Numata Tengu Festival

Held annually from August 3 to 5, the Numata Festival (沼田まつり) is the premier summer event in Gunma Prefecture, attracting over 200,000 visitors. While the festival features a variety of traditional dashi (floats) and mikoshi, it is most famous for the “Tengu Mikoshi”—two massive portable shrines shaped like the heads of legendary mountain goblins. Each of these giant tengu masks weighs over 400 kilograms and is carried exclusively by a team of nearly 300 women. This tradition stems from Numata’s deep spiritual connection to the tengu, as the nearby Kashō-zan Temple houses one of the largest masks in Japan. The sight of these crimson, long-nosed figures swaying through the streets serves as a powerful symbol of the city’s heritage.

The main festivities are concentrated in the city center, approximately a 15-minute walk from JR Numata Station. Because Numata is a “hilltop town,” the walk from the station involves a significant and steep uphill climb; utilizing the local shuttle buses that run frequently during the festival days is highly recommended to avoid the ascent. The women’s tengu procession typically begins in the early evening around 6:00 PM, reaching its peak energy after sunset when the masks are illuminated. Spectators should also look for the Mandō floats, which feature elaborate lanterns and are pulled by local children through the same districts earlier in the afternoon.