Chichibu Night Festival
秩父夜祭36°00′ N 139°05′ EFestivalDec 2, 2026
The Chichibu Night Festival suits anyone in Tokyo in early December who wants a float festival with winter fireworks, and its trade-off is a packed town on the night of 3 December.
Dates and hours
- December 2, 2026 to December 3, 2026Announcedsourcechecked Oct 11, 2026
Date rule: Every year on 2 December (Yoimiya, the eve) and 3 December (the main festival).
The Chichibu Night Festival is the annual festival of Chichibu Shrine, and records show it running in the Kanbun years of 1661 to 1672. Two kasaboko and four yatai floats, all national Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, are hauled through the streets to the beat of the float drums. On some floats, stages fold out from the sides for Chichibu kabuki.
The eve on 2 December brings four floats out from the morning and ends with fireworks at about 20:00. On 3 December the six floats gather, and the procession leaves the shrine after 19:00 for the Otabisho, with star mines bursting overhead until about 22:00. UNESCO inscribed the festival in 2016 among the Yama, Hoko and Yatai float festivals of Japan.
Worth knowing
- Stay in Chichibu on the night of the 3rd, since the peak runs until about 22:00.
- Watch the Seibu-Chichibu Station live camera on the tourism association's site to judge the crowds.
Quick answers about Chichibu Night Festivalよくある質問
When is the Chichibu Night Festival?
It falls on 2 December for the eve and 3 December for the main festival, every year. The peak runs from after 19:00 to about 22:00 on the 3rd.
Is the Chichibu Night Festival a UNESCO heritage event?
Yes. It was inscribed on 1 December 2016 as part of the Yama, Hoko and Yatai float festivals of Japan.
What are the opening hours of Chichibu Night Festival?
Chichibu Night Festival is open on 2 December four floats tour the town from the morning and the evening ends with fireworks around 20:00. On 3 December all six floats come out, and the peak runs from just after 19:00, when the procession leaves Chichibu Shrine, until about 22:00 at the Otabisho.