Add to my calendarSave to Google, Apple or Outlook Calendar
The 47th Kawasaki Citizens’ Festival (第47回かわさき市民祭り) takes place around Fujimi Park from Friday, October 30, to Sunday, November 1, 2026, with activities running from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Expect food stalls, regional specialties, live performances and activities for children.
If Sanrio is the main reason for your visit, choose Sunday, November 1: that is the only day scheduled for its character stage show and greeting events. Sunday is also the only day to try Sarara’s limited rice ball.
Check the official festival schedule
Dates, venue and access
The venue is the Fujimi Park area in Kawasaki Ward. Allow approximately 16 minutes on foot from Kawasaki Station; the announcement also gives an approximate bus journey time of seven minutes. Check the official festival website for the detailed venue layout and access information.
| Festival | 47th Kawasaki Citizens’ Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 30–November 1, 2026 |
| Daily hours | 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Venue | Fujimi Park and surrounding area, Kawasaki Ward |
| Address | Fujimi 1- and 2-chome and surrounding areas, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City, Japan |
| Access | Approximately 16 minutes on foot or seven minutes by bus from Kawasaki Station |
| Organizers | Kawasaki City and the 47th Kawasaki Citizens’ Festival Executive Committee |
| Admission | Not specified in the announcement; confirm on the official website. |
| Weather | Cancelled in severe weather. Cancellation notices will appear on the official festival website. |
Unicycle performances and family activities
One of this edition’s new attractions is a combination of unicycle demonstrations and a chance to try riding. The Kawasaki Unicycle Association (川崎一輪車協会), made up of six local clubs, is providing the experience sessions.
Kawasaki has a strong competitive unicycling scene: Masugata Unicycle Club (枡形一輪車クラブ) won a world title at a competition in Austria in August 2026. The festival offers an opportunity to see high-level riders perform. Check the festival programme for session times and participation details; background on the association is available on its official website.
| Activity | What to know |
|---|---|
| Sanrio stage show and character greetings | Sunday, November 1 only. Check the official programme for times. |
| Sports experiences | Activities include American football. |
| Mini Shinkansen | Listed among the children’s attractions. |
| Unusual bicycle rides | A chance to try different kinds of bicycles. |
For a separate Sanrio outing, see our Asoview campaign guide covering Sanrio Puroland. Check that offer’s dates and conditions before booking; it is separate from this festival.
Limited SUKIYAKI rice balls and stamp rally
The festival is also collaborating with the film SUKIYAKI (SUKIYAKI 上を向いて歩こう), which opens on December 25, 2026. The film puts the spotlight on a celebrated song by Kyu Sakamoto, who had ties to Kawasaki.
Four local businesses will sell limited-quantity SUKIYAKI rice balls, each using sukiyaki ingredients prepared by Miyadai Shoten (宮代商店), a Kawasaki meat specialist with more than 80 years of history. The fillings share that starting point, but the rice, seasoning and finishing touches vary.
| Seller | Price, tax included | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| Yoshidaya (吉田屋) | ¥400 | Rice milled by a certified five-star rice master, with nori selected by a seaweed wholesaler. |
| Iidaya (飯田屋) | ¥400 | Sukiyaki ingredients mixed into rice cooked with dashi and soy sauce, paired with crisp nori. |
| Okawa Shokudo (大川食堂) | ¥430 | Gas-cooked rice, dried salted egg yolk, Hashirimizu nori from Yokosuka and salt made from Kawasaki seawater. |
| Omusubi Cafe Sarara (おむすびかふぇサララ) | ¥400 | Shiso, sesame and sesame oil. Available only on Sunday, November 1. |
Choose by flavour: Iidaya’s version uses seasoned rice, while Okawa Shokudo adds salted egg yolk. Sarara’s version combines shiso and sesame, but requires a Sunday visit. Quantities are limited, and the announcement does not give stock numbers.
Collect five digital stamps for a prize draw
The SUKIYAKI digital stamp rally asks visitors to collect five stamps around the venue to enter a draw. Prizes include a voucher for one of the collaboration rice balls, promotional film merchandise and MoviTicke movie ticket cards. Completing the rally does not guarantee a prize.
If you plan to use your phone for the rally and photos, our d VALUE PASS and ChargeSPOT guide explains a power-bank rental option in Japan. Rental availability at this festival has not been confirmed.
Regional food, shopping and live stages
More than 130 organizations will take part in the bazaar and campaign booths. Alongside food and merchandise, visitors can browse regional specialties from 28 municipalities, spanning Hokkaido to Okinawa.
An Oku-Noto support area will also feature, using donations collected for purposes including support for people affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Around 80 groups are scheduled to appear on the stages, performing dance, cheerleading and music. The opening ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 30.
| Opening-ceremony participant | Performance |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki City Fire Department Band (川崎市消防音楽隊) | Musical performance |
| Fujitsu Frontierrettes (富士通女子チアリーダー部 フロンティアレッツ) | Cheerleading performance |
Before setting off, use the official programme to check the times and locations of your must-see activities. For another family outing to consider separately, our Ghibli Park Exhibition guide covers its stops in Osaka, Yokosuka and Kyoto.
View the programme and weather notices
Frequently asked questions
- Is admission free?
- The announcement does not specify an admission fee. Check the official festival website for admission and any charges for individual activities.
- When are the Sanrio events?
- The Sanrio character stage show and greeting events are scheduled only for Sunday, November 1, 2026. Check the official programme for times.
- Does completing the stamp rally guarantee a rice ball?
- No. Collecting five stamps lets you enter a prize draw. Rice-ball vouchers are among the prizes, but not every participant receives one.
- What happens in bad weather?
- The festival will be cancelled in severe weather. Cancellation notices will be posted on the official festival website.
Source: Kawasaki City’s announcement dated October 28, 2026. Information current as of October 29, 2026.
Related Articles
Plan your next day out
See what else is on that day, that month and in the same area on our event calendar.
Add to my calendarSave to Google, Apple or Outlook Calendar
Get new articles by email
We will email you when a new deals article goes up. You can choose the categories, too.