Kawagoe Hikawa Jinja

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社) is a Shinto shrine in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, often called Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine to distinguish it from Hikawa Shrine in Omiya Ward, Saitama City. It is known for its long history in the Kawagoe area and for its Reitaisai, the festival regarded as the origin of the Kawagoe Festival. The shrine’s festival traditions are important to local religious life and regional identity. The Kawagoe Festival is registered as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Visitors know the shrine for its corridor of wind chimes, one of its best-known features. The site remains an active place of worship and a key cultural landmark in Kawagoe.