Walking in history! So fun!! - i felt like i was walking in the history of chichibu. the tour guide knew the history to even the smallest art piece on the temple itself. and we had the chance to try taico drums, which was a once in a lifetime experience i can’t forget! i highly recommend

Beat of Chichibu - I could play the festival drums. Its so exciting. Still now the beat is hitting in my body! The festivals are rooted in the local culture of Chichibu deeply. I could experience part of it. The tour was very well organized and I could enjoy the best part of Chichibu. Thanks the guide Sachiko san!

Interesting story behind Chichibu festival - The tour isn’t the one that takes us to famous and popular spots in Chichibu area, but the one that focuses only on the Chichibu festival organized by Chichibu shrine. Because of this concept, I think, we can learn about what’s the traditional festival in local area of Japan and feel the people’s spirits underlined the festival. In Chichibu Matsuri Hall (the Chichibu festival museum) I was overwhelmed by the power of the actually played music with drums and flute by real musicians, which controls the rhythm and pace of the movement of 'mikoshi’and 'floats'. After the performance, we could actually play the drums. The real musicians instructed us. It was a valuable chance for us to experience Japanese drums. In Chichibu shrine and during walk around town the tour guide, who is a specialist of Chichibu festival, passionately explained the amazing story behind the festival. The festival is held for a female god of Chichibu shrine, Myuken-Sama, and a male god of Mt. Buko near the shrine. They secretly meet once a year at the day of festival, The participants of the festival parade around the town with 'mikoshi' and 'floats' toward the secret, adultery meeting place. The gods aren't authoritative at all but are very secular. It might be one of the characteristics of Japanese gods in local shrines. It's interesting. I could enjoy the tour so much because it's fit to me who is interesting in local festivals in Japan. Finally, I'd like to thank the tour guide for her kind and courteous hospitality.