A traditional summer festival with dashi and hayashi parading through Kumagaya
Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival
The 2026 edition of Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/20 〜 2026/07/22Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, July 20–22 / Every year
- Location
- Central Kumagaya, centered around Yasaka Shrine, Omatsuri Square, the rotary at the north and east exits of Kumagaya Station, and National Route 17
- Area
- Saitama Prefecture・Kumagaya City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
A summer festival originating in the festival of Yasaka Shrine, with , and , and Kumagaya parading through central Kumagaya.
About Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nori Norisa from 熊谷市, Japan File:直会02 -うちわ祭2023 (53125229053).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 直会02 #うちわ祭2023Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nori Norisa File:Festival float, Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri - Jul 21, 2012 (1).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/norisa/7614228138/Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Nori Norisa File:「うちわ祭」令和巡行なう！ -熊谷市 (46829603335).jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 Nori Norisa 「うちわ祭」令和巡行なう！ #熊谷市Display size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival is a summer festival that has been passed down as the festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kumagaya City.
Kumagaya hayashi enlivens the festival, centered on the mikoshi procession and events featuring dashi and yatai from 12 neighborhoods parading through the city.
The name is said to come from the custom of shops and others handing out uchiwa fans, and the festival is closely connected with the local streetscape.
Source: 熊谷うちわ祭 | 熊谷観光局
Festival highlights
The highlight is seeing dashi and yatai parade through the city while playing Kumagaya hayashi.
During “taikiai,” several dashi and yatai face one another and compete with their hayashi music, accompanied by the sound of large gongs about 30 centimeters in diameter.
Major moments in the festival include the first taikiai, when 12 floats gather, and the final-day hikiai taikiai.
Source: 熊谷うちわ祭 - Wikipedia / 熊谷うちわ祭｜特別版 埼玉祭
A traditional summer festival with dashi and hayashi parading through Kumagaya
What to expect
The festival begins with the mikoshi procession: the mikoshi departs from Yasaka Shrine, travels through the city, and heads to the temporary shrine.
Since then, dashi and yatai from each neighborhood have paraded through their respective areas and along National Route 17, with performances by competing hayashi bands at places such as the station square.
On the final day, a hikiai taikiai and the transfer of the year’s festival responsibilities take place at Omatsuri Square, and the festival concludes when the mikoshi returns to Yasaka Shrine.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The festival takes place in central Kumagaya, centered around Yasaka Shrine, Omatsuri Square, the rotary at the north and east exits of Kumagaya Station, and National Route 17.
- Train and bus
You can use Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line, Joetsu Shinkansen, or Chichibu Railway Chichibu Main Line, or Kami-Kumagaya Station on the Chichibu Railway.
Omatsuri Square is about a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Kumagaya Station.
- By car
About 20 minutes from the Higashimatsuyama Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
During the festival, roads in the city center may be closed to vehicles and bus routes may change.
Source: 令和8年6月 定例記者会見：熊谷市ホームページ
Address Atago Yasaka Shrine, central Kumagaya, Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (the listed dates have passed)
The festival was announced as scheduled to run from July 20 (Monday, a public holiday) through 22 (Wednesday) in 2026.
In a typical year, events such as the mikoshi procession, dashi and yatai parades, and taikiai take place over 3 days from July 20 through 22.
Event times and traffic restrictions may change from year to year.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Saitama Prefecture / Kumagaya City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
During the festival, roads in the city center, including National Route 17 and the area around Kumagaya Station, may be closed to vehicles, and local bus services may be suspended on some sections or rerouted.
It’s a good idea to allow plenty of time and plan to get around on foot, especially during dashi and yatai processions and taikiai.
Check the latest information on traffic restrictions and bus changes for 2026 before setting out.
Nearby attractions
歓喜院
埼玉県熊谷市にある寺院
高城神社
埼玉県熊谷市にある神社
Origins and History of Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival
The Kumagaya summer festival is said to have begun when a request was granted in 1750 to unite festivals that had previously been held separately at various temples and shrines into a single festival for the local community.
It became established as a mikoshi festival during the Edo period, and the purchase of a dashi in Meiji 24 helped spur the development of dashi and yatai processions.
The distribution of shibu uchiwa fans in place of sekihan spread, leading to the festival’s present name.
Source: 祭りの歴史 | 関東一の祇園 熊谷うちわ祭
Official information
Official information about the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival is available on the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival official website.
You can check the festival’s history and events, as well as information for the event period.
The 2026 festival dates were also announced at a regular Kumagaya City press conference.
Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival at a Glance
The Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival is a summer festival based on the festival of Yasaka Shrine, bringing together mikoshi, dashi and yatai, and Kumagaya hayashi to enliven central Kumagaya.
Highlights include taikiai, in which several dashi and yatai compete with their hayashi music, and processions that evoke the town’s history.
The name, which derives from the custom of handing out uchiwa fans, also reflects the festival’s deep roots in the community.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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