Situated in Chiba prefecture, and approximately 110 minutes to 145 minutes from Tokyo is Sawara. To reach Sawara in the fastest from Tokyo, take a train from Shinjuku station for 110 minutes using the Narita Express Line combined with the JR Narita Line. If like many people, you’re staying in nearby Narita before or after a flight from nearby Narita Airport, Sawara is only then a 30 minute train journey from Narita train station. Please note that the trains running to and from Sawara only run once every hour, so please factor this into your day when planning.

Founded in 1996, Sawara’s Matsuri Float Museum celebrates and showcases the cultural and sacred Japanese tradition of its festivals which are now recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Sawara’s festival is held every October on the streets of Sawara! Huge and elaborate floats are paraded around the streets in large processions as people sing, dance and play musical instruments. At the museum you will learn about the history of this festival which dates back to the Edo period so that you can enjoy learning about this cultural tradition. The museum is also built on the same grounds as the beautiful Yasaka Shinto shrine. So make sure to stop by and have a look!

The museum can be easily reached on foot from Sawara train station, and takes approximately 15 minutes or around 7 minutes from the historical district of Sawara. The museum is spread over three floors but the contents can be seen in approximately 45 minutes. The museum screens a short documentary with stunning visuals that allow you to see the festival in action and appreciate this tradition. The showstopper of the museum however is that you can get up close to two of the main floats used during the festival in their large storage facility. This is truly an amazing experience to see the detail and craftsmanship. You can also enjoy seeing many artefacts relating to the festival including Edo period artefacts and vintage advertisements. Tickets for the museum are 400 yen, but it is highly recommended to buy a combined ticket for both here and the Inoh Tadataka museum for 800 yen.

Want to experience Sawara for yourself?

1 Day Tour

Discover Historic Narita and Sawara : Gateway to Japan’s Past
Period	All Year Round
Time	10:15 – 16:20
Meeting Place	Inside of JR Narita Station
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000