Aug 14 / 4:30 PM 〜 9:30 PM
The Chichibu Ondo Dance Festival (秩父音頭まつり) is held on the 14 August every year and sees approximately 70 teams and 1,500 performers dance to music in Minano Town Hall Festival Square. Visitors are welcome to join in the dancing (there’s even a dance lesson corner if you’re afraid of getting the moves wrong). Fireworks light the sky towards the end of the evening.
While the origins of the song and dance are unclear, it is thought to be based on the traditions of kabuki and silk farming 200 years ago.
Getting there
Minano Station is 2 hours from Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu-Tojo Line. Trains depart approximately every 40 minutes and a one-way journey costs around ¥1,500.