20/07/2026
The Chichibu Kawase Festival (also known locally as O-Gion) is the vibrant summer festival of Chichibu Shrine, held annually on July 19th and 20th.
•July 19 (Vigil): Eight brilliantly decorated festival floats (four kasaboko and four yatai) are pulled through the streets to the lively beat of Yatai-bayashi music, with children taking the lead in playing instruments and keeping rhythm. In the evening, the illuminated floats gather at Chichibu Shrine for the Tennobashira Tate ceremony. A spectacular, 30-minute fireworks display is traditionally launched from nearby Hitsujiyama Park around 7:30 PM.
•July 20 (Main Festival): The focal point of the festival occurs in the morning when a 400 kg unpainted wooden portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried into the clear waters of the Arakawa River in a ritual cleansing (mikoshi-arai) designed to wash away misfortune. At night, the illuminated floats are paraded around the main street, creating a magical atmosphere under the summer sky. Part 12