Takahashi Heigorō’s Hyakumanben, passed down in Gochōda
Takahashi Heigorō’s Hyakumanben
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Gochōda
- Area
- Gunma Prefecture・Higashiagatsuma Town(From Tokyo: approx. 50 min–1 h · bullet 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.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Takahashi Heigorō no Hyakumanben is a folk event passed down in Gochoda, Higashiagatsuma Town. A distinctive feature is the use of a large loop about 15 m long, made by linking about 200 prayer beads.
About Takahashi Heigorō’s Hyakumanben
This event is passed down in the Takahashi Heigorō district of Gochoda, Higashiagatsuma Town, and is also listed among the town’s main folk events.
A fiscal 2024 traditional culture survey records that about 200 prayer beads are linked into a loop about 15 m long.
Its size, vastly different from the prayer beads people normally hold, is a distinctive feature of this event.
Source: 群馬県地域文化研究協議会・令和6年度伝統文化調査74頁
Location and access
- Venue and address
Gochōda (Higashiagatsuma Town).
Source: 東吾妻町の主な民俗行事 | 東吾妻町
Event venue 群馬県東吾妻町 五町田
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Origins and History of Takahashi Heigorō’s Hyakumanben
A traditional culture survey says the event has been held since the time Heigorō Kannon was established during the Tensho era.
The period recorded in the survey is a Sunday in mid-July.
The town’s list gives the date as July 19; this is treated as the usual time of year, not as a fixed annual date or a confirmed date for 2026.
Official information
Higashiagatsuma Town’s Social Education Division is listed as the contact for inquiries about the event.
The telephone number for the Social Education Section and Cultural Properties Protection Section is 0279-68-2261.
Takahashi Heigorō’s Hyakumanben at a Glance
Takahashi Heigorō no Hyakumanben is a folk event characterized by a legend associated with Heigorō Kannon and the custom of using a large, circular string of prayer beads.
It has been passed down as part of the local culture of Gochoda, Higashiagatsuma Town.
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 Gunma Prefecture / Higashiagatsuma Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/10/19
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