎎🏮🎎
Festival Dates
Usually held on the 1st weekend of April
Cost
Free
Nearest Station
JR Line: Hitachi station
How to get there
1 min walk from Hitachi station. (It’s held on the main street in front of the station)
Contact
This information was correct at the time of publishing, but please check with the attractions and/or the tourist board before traveling.
5 UNESCO World Heritage Registered Festivals near Tokyo
Looking for more Japanese Culture and History near Tokyo?
Discover all the Japanese Culture and History Experiences near Tokyo here.
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