What does carp streamers mean to Japan?
Carp streamers, or “koinobori” in Japanese, are traditional Japanese flags shaped like carp that are displayed in homes and public places during the annual Children’s Day celebration, also known as Tango no Sekku. Children’s Day is May 5 and is a national holiday in Japan.
The carp streamers are meant to represent the carp’s resilience and strength, as the fish is known for swimming upstream and overcoming obstacles. In Japan, they are used to symbolize parents’ wishes for their children to grow up to be strong and successful.
Typically, a set of carp streamers consists of one large black carp (representing the father), several smaller colored carp (representing the children), and a series of colorful windsocks known as “fukinagashi.”
Carp streamers are enjoyed for their beauty as they flutter in the wind and have become a popular sight during the Children’s Day season in Japan. Many local festivals feature carp streamers, and people come from all over to enjoy their colorful displays.
Among the many festivals, I would like to introduce you to the Koinobori of Uzuma!
Carp streamer in Uzuma
Carp streamers swim vigorously along the river in the city with Japanese warehouses.
You can see many colorful carp streamers swimming energetically and beautifully in the Uzuma River that runs through the center of Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture.
The number of them is 1115!
Since the river was an important water transportation hub in the past, traditional Japanese warehouses still remain, and just strolling along the riverside is an atmospheric experience.
Carp streamers will be displayed from mid-March to early May.
Uzuma River Unique Experience!!
Sightseeing boat with local boatmen
You can take a 30-minute cruise on a traditional Japanese hand-operated boat. You can view the carp streamers from below n below.
At that time, the boatman tells the history of the town and performs a song that has been handed down locally for many years.
So you can relax and enjoy the scenery, letting the slow river flow take its toll on you.
FEE
Adult: 1,000yen
Child: 700yen
Cherry blossoms and carp streamers living together
Cherry blossoms are generally at their best in late March or early April, and carp streamers can be found in early May.
However, Uzuma is a rare place where you can see both cherry blossoms and carp streamers at the same time.
Therefore, to see the rare scenery, visit between late March and early April. However, check the official website to see when the carp streamers will be on display!
Access to Tochigi City
As a first note, Tochigi City is not Utsunomiya City! Please be careful when visiting!
There are various ways to get to Tochigi City from Tokyo.
- By Shinkansen: The fastest and easiest way to get to Tochigi City from Tokyo is by taking the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya Station, which takes approximately 50 minutes. From Utsunomiya Station, transfer to the JR Nikko Line bound for Nikko and get off at Tochigi Station, which takes approximately 30 minutes.It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes and costs around 6,000 yen.
- By Regular Train: From Tokyo Station, take the JR Yamanote Line or Keihin-Tohoku Line to Ueno Station. At Ueno Station, transfer to the JR Utsunomiya Line bound for Utsunomiya and get off at Tochigi Station, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and costs around 2,000 yen.
- By Bus: Several bus companies offer direct services from Tokyo to Tochigi City, such as JR Bus Kanto and Tobu Bus. The trip takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the traffic. The costs are around 3,000 yen.