Kasukabe City's Hagoita Market 2023

The hero Sanada on a hagoita in the display at Kasukabe Station

Kasukabe City in Saitama Prefecture is known as 桐の街 kiri no machi for its heritage of paulownia wood chests of drawers. It's also known for its other crafts, such as straw hats and 羽子板 hagoita, the ornamental paddles used in a traditional New Year's game. On the platform of Minami-Sakurai Station, you'll see a showcase with these elaborately decorated paddles. It used to be that Kasukabe Station also had a large display, but since early 2023, it was removed as the platforms and lines are under construction.

Every year in late December, the city shows off the heritage crafts at a market on the east side of Kasukabe Station. This year, it's on December 22nd and 23rd. The first 100 visitors get a chance to receive some gifts, too.



The hagoita are of all sizes with all kinds of motifs - famous actors, sumo wrestlers, and historical figures. Because they're flat, they make good gifts for your visitors from abroad.