Kumagaya Fan Festival

The Kumagaya Fan Festival (Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri) happens at the end of July in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture. This three-day festival carries on the traditions of the Gion Festival from Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. It is the largest Gion Festival in the Kanto region, attracting thousands of visitors every year. It features a stunning display of twelve large floats parading through the city.

Kumagaya Fan Festival

Photo by: PIXTA/ natsukusa-ya

The Kumagaya Fan Festival was originally celebrated at the local Yasaka Shrine. Later, it merged with Atago Shrine (Atagoyasaka Shrine). The first recorded summer festival in Kumagaya was in 1750. At that time, people petitioned to combine the festivals held at different temples and shrines into a single townwide festival.

In the Tenpo era (1830-1844), a new portable shrine was built and a joint parade of portable shrines started, marking the origin of the festival. At the same time, shop owners in the town began serving sekihan (red bean rice) during the festival to ward off sickness. However, in 1902, a restaurant owner, inspired by the Tenno Festival in Tokyo, began distributing uchiwa (fans) to help people stay cool during the summer heat. This idea took off quickly and has now become a symbol of the festival.

Festival Highlights

Photo by: PIXTA/ natsukusa-ya

The festival starts with the chief priest of Atagoyasaka Shrine carrying the deity Tenno-sama to the portable shrine (mikoshi). On the second day, the Junko Festival involves a vibrant mikoshi procession from Atagoyasaka Shrine through eight towns. These shrines purify the area in all four directions before reaching the temporary shrine in the festival square. In the evening, each town’s floats and yatai (stalls) gather on Hoshikawa Street, heading to Kumagaya station. As they parade with lit lanterns and banners, they celebrate together with music. The climax of the event occurs on the last day with Hikkawase Tatakiai (pounding each other), where the floats engage in a friendly competition accompanied by festival music. The portable shrine is returned to the main shrine, marking the solemn conclusion with the Kangyo (Return) Festival.