Kagurazaka Festival 2024 Kicks Off. Kagurazaka Street is Packed, but the Charming Cobblestone Backstreets are Sadly Empty.

The “Kagurazaka Festival 2024” Has Begun

Yesterday, July 24, 2024, the “Kagurazaka Matsuri (Festival) 2024” began. It will continue for four days until the 26th. On the 24th, there were events such as the “Hozuki (Chinese Lantern) Market,” “Monzen Yatai (street food stalls),” “Bishamonten Children’s Festival,” and “Yukata Concierge.” Additionally, the “Bon Odori in Kagurazaka” was held, featuring the Japan Bon Odori Association and the taiko drum idol unit “Tokyo Otome Taiko.” As shown in the included photos, Kagurazaka Street, the main venue of the festival, was extremely crowded.

Cool Down with “Houroku Kyu” Today at Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple

Today, on the 25th, in addition to the events from the 24th like the “Hozuki Market,” “Monzen Yatai,” and “Bishamonten Children’s Festival,” there will be “Houroku Kyu” held at Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple at 3 PM and 5 PM. “Houroku Kyu” is a practice where a ceramic plate called “Houroku” is placed on the head, and “Mokusa” is burned on top of it to ward off summer heat.

On the 26th and 27th, there will be an Awa Odori dance festival starting at 7 PM. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024,” so Kagurazaka Geisha will also be performing in the Awa Odori.

Kagurazaka’s True Charm Lies in its Cobblestone Backstreets

As a local resident of Kagurazaka, I am delighted to see so many people gathering for the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024.” However, most people concentrated on the main street, Kagurazaka Street, leaving the charming cobblestone backstreets, which are Kagurazaka’s greatest appeal, almost empty, as shown in the photos. Surprisingly, there were no foreigners in the backstreets either. Even popular photo spots like Hyogo Yokocho and Atamiyu Stairs (Geisha Alley, France Hill) were almost deserted. France Hill was named by the French journalist Dora Tauzin.

The Cobblestones Exist Because Kagurazaka is a Geisha District

The cobblestones were laid to prevent geisha’s kimonos from getting muddy on rainy days, thanks to the presence of the hanamachi (geisha district) in Kagurazaka. The fan-shaped arrangement symbolizes good fortune, and it is said that there are 25,000 to 30,000 stones.

Among these, there are three special stones: a heart-shaped stone, a star-shaped stone, and a diamond-shaped stone. It is said that finding these stones can fulfill the following wishes: Heart shape: Improved love fortune, Star shape: Fulfillment of heart’s desires and success, Diamond shape: Business prosperity and financial fortune. Try to find these three stones!

It’s a Waste to Miss the Charm of Kagurazaka’s Backstreets: Realizing the Importance of Guides at Kagurazaka Festival

The reason why the backstreets were empty is likely because most people are unaware of them. It’s true that the backstreets are hard to navigate without a guide who knows the area well. That’s why I urge you to hire our guide and fully enjoy the charm of Kagurazaka. Coming to Kagurazaka without discovering most of its charm would be a “waste,” in my opinion.

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Kagurazaka Walking Tour

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How to Access Kagurazaka

The Kagurazaka area is conveniently located within 30 minutes from any major station in Tokyo. This is because Kagurazaka is situated in the heart of Tokyo, at the center of the Yamanote Line. Please come and visit this convenient and charming Kagurazaka.