What it is
The Kawagoe Matsuri is the festival of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, in a castle town just northwest of Tokyo that once supplied the capital Edo. Its preserved warehouse district earned it the nickname “Little Edo”.
Over a weekend in October, more than ten tall floats, each topped with a figure from legend or history, are pulled through the old streets. When two floats meet at a crossroads, they turn to face each other and hold a hikkawase, a musical battle of drums, flutes and masked dancers, cheered on by the crowd.
The festival at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Floats in the streets: More than ten of the town's floats are pulled through the old town |
| Evenings | Hikkawase: Floats meet at crossroads and compete with music and dance |
Which day should you go?
Saturday evening
Watch the lantern-lit floats meet in the old town for the hikkawase battles.
Sunday
See the floats against the black-plastered warehouses of the Kurazukuri street.
What to look for
The dashi
Two-tier floats topped with figures of heroes and gods. The upper part can rotate to face another float.
Hikkawase
When floats meet, their musicians and masked dancers try to outplay each other.
Little Edo
Kawagoe's streets of clay-walled warehouses date from the 19th century.
Getting there & where to stay
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ikebukuro | Tōbu Tōjō Line to Kawagoe | about 30 min |
| Shinjuku | Seibu Shinjuku Line to Hon-Kawagoe | about 45 min |
On the day. The floats move through the old warehouse district, about 20 minutes on foot north of Kawagoe Station. The face-offs (hikkawase) happen in the evening.
Crowds. Close to a million people come over two days. The old streets get very crowded after dark.
Where to stay
Day trip from Tokyo
Kawagoe is close enough for a day trip, even for the evening face-offs.
Ikebukuro
Direct trains to Kawagoe and many hotels.
When to book. Book Tokyo hotels 1 month ahead.
Times are typical fastest routes. Check current timetables before you travel.
Practical tips
- Day trip. Easy from Tokyo. Go early to explore the old town before the crowds.
- Dates. Held on the third Sunday of October and the Saturday before it.
Glossary
Dashi山車
A general word for a festival float that is pulled through the streets.
Matsuri祭り
A Japanese festival, usually held for the kami of a local shrine. The word comes from the idea of serving and entertaining the gods.
References
- Kawagoe Matsuri, official website: history, https://www.kawagoematsuri.jp/about/about_history.html
- UNESCO: “Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan” (2016).
Last checked 2026-10-12.