Local Guide
The Ryuoh Festival (Kinugawa and Kawaji hot springs): Highlights, Dates, and Times

Held annually in late July at Kinugawa and Kawaji hot springs, the Ryuoh Festival will be held for the 57th time in 2025 and has become an established summer tradition. The following is a guide to the attractions, highlights, and recommended spots of this exciting festival.

The Ryuoh Festival is a major summer event in the Kinugawa and Kawaji hot spring areas, and will be held on July 25 (Fri.) and 26 (Sat.) in 2025.
The main festival will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Shinto ritual will be held at Goryuoh Shrine in Ryuohkyo from 11:00 a.m. on the 25th. The main festival will include the parade of the Manto-Mikoshi (portable shrine) and Onna-Taru-Mikoshi (female portable shrine), as well as traditional entertainment by local preservation groups and others.

During the main festival, a variety of powerful mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried through the town.
The Manto-Mikoshi, carried by men, and the Onna-Taru-Mikoshi, carried by women only, are the main features of the Ryuoh Festival.
The women's barrel mikoshi was started in response to requests from women who had performed in traditional performing arts and other events that they would like to carry the mikoshi, and every year women of all ages participate as barrel mikoshi carriers.
The Kurogane Bridge is the best place to watch the portable shrine procession. The sight of the mikoshi passing over the bridge is very beautiful and picturesque.

Since the main festival begins after 6:00 p.m. in the evening, visitors are encouraged to visit tourist attractions such as Kinugawa Line Rafting and Kinu Tateiwa Suspension Bridge, and theme parks such as Edo Wonderland Nikko Edo-mura, Nikko Sarugundan, and Tobu World Square. Kinugawa and Kawaji hot springs offer a variety of ways to spend your time, from relaxing in the hot springs to enjoying the sights and sounds of the area.
The Ryuoh Festival can be enjoyed as a day trip, but since the hot spring resort is rich in nature, we recommend staying overnight.

▼ Ryuoh Festival
URL: http: //www.nikko-kankou.org/event/403/
Venue: Gowatari Kinugawa/Kawaji Tourist Information Center, Kinugawa Onsen Station, Participating Lodging Properties
Shinto ritual: In front of the torii gate of Ryuohkyo
Main festival: Around Kurogane Bridge, Kinugawa Hot Spring
Date: Gowatari July 1 (Tue) - 31 (Thu), 2025
Ceremony: July 25 (Fri) 11:00 - 11:50
Main Festival: July 25 (Fri) and 26 (Sat), 18:00 - 22:00
TEL：0288-22-1525 （Nikko Tourist Association

Local Guide Comment
The highlight of the festival is the lively parade of portable shrines! The hot spring town is filled with lively festival music.
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.