Written by Aarohi Narain
The town of Sakura in Chiba turns back the clock for three days.
What happens
The Sakura Autumn Festival involves elaborate Edo-style floats, portable shrines carried by chanting teams, and the distinctive beat of Sakura-bayashi music echoing through the old castle town.
Over the years, the festival has evolved into a four-shrine celebration.
Hate getting lost at festivals? This year, the floats and sake stalls come with GPS tracking so you can follow the action in real time. And that’s what we call using technology for good, not evil.
Schedule
The festival is held every year on the second Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of October.
How to get there
From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Sōbu Line Rapid to Chiba Station, then transfer to the JR Sōbu Main Line to Sakura Station (about 75 minutes). From there, it’s roughly a 30-minute walk to the festival area, or hop on the Keisei Line instead and get off at Keisei Sakura Station, about 10 minutes on foot from the main festivities.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
