AussieJournal -- Yes, summer in Japan is hot, but that's one of the reasons to retreat to a comfortable climate in the mountains. The other reason – the best reason – is to experience Japan's exciting summer festivals. In Gunma Prefecture, a mountainous inland region northwest of Tokyo, not only will you discover charming towns, abundant nature, some of Japan's finest hot springs, and a diverse array of local cuisine, in summer, you can participate in two outstanding traditional festivals: the Kiryu Yagibushi Matsuri in Kiryu City and the Ojima Neputa Matsuri in Ota City. Each of these is a vibrant spectacle of color, song, and dance, and you can travel directly from Tokyo's Asakusa station via Tobu Railway.

The Kiryu Yagibushi Festival

August 7-9, 2026 (Friday-Sunday)

The Kiryu Yagibushi Festival descends from the 360-year-old Kiryu Gion Festival, which remains its cornerstone. In this part of the festival, a total of six floats - three from the Edo period, two from the Meiji period, and one from the Showa period – all the pride of their respective neighborhoods – form a procession. The floats themselves are works of art, featuring intricate carvings, luxurious fusuma paintings, and decorative dolls on their rooftops.

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The festival's excitement stems from the music and choreography that radiates with the dynamic rhythms and energy of historic Yagibushi folk songs and dances dating back to the early 16^th century. In the lively Bon dance song, the beat is kept by striking a vertically placed sake barrel, while a flute plays a light and airy main melody. A massive circle of dancers, including members of the public, spreads out around the yagura (tower) erected at the center of the venue. Since walk-ins are welcome, anyone can easily join in and enjoy the comradery and jovial atmosphere that envelops the festival. The finale on Sunday night is particularly dramatic. Multiple circles of dancers form around the large yagura at the Honmachi 5-chome intersection, bringing the thrill and enthusiasm to a feverish pitch. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/CHTUE_bGIAg?si=NeKvvFsLwlr4gjEm



Access:

Take the Tobu Skytree Line Limited Express Ryomo from Asakusa station, Tokyo, to Shin-Kiryu station. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The Ojima Neputa Festival

August 13-14, 2026 (Thursday-Friday)

Neputa or Nebuta, is a summer festival originating from the Tsugaru Domain in Aomori prefecture and is still held today in Aomori as the Hirosaki Neputa and Aomori Nebuta festivals. The Ojima Neputa Festival, which began in 1986 in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, has historical and contemporary ties to Aomori Prefecture's Hirosaki City. In Ota City's shopping district, a Tsugaru product fair is held, with regional specialty products and food stalls lining the streets. As in Aomori, the Ota City festival's beauty lies in its illuminated, vividly colored, fantastical Neputa floats. The procession of about ten fan-shaped flotillas features images of bold warriors, yūrei spirits of deceased ancestors, and portraits from historic Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Some floats reach as high as 23 feet. Beyond the visual, chanting of "Ya-ya-do" as they parade through the main venue is also captivating. The festival climax is the grand ensemble of Neputa drums and other exhilarating musical sounds. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUqHZ7gZmD4



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Access:

Take the Tobu Skytree Line Limited Express Ryomo from Asakusa station, Tokyo, to Tatebayashi station. Transfer to the Tobu Isesaki Line to Kizaki station. It takes about 2 hours.

About Tobu Railway Group

TOBU Railway Co., Ltd. is a major Japanese corporation consisting of nearly 70 companies. The Tobu Railway covers the longest operating distance in Metropolitan Tokyo, leading to numerous tourist attractions including: Asakusa and TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN in Tokyo; Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen, famous for its world heritage sites and hot springs; the Tatebayashi and Ashikaga areas, known for their blooming flower fields; and Kawagoe and Tochigi City, where the atmosphere of the old Edo era lives on. Tobu is also invested in a portfolio of hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton Nikko, the Nikko Kanaya – the oldest Western-style hotel in Japan, and in Tokyo - the AC Marriott Ginza and family-oriented Tobu Asakusa hotel, among others. More information: https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/recommend/tourism/