A summer event in Kamiterayama, where the bonten receives prayers, passes through the district, and is purified with water
Manguri
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Second Sunday of July / Every year
- Location
- Kamiterayama Yata Shrine, Kamiterayama Neighborhood Association Hall, Kamiterayama district
- Area
- Saitama Prefecture・Kawagoe 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/24
Manguri, passed down in Kawagoe City's Kamiterayama district, is a summer purification rite in which a bonten is made, prayers are offered, and people process through the district. The bonten is splashed with water in the Iruma River and replaced with the previous year's bonten at Ishison-sama in the grounds of Yata Shrine.
About Manguri
Manguri is a summer purification rite passed down in Kawagoe City's Kamiterayama district, and is an intangible folk cultural property designated by the city.
Influenced by the worship of Mount Oyama, people offer prayers at Yata Shrine and then process through the district carrying the bonten and tsujifuda.
A tsujifuda is erected at the village boundary, the bonten is splashed with water in the Iruma River, and finally it is replaced with the previous year's bonten at Ishison-sama in the .
It used to be held on July 14, and is now held on the second Sunday of July.
Source: 市指定文化財 上寺山のマングリ｜川越市
Festival highlights
Highlights include the bonten, made from green bamboo and wheat straw, and the distinctive way it is carried.
The bonten is decorated with called one Great Tengu and two Small Tengu, as well as five-colored heigushi.
The person in front carries it on their shoulder, while the person behind holds it in their arms and carries it diagonally. At times, they put their feet on the ground and run around, dragging it along.
At the Iruma River along the village boundary, people enter the river and splash water on the bonten together.
A summer event in Kamiterayama, where the bonten receives prayers, passes through the district, and is purified with water
What to expect
The event begins with making the bonten and tsujifuda at the Kamiterayama Neighborhood Association Hall.
After prayers at Yata Shrine, people proceed through the district, led by green bamboo with a attached, followed by people carrying conch shells, the bonten, and tsujifuda.
Tsujifuda are erected at 4 points along the village boundary, then the bonten is splashed with water in the Iruma River before being carried to Ishison-sama in the grounds of Yata Shrine.
Finally, it is replaced with the previous year's bonten.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kamiterayama Yata Shrine, Kamiterayama Neighborhood Association Hall / Kamiterayama district
- Train and bus
Use public transportation
Address Kamiterayama district
Dates and season
- Season
Second Sunday of July
- Frequency
Every 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 / Kawagoe City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
仙波東照宮
埼玉県川越市にある神社
川越まつり会館
埼玉県川越市にある郷土博物館
川越城
埼玉県川越市にあった城
川越市立美術館
埼玉県川越市にある美術館
氷川神社
埼玉県川越市にある神社
Origins and History of Manguri
Manguri is a summer purification rite influenced by the worship of Mount Oyama.
Its date shifted from July 14 to the second Sunday of July.
The place where the bonten and tsujifuda are made has also changed: people used to gather at the Tokita family home for this annual event, but now they gather at the Kamiterayama Neighborhood Association Hall.
The five-colored heigushi were once distributed to each household, but are now given to those who wish to receive one after taking part in the event.
Official information
Kawagoe City Official Website, “Municipally Designated Cultural Property: Kamiterayama Manguri”
Manguri at a Glance
Manguri is an intangible folk event designated as a municipal cultural property, passed down in Kawagoe City's Kamiterayama district.
The bonten and tsujifuda are made at the neighborhood association hall. After prayers at Yata Shrine, people process through the district with conch shells and the bonten.
A tsujifuda is erected at the village boundary, the bonten is splashed with water in the Iruma River, and finally it is replaced with the previous year's bonten at Ishison-sama in the shrine grounds.
It is now held on the second Sunday of July.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/24
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