Late
Apr

Otawara Yatai Matsuri 2025

Fun celebration in April in Tochigi prefecture

Venue
Otawara
When
Late Apr 2025
Notice: The dates for this event are not yet confirmed. This page will be updated once the official date(s) are announced by the event organizers. Please check the official event site for the latest info.

April is time for the Yatai Matsuri in Otawara, Tochigi prefecture. It’s a loud, fun, musical(ish) 2 day event downtown, near the Kanodoro lantern… The festival involves wooden floats called Yatai. These traditional small, mobile food stalls in Japan typically sell ramen or other food. The name literally means "shop stand."

The floats are beautifully decorated with carvings of animals, dragons, monkeys, with lots of different lanterns that light up at night. Some floats are plain (but beautiful) wood, some are lacquered, some painted. They are all very different and each one comes from a region around Otawara…

Event reports

Otawara Sakura Buttsuke 8

Otawara Sakura Buttsuke

Otawara Sakura Buttsuke, held each year, commemorates the joining of the 9 cities, villages, and towns that now make up Otawara..

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Elena Lisina 3 years ago
I love Japanese festivals! They're so cheerful! Thanks for sharing great shots!

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