Three Great Festivals of Kanto: Ishioka, Sawara, and Kawagoe Complete Guide

Information verified: August 28, 2026. In the Kanto region, centered mainly around autumn, traditional festivals featuring magnificent floats parading through town streets are held across the region. Among them, the “Three Great Festivals of Kanto”—Ishioka Festival (Ibaraki), the Sawara Grand Festival (Chiba), and the Kawagoe Festival (Saitama)—are widely regarded as the finest surviving examples of Edo-period festival culture, drawing visitors from Japan and abroad. Dates are broadly consistent year to year, but please check each official website for the latest information before you travel.

Ishioka Festival — Floats and Lion-Head Floats Fill the Streets

Officially the Hitachi-no-kuni Sosha-gu Grand Festival, this event brings over 40 elaborate floats and “horojishi” (canopied lion-head floats) through the streets of Ishioka City. It is counted among the Three Great Festivals of Kanto and traces its roots to the Edo period. Held over three days ending on Respect for the Aged Day, the entire city center becomes a stage for competing neighborhood floats and festival music.

Highlights include the grand procession of over 2,000 people accompanying the sacred palanquin (mikoshi) on day one, and the spectacular parade of floats on the evening of day two. After dark, lantern-lit floats and lion-head floats gather at intersections for lively musical face-offs — a scene not to be missed. Each year a different neighborhood serves as the lead organizer, giving the whole community a shared sense of pride and excitement.

Sawara Grand Festival (Autumn) — Elegant Floats Along a Historic Canal Town

Held in Sawara, a merchant town once so prosperous it was called “finer than Edo,” this float festival is dedicated to Suwa Shrine. It takes place twice a year — a summer festival in July (Yasaka Shrine) and an autumn festival in October (Suwa Shrine) — and is registered as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage “Yama, Hoko, Yatai” float festivals. In the autumn festival, 14 floats are paraded mainly through the Shinjuku district, their beauty enhanced by the historic townscape along the Ono River.

The highlight is the “no-no-ji mawashi,” an elegant technique for turning the heavy floats in a figure resembling the character “no.” Floats crowned with magnificent dolls move gracefully past the traditional warehouse-style buildings (“kura”) lining the Ono River, creating scenery reminiscent of an old picture scroll. Special limited express trains and highway buses run during the festival, making it an easy day trip from Tokyo.

Kawagoe Festival — Gorgeous Floats Through “Little Edo”

Held alongside the annual grand festival of Hikawa Shrine in Kawagoe, known as “Little Edo,” this float event traces its origins to 1648, when the local feudal lord Matsudaira Nobutsuna encouraged the festival — a tradition now spanning more than 370 years. Also registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, it features 29 lavishly decorated floats parading through the historic “Kurazukuri” warehouse district, widely considered the most spectacular of the Three Great Festivals of Kanto.

The biggest highlight is “hikkawase,” in which passing floats turn to face each other and their musicians compete in a lively musical duel — the true climax of the festival. Each float has a two-tiered structure with an elevator-like mechanism that lowers the upper doll when passing under power lines, a mechanical spectacle worth watching for. Enjoy the intricate carvings and dolls by daylight, then return after dark to see the floats glow beautifully under lantern light.

Tips for Enjoying the Three Great Festivals of Kanto

Because Ishioka (September), Sawara (mid-October), and Kawagoe (mid-October) fall on different dates, careful planning can let you visit more than one within the same autumn season. All three impose major traffic restrictions around the nearest station during the festival, so if driving, check in advance for temporary parking areas and shuttle bus information.

Since float schedules vary in detail by neighborhood, checking the official website or a digital map beforehand for the float you want to see will make your visit much smoother. Evenings can turn cool, so it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket.

FAQ

Which festivals make up the “Three Great Festivals of Kanto”?

The term generally refers to the Ishioka Festival in Ishioka City, Ibaraki; the Sawara Grand Festival in Katori City, Chiba; and the Kawagoe Festival in Kawagoe City, Saitama. All three feature magnificent floats parading through town.

Do these festivals go ahead in the rain?

All three generally proceed as scheduled in light rain, though the floats’ dolls may be covered with plastic sheeting and some elements adjusted. In severe weather, events may be shortened or cancelled, so check each official website for the latest updates.

Can I visit as a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes — all three festivals are within one to two hours of central Tokyo by train, making a day trip easy for any of them. During the Sawara Grand Festival, special limited express trains also run directly from Shinjuku Station.

Are these festivals suitable for children?

All three are popular with families and feature many food stalls. Crowds do build up in the evening, so keep an eye on children to avoid getting separated, and follow staff instructions to watch the floats from a safe location.

Official references: Ishioka Festival official website / Sawara Grand Festival official information (Katori City) / Kawagoe Festival official website