Jul 25
~
Jul 26

Kinugawa Onsen Dragon King Festival

6:00pm – 10:00pm
Free

This is a colorful summer festival where ancient rituals meet glowing lanterns, dynamic portable shrine processions, and a fireworks finale over the hot spring town of Kinugawa Onsen.

What happens?

The Ryuou (Dragon King) Festival unfolds across Kinugawa Onsen, Kawaji Onsen, and Ryūōkyō Canyon in Tochigi. It begins with a sacred Shinto ritual at Goryuo Shrine, deep in the dramatic landscape of Ryūōkyō Canyon. A priest from the renowned Nikkō Tōshō-gū leads the ceremony.

ryuo festival dragon king festival tochigi
Photo by Nikko City Tourism Association

As evening falls, the Manto Mikoshi, a massive portable shrine, glows as it weaves through the town, carried by groups of revelers. Adding to the spectacle is the Onna-Taru Mikoshi procession, a women-only affair involving carrying barrels of sake — count us in.

Suggested Activity
Zoom Through Osaka in a Go-kart (Costume Included)
Feel like you are in a video game with this fun go-karting experience. Ideal for small groups, the tour allows you to explore Osaka in a unique and exciting way. 

Beyond the processions, the festival offers folk entertainment performances, where you can watch traditional dance, music, and theatrical acts. Finally, fireworks explode over the hot spring town, painting the night sky in dazzling colors. It’s a breathtaking moment — one you’ll want to soak in (perhaps literally, with a post-festival dip in the onsen).

Pro tip: Check out our guide to Nikkō and Kinugawa Onsen.

Schedule 2025

The main festivities take place on July 25 and 26. On July 25, the Shinto ritual is held at Goryuo Shrine in Ryuokyo Canyon from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.. On both days from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., processions and entertainment take place in Kinugawa Onsen.

How to get there

Take the Tobu Limited Express from Asakusa to Kinugawa-Onsen Station (around 2 hours). The main festival areas are Kinugawa Kawaji Tourist Information Center (a minute away from the station) and around Kurogane Bridge (20 minutes on foot).

The Shinto ritual takes place at Ryūōkyō Canyon. To get there, take the local Tobu-Kinagawa Line headed in the direction of Aizu-Tajima. Get off at Ryūōkyō Station and walk about 8 minutes to the canyon. The journey should take around 20 minutes.

Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

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