Local Guide
[2024 Edition] Highlights and dates of the Ryuo Festival (Kinugawa/Kawaji hot spring)

The Ryuo Festival is held every year in late July at Kinugawa Kawaji hot spring. The 56th festival will be held in 2024, and has become a seasonal summer event. We will introduce the charms, highlights, and recommended spots of the passionate Ryuo Festival.

The Ryuo Festival is a major summer event in the Kinugawa and Kawaji hot spring areas. In 2024, it will be held on July 26th (Fri) and 27th (Sat).
A Shinto ritual will be held at Goryuo Shrine in Ryuokyo Gorge from 11:00 on the 26th, and the main festival will be held from 18:00 to 22:00. The main festival will feature a procession of Manto Mikoshi (a portable shrine with many lanterns) and Onnataru Mikoshi (a portable shrine with a female barrel), as well as traditional performing arts by local preservation groups. In addition, the festival will climax with fireworks.

During the main festival, the Ryuo Festival, various impressive mikoshi portable shrines are paraded through the town.
The main features of the Ryuo Festival are the Manto Mikoshi (portable shrine) carried by men and the gorgeous Onnataru Mikoshi (portable shrine) carried exclusively by women.
The Onna-Taru Mikoshi began in response to a request from women who performed in traditional performing arts, who expressed a desire to carry the mikoshi themselves. Every year, women of a wide range of ages participate as carriers of the barrel mikoshi.
If you want to watch the mikoshi procession, the best spot is Kurogane Bridge. The sight of the mikoshi passing over the bridge is very beautiful and tasteful.

The event will reach its climax at around 9:50 p.m. with a spectacular fireworks display called "The Spectacular Dragon God Ascends."
The fireworks that are set off in hot spring in the mountains are likened to a single flower that lights up the hot spring town. They have a different atmosphere and charm to the large-scale fireworks festivals that are held on riverbanks or beaches.
As you soak in the lingering afterglow of the exciting portable shrine procession and spectacular fireworks, the main festival of the day comes to an end in the blink of an eye.

The main festival starts after 6pm in the evening, so before then, you can take a stroll around sightseeing spots such as Kinugawa River boat rides and Kinutateiwa Suspension Bridge, or take a detour to theme parks such as Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, Nikko Saru Gundan, and Tobu World Square. Kinugawa Kawaji hot spring offers a variety of ways to spend your time, from relaxing in hot spring to visiting the sightseeing spots.
The Ryuo Festival can be enjoyed on a day trip, but as it is set in a hot hot spring surrounded by nature, it is recommended to stay overnight.

▼龍王祭
URL：http://www.nikko-kankou.org/event/403/
会場：御渡 鬼怒川・川治観光情報センター、鬼怒川温泉駅、参加宿泊施設
   神事 龍王峡鳥居前
   本祭 鬼怒川温泉 くろがね橋周辺
日時：御渡 2024年7月1日(月)～31日(水)
   神事 7月26日(金)11時～11時50分
   本祭 7月26日(金)･27日(土)18時～22時
TEL：0288-22-1525 （(一社)日光市観光協会）

Comments Local Guide
The highlight is the lively procession of the portable shrine! hot spring town is filled with lively festival music.
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