Kawagoe Festival 2026 (Oct 17–18): Dates, Getting There and Crowd Tips

Kawagoe, the "Little Edo" town in Saitama, holds its biggest festival of the year next weekend. If you are in or near Tokyo, it is one of the easiest big autumn matsuri to reach as a day trip.

Information checked on October 11, 2026. Schedules can change with the weather, so confirm on the official festival site before you go.

Dates and what the festival is

The 2026 Kawagoe Festival (Kawagoe Matsuri) runs from Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18.¹

It is Kawagoe's largest festival. It combines the Annual Grand Festival and the Divine Procession of Hikawa Shrine, the town's main shrine, with a float procession.²

It always falls on the third Sunday of October and the day before. As the "Float Event of the Kawagoe Hikawa Festival," it is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It was also inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.³

Day floats vs. night hikkawase

The festival has more than 370 years of history. Its two big moments are the colorful float procession by day and the hikkawase at night.⁴

Daytime: come for photos of the floats against the old storehouse-style buildings. The light is better and the crowds are a little easier to move through.

Evening: come for the atmosphere. The hikkawase is the scene most people come to see, and it is also when the streets are most packed.

If you can only do one, decide now. Day visits are easier with kids or luggage. Night visits are more dramatic but need patience.

Paid seats if you want a guaranteed view

On both days, paid spectator seats are set up at Resona Coedo Terrace. You must register in advance and there is a fee.⁵ These seats are on the Kurazukuri street (Kawagoe Ichibangai), where you can watch the float parade.⁶

The tourism association's event calendar also lists paid seats at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine for October 17–18.⁷

Seats are limited and sales can close before the festival, so check availability right away if you are interested.

Getting there and road closures

Kawagoe is served by train from central Tokyo, and several railway companies run there. Use a journey planner app for your exact route and travel time from your hotel.

Streets in the festival area are closed to traffic during the event. For the closure map and times, see the official traffic page: https://kawagoematsuri.jp/traffic-R8.html

Don't drive. Parking is hard to find and the roads around the route are restricted. The train is far easier.

Coping with the crowds

Both days get very busy, especially in the evening. Expect slow-moving streets and long lines at stations when people head home.

• Arrive early. Aim to be in town well before the evening events so you can walk the route and choose a spot.
• Pick your spot in advance. Corners and wider sections of street give better views. Once the crowds build, moving is hard.
• Travel light. Leave big bags at your hotel. Station lockers fill up fast on festival days, so don't count on them.
• Bring cash. Many food stalls take cash only.
• Plan your return. Leave before the evening peak, or plan to wait. Check your last train before you go.
• Charge your phone. Bring a power bank for maps and photos.

Etiquette

• Don't step into the route or block the floats. Follow staff and police instructions.
• Keep tripods, selfie sticks and large cameras out of busy spots, and don't hold a phone up high for long.
• Never touch the floats or the performers' gear.
• Take your rubbish with you. Bins can be hard to find.
• Be patient in station lines. Pushing is dangerous in dense crowds.

What to do right now

1. Decide whether you want the day floats, the night hikkawase, or both.
2. If you want a seat, check the paid seating at Resona Coedo Terrace or Kumano Shrine today.⁵⁷
3. Look up your train route and your last train home.
4. Save the official traffic page (kawagoematsuri.jp/traffic-R8.html) on your phone.
5. Get some cash and charge a power bank.
6. On the day, check the official site again for weather changes.

Notes

1. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩

2. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩

3. JR East ↩

4. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩

5. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩ ↩²

6. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩

7. Koedo Kawagoe Tourism Association ↩ ↩²