Sawara: Festival Floats Keeping Ties Alive -
journeys in japan

Sawara lies in northeast Chiba Prefecture, around 70 kilometers to the east of Tokyo. Thanks to its location on a tributary of the Tone River, by the 18th century it had become a prosperous center for freight transportation. For some 300 years, Sawara has held festivals twice a year, in July and October. Backed by rich merchants, these developed into major events, featuring 24 large and lavish floats. The festivities have now been registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural asset. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Saskia Thoelen discovers the excitement of the Sawara Grand Festival, and meets the craftsmen and neighborhood residents who make it happen.

Duration: 28 minutes and 3 seconds

Episode Number: 521

About Journeys In Japan:

In JOURNEYS IN JAPAN, English-speaking visitors travel the length of Japan exploring the culture, meeting local people, visiting historic sites, and offering travel hints rarely found in guidebooks.

The series provides an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan.

Visit the Journeys In Japan web site

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