The Muster

JŌETSU, JAPAN

← ALL EVENTS
SAMURAI · 1185–1868FEATURED

Kenshin Kōsai — Battle of Kawanakajima

🇯🇵 Jōetsu, Japan · ⚑ ≈1,000 participants

About

The 101st Kenshin Kosai honours Uesugi Kenshin, the 'Dragon of Echigo', at the foot of Kasugayama, his mountain castle. Held every year since 1926 without a single interruption - through war and reconstruction - the festival culminates as dusk falls, when the Uesugi and Takeda armies re-fight Kawanakajima, the most storied duel of the Sengoku age, by the light of bonfires.

Historical background on Wikipedia

Programme

Fri 21 Aug - Eve festival
18:30Lantern procession to Kasugayama Shrine
19:00Martial performance by the Uesugi warrior troupe
20:00Fireworks; shrine grounds illuminated
Sat 22 Aug
16:30Departure procession (shutsujin gyoretsu)
17:50Re-enactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima
Sun 23 Aug
11:00Buteishiki war rite and dance offerings
19:00Great folk-dance parade on Kenshin-ko Odori

Getting there

Kasugayama Station (Echigo Tokimeki Railway), 5-20 minutes on foot to the venues; shuttle buses circulate on both main days (JPY100). Roads close and parking is scarce - go by rail. Free to attend.

Links

Official

Official festival page

Tourism board

Niigata tourism listing

Stay nearby

Book a hotel in JōetsuPARTNER

Getting there

Getting there - JR East

Kit and gear

Samurai armour & kit - TozandoPARTNER

Some links on this page are partner links. If you book or buy through them, The Muster may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which events we list or what we say about them.