An ancient tradition lives on!

On the fourth Saturday of September in Hida Furukawa, a small city nestled in the rural mountains of Gifu, a scene from Japanese folklore comes to life. At the enchanting “Kitsunebi” Fox-Fire Wedding Festival, visitors can witness a captivating parade of torch-bearing “foxes” as they make their way through the town, leading up to the traditional wedding ceremony.

Fox-fire, known as “kitsune-bi” in Japanese, are the mysterious, ghostly flames that illuminate the night during a fox wedding ceremony in Japanese folklore. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the Will-o’-the-wisps found in European folklore, where flickering lights in dark woods and marshes were believed to be the souls of wandering spirits.

The fox-wedding couple is chosen from a pool of couples who apply from across the country. It’s said that those who catch a glimpse of the foxes’ wedding ceremony will be blessed with a bountiful fall harvest, safety for family members, and prosperity. Take part in this captivating, one-of-a-kind festival! It’s one you won’t want to miss!

Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 12:00pm-9:00pm (wedding procession from 6:00pm)
Venue: Hida Furukawa downtown area
Directions: 5-minute walk from JR Hida-Furukawa Station