Chichibu Festival Hall

The Chichibu Night Festival is the theme of the exhibition, which includes displays of yatai and kasaboko floats, a projection corner, and an exhibition of materials related to the Night Festival.

On holidays during the spring and fall tourist seasons, visitors can also enjoy powerful performances of actual Chichibu yatai music.

At the Chichibu Matsuri Kaikan, the Kasaboko/Yatai Corner on the first floor displays materials related to the Chichibu Night Festival, held annually on December 2 and 3. On display here are gorgeous kasaboko and yatai floats made by master craftsmen of the Showa period (1926-1989), with their curtains and carvings featuring designs based on the theme of the Myoken faith. Visitors can view these magnificent works of art before their very eyes.

In addition, projection mapping allows visitors to virtually experience the pulling of kasaboko floats and yatai floats and the atmosphere of the town during the Chichibu Night Festival through sound and images. This is one of the main attractions of the hall.

On the first floor, there is also a 3D theater, “Chichibu Matsuri Kairo,” which has an exhibition corner introducing Chichibu’s festivals. The powerful 3D screen allows visitors to enjoy images of Chichibu’s festivals and the four seasons as they unfold throughout the year.

In addition, there is a store on the first floor, where souvenirs, miniature food stalls, DVDs, and other items related to the Chichibu Night Festival are available for purchase. Original character goods are also popular.

In the lounge (1st floor), a video of the Chichibu Night Festival is shown, and exhibits and tourist brochures are provided. The spacious windows offer a panoramic view of the Chichibu Shrine forest for relaxing and viewing. During the fall holiday season, demonstrations of Chichibu yatai music and other performances are held in the lounge and outdoors.

Visitors can also take a commemorative photo with Chichibu City’s image character “Potekuma-kun” at the photo corner.

The Chichibu Night Festival is one of Japan’s three major Hikiyama festivals and one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals, and the museum’s exhibit focuses on that theme.

The Chichibu Night Festival is an annual festival of the adjacent Chichibu Shrine, and the grand festival is held on December 3 each year. The Kasaboko and Yatai floats of the Chichibu Night Festival are designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, and the series of events are also designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties as “Yatai Events and Kagura of the Chichibu Festival”.

It was also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site as one of the “Yamahoko/Hoko/Yatai events” of Japan.