Koshigaya Autumn Festival (Hisaiizu Shrine Grand Annual Festival)

About this event

The Koshigaya Autumn Festival is said to have begun around the Genroku era and is a festival celebrating a bountiful harvest and wishing for the region's development. In the past, it was held once every two years over three days, starting on September 28, the annual festival day of Hisaiizu Shrine. Since 1977 (Showa 52), it has been held roughly once every three years over two days on a Saturday and Sunday in October. The festival begins on the first day with the "Togyo" procession, where the portable shrine (mikoshi) of Hisaiizu Shrine heads toward the temporary shrine (okariya) set up along the Old Nikko Kaido highway. The custom where only the people of Miyamoto-cho carry the mikoshi dressed in white robes has been passed down since ancient times. In addition, eight towns along the Old Nikko Kaido welcome the mikoshi by singing Kiyari songs while pulling floats called "dashi" topped with dolls modeled after mythical and historical figures, parading the floats until night. On the second day, the "Kangyo" procession takes place as the mikoshi returns from the okariya to Hisaiizu Shrine, and the floats are paraded until night on this day as well. The Togyo and Kangyo processions of over 300 people are spectacular and considered among the largest in the prefecture. The Koshigaya Autumn Festival preserves ancient customs passed down by the people of the Koshigaya area, such as the processions and ceremonial objects during Togyo and Kangyo, the "Ichiban Taiko" (first drum), "Asabayashi" (morning festival music), "Kiyari" songs, floats and float dolls, and the role of the neighborhood tobi workers. It is a valuable folk event with key elements of an urban festival representing eastern Saitama Prefecture. On January 26, 2026 (Reiwa 8), it was designated as a Koshigaya City Designated Folk Cultural Property (Intangible Folk Cultural Property).

Venue

Hisaiizu Shrine (Koshigaya Sochinju)

1700 Koshigaya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-0024