The Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival (笠間の菊まつり, Kasama no Kiku Matsuri), Japan's oldest chrysanthemum festival, has been held in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, since 1908 (Meiji 41) and is underway again this year. The 119th edition runs from Saturday, October 24 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday), 2026.
The main venue is Kasama Inari Shrine, and the Monzen-dori approach street and other areas around town are decorated with a wide variety of chrysanthemums, making it easy to stroll around and enjoy all day. New this year, a paid area has been set up at Kasama Rekishi Koryukan Izutsuya (かさま歴史交流館 井筒屋). The festival is one of the major autumn events in Kasama.
This Year's Highlights: Chrysanthemum Decoration Spots
Paid Area at Kasama Rekishi Koryukan Izutsuya
This year's theme is "Chrysanthemum Stories That Connect Tradition" (伝統をつなぐ菊花の物語). The paid area is divided into six areas, including creative chrysanthemum beds designed to be viewed three-dimensionally, traditional chrysanthemums that have been passed down over the years, and a display connecting Kasama and Taiwan.
Paid area period: Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday)
Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Admission: General ¥500 (other discounts are available)
For more information: https://www.kasama-kankou.jp/page/page000687.html
Chrysanthemum Displays Showcasing Craftsmanship
At the main venue, Kasama Inari Shrine, a wide range of works appear on the grounds, including standing chrysanthemums (tachi-giku), cascade chrysanthemums (kengai-giku), thousand-bloom chrysanthemums (senrin-zaki), chrysanthemum dolls (kiku ningyo), classical chrysanthemums, and bonsai chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemum dolls are a particular highlight. This year, a chrysanthemum doll is also on display to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kimura Buzan (木村武山), a Nihonga painter from Kasama.
Photo Spots at Kasama Inari Shrine
The shrine has many photo-friendly spots, including chrysanthemum-decorated temizu (hand-purification) basins and Japanese umbrella art. Visitors can enjoy a variety of chrysanthemum varieties, colors, and decorations.
Festival-Limited Goshuin and Goshuin Book
During the festival, Kasama Inari Shrine offers two limited items: a cut-paper-art goshuin book featuring colorful chrysanthemums and Okitsune-sama, the fox messengers of Inari Okami, and a festival goshuin themed on Japanese umbrellas.
Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Venue: Kasama Inari Shrine (1 Kasama, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture)
Photo Spots in Town
The Joyato (常夜灯) lantern and Omachi Pocket Park (大町ポケットパーク) feature chrysanthemum decorations designed by students of the Ibaraki University Graduate School. The decorations change every year, so visitors who came last year can see them in a new way.
Events Held Alongside the Festival
Yappe Matsuri (Night Festival)
Festival stalls appear at Kasama Inari Shrine, with plenty of nostalgic games such as goldfish scooping and katanuki. Monzen-dori becomes a pedestrian zone, with mikoshi (portable shrines) and hayashi festival music. At Izutsuya, the chrysanthemums are lit up for a night-time view of the festival.
Date and time: Sunday, November 22, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Kasama Inari Monzen-dori (from the Joyo Bank corner to the Takahashicho intersection)
Traffic restrictions are in place from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
Yabusame Ritual
Yabusame is a Shinto ritual in which archers shoot arrows at targets from horseback. The way the targets break is used to predict next year's harvest.
Date and time: Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday), starting at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Venue: Special riding ground in front of Kasama Elementary School
For more information: https://www.kasama.or.jp/event/index.html
Autumn Tour Benefits With Hitachi Seaside Park and Ibaraki Flower Park
As part of the Ibaraki Garden & Orchard Tourism collaboration project (いばらきガーデン&オーチャードツーリズム連携事業), the festival is linked with Hitachi Seaside Park (National) and Ibaraki Flower Park. Visitors who tour the facilities can receive discounts and novelty gifts.
Period: Thursday, October 1 to Monday, November 30
Benefits:
- Hitachi Seaside Park (National): ¥100 off the parking fee (one standard-size car)
- Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival: Kasama-yaki novelty gift
- Ibaraki Flower Park: 20% off admission
For more information: https://www.kasama-kankou.jp/page/page000681.html
Puzzle Game "KASAMA INARI QUEST"
"KASAMA INARI QUEST" has the subtitle "Connecting Tradition to the Future: A New-Generation Revolution for the Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival." Led by students of a prefectural high school, this interactive event combines puzzle-solving with oshi-katsu (fan activities). Participants pick up a participation kit and take part using their smartphones. An AR tourist guide is also available for the first time this year. Visitors explore the area around Kasama Inari Shrine while taking on the puzzles.
Period: Saturday, October 24 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday)
Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Participation kit pick-up: Tourist Information on the 1st floor of Kasama Rekishi Koryukan Izutsuya (987 Kasama, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture)
Visitor Tips for First-Timers
Best time to visit
Mornings are relatively relaxed for viewing. Weekends and the latter part of the festival period are expected to be crowded.
Access
The venue is about a 20-minute walk from JR Kasama Station. From JR Tomobe Station, the sightseeing loop bus is convenient.
Safety and comfort
The shrine grounds and surrounding area get very crowded. Visitors are asked to use public transportation, be considerate of others, and spread out their visits.
Food along Monzen-dori
Inari sushi has long been popular with worshippers here, with unusual varieties such as walnut-filled inari sushi, named after Kasama Inari Shrine's alternate name "Kurumishita Inari" (胡桃下稲荷), and soba-filled inari sushi made by soba restaurants. Along Kasama Inari Monzen-dori, visitors can also stroll and snack on dishes from the many cafés and soba restaurants, as well as manju, dango, and chestnut sweets.
Roadside Station Kasama (道の駅かさま) distributes a map of Monzen-dori. A downloadable version, "Kasamap," is also available: https://www.city.kasama.lg.jp/page/page015758.html
Festival Details
- Name: The 119th Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival (第119回 笠間の菊まつり)
- Period: Saturday, October 24 to Monday, November 23 (national holiday), 2026
- Venue: Kasama Inari Shrine (1 Kasama, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture), Monzen-dori, and other areas
- Admission: Free (some areas are paid)
- Organizer: Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival Liaison Council (笠間の菊まつり連絡協議会)
Bloom status and event information:
- Official website: https://www.kasama-kankou.jp/page/dir000187.html
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasamakikumatsuri/
