Kawagoe Festival Museum

The Kawagoe Festival 川越祭り is considered one of the finest city festivals in Japan. It takes place on the 3^rd Saturday and Sunday of October, and the highlight is a parade of spectacular floats with live musicians performing. The wheeled floats have two stories, and are elaborately decorated in red and black lacquer and gold.

They are draped with gorgeous fabric and topped with a doll on a platform that can be raised and lowered like an elevator. This unusual feature is a relic from when the dolls needed to be lowered to make it through the castle gates. The festival began in 1648 and has been enjoyed ever since.

Kawagoe Festival Museum Building

If you are unable to attend the festival itself, swing by the Kawagoe Festival Museum 川越まつり会館. Two of the floats are displayed behind glass, and there are many other artifacts and videos related to the festival. It is an interesting addition to a visit to the town. There is a six minute movie about the festival as well shown on a large screen that is well produced and is shown every twenty minutes.

Kawagoe Festival Museum

On Sundays and many holidays at 1:30 and 2:30 various Festival teams and performers give a 20 minute demonstration. Performers cycle weekly and more information can be found at http://kawagoematsuri.jp/matsurimuseum/schedule.html

Kawagoe Festival Museum Live Show

Admission is 300 yen for adults or 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students.

The museum is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm from October through March, or until 6:30 pm from April through September. It is closed the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of each month, or the following day if the Wednesday is a national holiday. It is also closed December 29 through January 1.

Kawagoe Festival Float at the Museum

The Kawagoe Festival Museum website is in Japanese: http://kawagoematsuri.jp/matsurimuseum/

 

It is located in the Kurazukuri Storehouse District almost directly across from the Toki no Kane Bell Tower in Kawagoe City.

Address: 2-1-10 Motomachi, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture 350-0062

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