In Japan, we celebrate Chichibu Yomatsuri!
On December 2nd and 3rd in Japan, it is the Chichibu Yomatsuri, one of the three biggest Japanese festivals (matsuri) of floats in the country. Want to learn more about it?
As the month of December slowly settles in, a historical festival takes place in the city of Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture.
Under the starry sky, you can watch a parade of 6 floats, each representing a district of the city. Illuminated by their lanterns, these miniature sancturaries follow one another before the eyes of the curious in happi, traditional Japanese dress. The end of the show: splendid fireworks display for the end of the parade.
Chichibu yomatsuri is often equated with two other festivals that are similar to it: Takayama matsuri and Gion matsuri, all classified by UNESCO. Harvest festival, this festival celebrates the annual meeting of a water god with a harvest goddess.
For more than 300 years, this festival takes place on December 2nd and 3rd and returns this year after 3 years of absence due to the pandemic. A joy to find this illuminated night with an air of magic!