Chichibu Ondo Dance Festival

The Chichibu Ondo Dance Festival (秩父音頭まつり) is held on August 14 every year in Minano Town, Saitama. It is celebrated as one of the three great folk dances of the Kanto region, with approximately 70 teams and 1,500 performers competing in the Festival Square near the Minano Town Hall. While the modern choreography was standardized in 1930, its roots trace back over 200 years to the region’s silk farming traditions and local kabuki culture. Visitors are welcome to join in the dancing, and a dedicated dance lesson corner is available for those wanting to learn the specific steps before the public session begins. The evening concludes with a fireworks display that illuminates the surrounding Chichibu mountains.

Unlike many casual Bon dances, this event is a formal competition where teams are evaluated on their synchronization and adherence to traditional form. The fireworks are launched from the nearby banks of the Arakawa River; while visible from the main square, the riverbanks provide the most direct view of the display. Because Minano is a rural destination, the final return trains toward Tokyo depart shortly after the fireworks finale. Spectators should note that the Festival Square can become exceptionally crowded during the competition finals, making the peripheral streets a better option for those purely interested in the music and atmosphere.

Getting there

Minano Station is approximately two hours from Ikebukuro Station. The most common route involves taking the Tobu-Tojo Line to Yorii Station and transferring to the Chichibu Main Line. Alternatively, visitors can take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Seibu-Chichibu (Ohanabatake Station) and transfer there for a northbound Chichibu Main Line train to Minano.