【KKday Limited】Limited time only! Japan's three most beautiful festivals "Chichibu Night Festival" & all-you-can-eat fresh strawberries & winter fireworks display | Departing from Shinjuku

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－Itinerary information－

• Meeting time: 9:45 in Shinjuku
• Meeting point: Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Large Car Parking Lot
• Departure time: Departs from Shinjuku at 10:00

－Itinerary introduction－

• Introduction to Chichibu Night Festival
  

The Chichibu Night Festival is a regular festival held at Chichibu Shrine in Saitama Prefecture, which lasts from December 1st to 6th every year. December 2nd is the Xiaogong Festival, and December 3rd is the main festival, which is also the most important part of the festival. This festival is famous for watching the floats ("Kasaboko" and "Yatai") decorated with lanterns being pulled around, as well as the nationally renowned fireworks display in the winter. It is said that the Chichibu Night Festival has a history of more than 300 years and is one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Hida Takayama Festival. It is also selected as Japan's tangible and intangible cultural property. There are only 5 examples in Japan. It has extremely high ornamental value and historical and cultural value. In 2016, the Chichibu Night Festival was listed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

• Chichibu Night Festival Contents

This festival will be held on December 3. From about 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., six "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" vehicles will be towed through the city. At around 6:30 p.m., starting from Chichibu Shrine, the procession of Mikami went to the Gyosho, about one kilometer away from the shrine, followed closely by 6 "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" vehicles. On the steep slope "Dangozaka" below the Imperial Tower, "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" weighing up to 20 tons will be pulled by many people, reaching the climax of the festival. The "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" of the Chichibu Night Festival are assembled without a single nail. These "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" decorated with gold ornaments, colorful carvings, and gold embroidery on the back curtain are also called "Yomeimon in action (the main entrance to Nikko Toshogu)" and are very luxurious. It is so gorgeous that it has been designated as a national important tangible folk cultural property. "Kasaboko" is divided into two parts: Nakakon and Shimo. There are four "Yatai" buildings including Miyaji, Uemachi, Nakamachi and Honmachi. Each has its own unique features, including thick and colorful curtains and sculptures, and is definitely worth a look.

• "Yatai Kabuki"

The four "rooftops" all adopt a unique form, equipped with billboards (referring to the billboards hanging in front of the rooftop) and assembled stages for performances, which is rare across the country. These four "rooftops" perform performances in turn every year according to a rotating system. In addition, the audience can enjoy a dance performance accompanied by the performance of "Chang Bai".

• Chichibu Night Festival Fireworks Display

At the Chichibu Night Festival, fireworks dancing in the winter night sky are indispensable. In the clear winter sky, the colors of the fireworks are more vivid. They rise into the sky, with continuous fireworks and grand starry fireworks. Everyone will be mesmerized by their magnificence. It is launched between approximately 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm. There are limited places where you can watch the floats and fireworks at the same time. However, if you only want to watch the fireworks, it is in front of Seibu Chichibu Station, in front of Chichibu Station, in front of the Civic Center, and along National Highway 140 is a good choice.

• Where can I watch "Kasaboko" and "Yatai"? (On December 3rd)

It can be viewed during the day at Chichibu Shrine and the main streets. You can watch it in the evening at Chichibu Shrine, in front of Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station, Honmachi, Nakamachi Street and Seito Street. A detailed itinerary and timetable will be sent to you upon participation.

• Other recommended attractions of Chichibu Night Festival

[Mountain car turns]

The floats used in the Chichibu Night Festival are four-wheeled and cannot use steering at intersections. Therefore, a method called "edge turning" (ギリ回し) is used to achieve the steering of the roller coaster. First, the person responsible for operating the roller coaster (below) will insert a "lever" into the back of the roller coaster and use the lever principle to raise the rear of the roller coaster. Place the edge pole on the lower part of the roller coaster, support the roller coaster with the edge pole, and then change direction. After changing direction, use the "lever" again to raise the back of the roller coaster, remove the edge rod, and the roller coaster moves forward again.

【Mountain Car Encounter】

During the festival, floats will cross each other on the main streets, and the encounter between the floats is very lively. When they meet, the floats will pause, and the yatai bandits will play a powerful melody called "Big Wave", and the bandit musicians on the floats will compete with each other.

【fight】

As hundreds of roller coaster pullers cheer, they spread the left and right ropes to the entire width of the road, and then suddenly close the ropes at the instruction of the person in charge to engage in physical collision (=fight). This is a scene that can keep your hand warm while creating a lively atmosphere during a cold winter festival.

【Suwa Ferry】

On the night of December 3rd (the main festival), the shrine procession and floats heading to the Otisha will be patrolling. However, near Honmachi Street, the yatai gates on the floats will stop, and the executioners will keep quiet. This is a ritual called "Suwa crossing" to show respect for the nearby "Suwa Shrine" (おSuwa様).

【The work and decoration of band musicians】

The band musician will chant "HOURAI" (HOURAI). This is the "HOURAI" (HOURAI) derived from Mount Horai, a legendary mountain in the ancient Chinese mythology. The designs of "Kasaboko" and "Yatai" are considered to represent Mount Horai. Legend has it that the gods ride on the floats to Mount Horai. The bando musicians lead and encourage the pullers in front of the floats, and the "panko musicians" will shout. The "bandit musicians" wearing red and white fabric jackets are one of the highlights of the festival and are considered a once-in-a-lifetime honor.