Fly to Saitama [Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture] 2023 Chichibu Night Festival ~ Japan's three major Hikiyama festivals that have continued for over 300 years ~ Information summary

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The Chichibu Night Festival, held in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, is counted as one of Japan's three major Hikiyama Festivals, along with Kyoto's Gion Festival and Hida's Takayama Festival, and is designated as a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. In 2016, it wa...

Latest update : 2023.11.29

Table of Contents
What is Chichibu Night Festival?
Origin of night festival
12/2 About Yoimiya
12/3 About Honmatsuri
Chichibu Night Festival Fireworks Festival Program
Railways operate on special schedules

What is Chichibu Night Festival?

December 1, 2016 33 “Mountain, Hoko, and Yatai Festivals” including the “Chichibu Night Festival” were registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Chichibu City's December specialty, Chichibu Shrine's annual festival ``Chichibu Night Festival'' is counted as one of Japan's three major Hikiyama festivals, along with Kyoto Gion Festival and Hida Takayama Festival. There is a record that the festival existed during the Kanbun era (1661-72) of the Edo period, and has a history of over 350 years.

During the Edo period, the Chichibu Silk Market was established along with the festival, and it is said to have greatly enriched Chichibu's economy, and is also called the Silkworm Festival. Time has changed, and the silk market no longer stands, but it remains the same as the yearly settlement for the people living in Chichibu. It has been affectionately known as ``Yomatsuri'' and ``Myoken-sama.''

Two float floats and four float floats (National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties) are dragged through the town to the beat of the heroic float music.

The local play (Chichibu Kabuki) with a stage specially set up on both sides of the stall, and the Hiki-odori by the local Hanayagi clan and Kineya clan, are nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultures as ``Chichibu Festival float events and kagura'' along with Chichibu Shrine Kagura. It has become a treasure.

It will be similar to the eve of the festival, which will enliven the actual festival. The floats will be pulled from the morning, the floats will be pulled as a part of the evening festival, and the fireworks display will end around 8 p.m. Four floats will be pulled through the city.

Also, many fireworks such as star mines are set off.

Chichibu Tourism Association. “Chichibu Night Festival (Yomiya, Main Festival)”. Buratto Chichibu-Chichibu Tourism Association-. http://www.chichibuji.gr.jp/event/yomatsuri/, (Reference 2023-11-24)

Origin of night festival

There are some heartwarming myths that are still told in the local community. It says that Myoken Bosatsu, who is enshrined at Chichibu Shrine, is a goddess, and the deity who lives on Mt. Buko is a male deity, and they have mutual love for each other. Unfortunately, however, Bukōsan's legal wife is actually Suwa-sama, who lives in a nearby town, so the two of them cannot meet every night, and they barely manage to get Suwa-sama's permission on the night of the festival. , they meet once a year.

Chichibu Shrine. “Chichibu Night Festival”. Chichibu Shrine, the general guardian of Chichibu Province., https://www.chichibu-jinja.or.jp/yomatsuri/, (Referenced 2023-11-24)

12/2 About Yoimiya

*Meaning of ``evening''... ``The time when the sun has just set.Also, the time when night has fallen and you haven't yet indulged.''

Chichibu Night Festival Dashi Pulling Experience (December 2, 2023 only) Deadline: November 29 Multilingual guide included♪

Saitama

Chichibu / Nagatoro

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12/3 About Honmatsuri

The floats are pulled from the morning, and six floats are assembled. The peak of the festival is from after 7:00 p.m., when the Shinto procession and festival floats from each neighborhood depart from Chichibu Shrine, until around 10:00 p.m., when they arrive at the travel center.

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Chichibu Night Festival Fireworks Festival Program

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Railways operate on special schedules

Seibu Railway

Chichibu Railway

Written by

Ryokan Hiyoshi

Saitama

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