SL Chichibu Hikiyama Night Festival Train

About this event

In conjunction with the Chichibu Night Festival (Grand Festival) held in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture on Thursday, December 3, 2026, the special train 'SL Chichibu Hikiyama Yofatsuri-go' will run starting from Gyodashi Station at a convenient evening departure time. This train is a special event to liven up the atmosphere of the Chichibu Night Festival. On the day of operation, a special headmark will be displayed, and passengers will receive a special boarding commemorative certificate as a gift. It will operate with a configuration of SL (Locomotive C58 363) + four 12-series passenger cars + one EL (electric locomotive), departing Gyodashi Station at 15:23 and arriving at Chichibu Station at 17:55 via Kumagaya, Fukaya Hanazono, Yorii, Nagatoro, and Minano. Taking this train offers smooth access to the Chichibu Night Festival venue. In addition, on the same day, the 'Chichibu Night Festival Overhead Wire Disconnection and Yatai Float Tour' will be held, where participants can observe up close the gorgeous, opulent yatai floats passing railroad crossings and the nationally rare operation of disconnecting overhead catenary wires to allow the floats to pass through. On this tour, you can observe the overhead wire disconnection work and the passage of floats from the platform of Ohanabatake Station, and also view part of the fireworks display. Boarding the SL Chichibu Hikiyama Yofatsuri-go requires booking a special SL reserved seat ticket, priced at 1,300 yen per person (one way, tax included) departing from Gyodashi Station. SL reserved seat tickets between Kumagaya and Chichibu Station can be purchased via the regular SL reservation system starting at 0:00 one month prior to the date of operation (November 3). Special SL reserved seat tickets departing from Gyodashi Station are accepted online (first-come, first-served basis with advance payment) from 10:00 on Monday, November 2, 2026 to 23:59 on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Counted as one of Japan's three major hikiyama (float) festivals, the Chichibu Night Festival is Chichibu's representative festival with a history of over 300 years.

Venue

Chichibu City

Chichibu-shi, Saitama