Takasaki’s summer festival, with dashi and mikoshi parading through the streets and fireworks lighting up the night sky
Takasaki Festival
The 2026 edition of Takasaki Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/22 〜 2026/08/23Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year, on a Saturday and Sunday in late August / Every year
- Location
- The central area of the city, including Motenashi Hiroba
- Area
- Gunma Prefecture・Takasaki City(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.
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- The 100 Citizens’ is free. The major fireworks display has free and paid viewing areas; general admission seats cost ¥3,500, among other options.
- Age restrictions
- The 100 Citizens’ Mikoshi is open to high school students and older.
- Required number of participants
- The 100 Citizens’ Mikoshi has 100 participants.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
and mikoshi parade through central Takasaki, while Japanese drumming, Awa Odori, hands-on craft activities, and a major fireworks display bring the city to life in summer.
About Takasaki Festival
The Takasaki Festival is a local festival held in the central area of Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, every year in late August.
Dashi and mikoshi parade through the city, alongside a variety of events, including a fireworks display, Japanese drumming, and Awa Odori.
The festival marked its 52nd edition in 2026. Highlights included a showcase of dashi, mikoshi, and fireworks, as well as a giant daruma mikoshi and a creatively designed daruma mikoshi.
A summer tradition supported by local residents and community groups.
Source: 高崎まつり - Wikipedia / 開催概要 - 【第52回 高崎まつり】2026年8月22日（土）・23日（日）【群馬県】 / 第52回高崎まつりを開催します - デジタル広報高崎 - 高崎市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
A major highlight is the dashi and mikoshi making their way through the city center.
In 2026, 24 of the 38 dashi in and around the city center paraded through the streets, mainly in the South and East districts, as the sounds of festival music rang out.
On the 23rd, a giant daruma mikoshi appeared, and mikoshi teams jostled at Renjaku-cho Intersection.
At night, around 15,000 fireworks light up the sky around the Karasu River.
Takasaki’s summer festival, with dashi and mikoshi parading through the streets and fireworks lighting up the night sky
What to expect
Visitors can experience traditional culture by watching the mikoshi procession and dashi parade, as well as Japanese drumming, Awa Odori, kiyari work songs, and .
At the Skills Festival, visitors could try daruma painting, roof-tile carving, and making miniature tatami mats, and watch ladder-top performances and ice sculpting demonstrations.
A major fireworks display is held at night. Depending on the venue, viewing areas are divided into paid and free sections.
In 2026, a water and ice area was also set up at Motenashi Hiroba.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the events as general attendees. In 2026, the “100 Citizens’ Mikoshi” was held as a participatory event.
Participants must be high school age or older and either from or residing in Takasaki City; those with no prior experience are also eligible.
Participation was free, but places were limited to 100 people, and participants had to attend one day of advance practice.
The same participation conditions do not apply to every event at the festival.
Applications to take part in the “100 Citizens’ Mikoshi” were submitted through a Google Form linked on the official page.
The 2026 application deadline was July 10, and applications were to close once the 100-person capacity was reached.
Participants had to attend one day of advance practice, on either August 8 or the 10th.
A separate ticket is required for the paid viewing area at the major fireworks display.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The central area of the city, including Motenashi Hiroba.
The fireworks display takes place at multiple viewing areas, including the riverbank upstream of Wada Bridge.
- Train and bus
The mikoshi procession takes place at the west exit rotary of Takasaki Station, and low-speed electric buses operated near the venues.
- By car
8月22日は13:00～22:00、23日は13:00～21:00、駅前通りは両日12:00から交通規制が実施されました。
Vehicles could not enter the area between Yashima-cho Intersection and Ara-machi Intersection during the restricted hours.
- Parking
Visitors were advised to enter and exit paid parking lots within the restricted area outside the restricted hours.
The fireworks display also offered viewing tickets that included parking.
Address Central Takasaki, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 52nd Takasaki Festival in 2026 was scheduled for August 22 (Saturday) and the 23rd (Sunday).
The opening ceremony was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the 22nd, followed by the major fireworks display from 7:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. In case of bad weather, the fireworks display was to be postponed to the 23rd.
On the 23rd, a giant daruma mikoshi appeared, and mikoshi teams jostled.
It is usually held on a Saturday and Sunday in late August.
Source: 第52回高崎まつりの開催日が決定しました!! - 【第52回 高崎まつり】2026年8月22日（土）・23日（日）【群馬県】
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 / Takasaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Visitors are advised to spend extended periods in the summer city center responsibly: drink fluids and replenish salt frequently, and do not overexert yourself.
Visitors must dismount and walk their bicycles inside the venue, and take their rubbish home with them.
The use of drones, firecrackers, and small fireworks is prohibited on festival days.
Temporary restrictions may also be imposed for traffic control and dashi parades, so allow extra travel time if you are visiting by car.
Nearby attractions
榛名神社
群馬県高崎市にある神社
群馬県立土屋文明記念文学館
群馬県高崎市にある文学施設
群馬県立歴史博物館
群馬県高崎市の群馬の森内にある博物館
群馬県立近代美術館
群馬県高崎市の群馬の森内にある美術館
群馬縣護國神社
群馬県高崎市にある神社
高崎市美術館
群馬県高崎市にある美術館
Origins and History of Takasaki Festival
The Takasaki Festival is said to have originated as a festival at Yorimasu Shrine, which was enshrined by the Okōchi family, lords of the Takasaki domain, during the Edo period.
The festival temporarily declined after the Okōchi family moved to Tokyo, but became a Dosojin Festival in 1868.
It was later renamed the Takasaki Festival in 1955 and the Takasaki Furusato Festival in 1975, before becoming the present-day Takasaki Festival in 1985.
Traditions such as dashi and mikoshi parades have been passed down alongside fireworks and events involving local residents.
Official information
Dates, venues, event details, and traffic restrictions are announced on the official Takasaki Festival website.
In 2026, the official site published an overview of the 52nd festival and information on taking part in the 100 Citizens’ Mikoshi.
The Takasaki City official website also provides information about the venues in the city center, the mikoshi procession, dashi parade, major fireworks display, and Skills Festival.
Takasaki Festival at a Glance
The Takasaki Festival is a summer festival in Takasaki City, with dashi, mikoshi, and fireworks at its heart, as well as Japanese drumming, Awa Odori, and hands-on craft activities.
In 2026, the festival was held in the city center on August 22 and the 23rd, with 24 dashi parading, a giant daruma mikoshi, and around 15,000 fireworks announced as highlights.
High school-age and older people from or residing in the city were eligible to take part in the 100 Citizens’ Mikoshi.
When visiting, it is important to take precautions against the heat and check traffic restrictions.
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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