Chichibu Night Festival

Known as the top plum production area in the prefecture, the "19th Ume Fair" will be held at the Ogose Plum Grove, one of the three major plum groves in Kanto. Fresh plums, including the local variety "Ogose Beni Ume," will be sold. In particular, "Ogose Beni Ume" is praised for its thin skin and thick flesh, making it "soft and fragrant" when pickled. Additionally, there will be sales of locally produced fresh vegetables, food trucks, and plum processed products, offering enjoyable experiences beyond just purchasing fresh plums.

The "Yorii Kitajo Matsuri" is a re-enactment of the battle in which the local warlord Hōjō-kuni, who took up positions at Potgata Castle during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara in 1590, continued the battle for a month or so with only 3500 troops against 50,000 Toyotomi Festivals. On the day, about 500 warriors will parade through the city, and a battle will be held in the Tamadogawara. You can enjoy the Sengoku Emaki, which can be seen up close, such as the sound of a single combat and a cannon echoing through the venue. In addition, the "Kitajo Shokoku no Kachi", where a large number of gourmets gather from the land related to the Kitajo clan, will also be held. Image courtesy of Yorii Town

The big kite-raising festival was the beginning of the late Edo period, when kite-raising was handed down by the monks of Dewa as a good fortune-telling for fostering silkworms, and is now held in prayer for the healthy growth of children with first notions. More than 100 people are needed to fly one large kite, which is 15m long, 11m wide and weighs 800kg, and the appearance of a large kite flying high in the sky is exactly one word of courage as people who have filled the Edogawa riverbed look on.