Location: Koga
Top Things to do in Koga
10 Things to Do in Koga That You Shouldn't Miss
KOGA is a Dutch bicycle manufacturer based in Heerenveen, Netherlands. The company is well known for its long time partnership with Japanese frame manufacturer Miyata, producing bicycles and sponsoring racing teams under the brand name Koga Miyata.
Restaurants in Koga
1. Koga Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Alfie E
Its amazing, when you see the entrance you will say that its to early because the cherry blossom not yet bloom, but behind the cherry tree you will noticed one of the variety of reddish pon flower into full bloom, i was amazed in this park, i will back again
2. Koga Fireworks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
The Kanto region's leading fireworks festival, Koga Fireworks features over 20,000 fireworks launched from Koga Golf Links on the banks of the Watarase River. The starmines set off in time to music, wide starmines, and huge 3-shakudama fireworks are particular must-sees. The festival also offers a paid Seating area where attendees can lie down on tarps or lounge chairs to watch the show in comfort. The fireworks are launched from the nearby Watarase Flood Plain, an area of rich natural beauty registered under the Ramsar Convention and the perfect place for a picnic before the show.
Reviewed By DiscoJul
The Koga Fireworks Show claims to be, and truly is the biggest show in the Kanto region. Though it is in Ibaraki, it's very close to Saitama and is only about an hour out of Tokyo, so is very easy to get to and return from (assuming Tokyo).
Going by the number of fireworks launched, this show, which had 25,790 fireworks this year, is about twice as large as even the biggest Tokyo shows. It lasts for 90 minutes (most big shows are 60 mins), but the time just flies and the variety in the types of fireworks used is almost as impressive as the sheer amount of them.
One of the other special things about this show is how close all of those fireworks are to the main viewing area. This means that basically wherever you are, the fireworks are extremely intense, you will really feel each and every explosion reverberate. At points it feels like the fireworks are more 'above' you than 'in front' (which is how most Tokyo shows feel). It really is on a different level to even the best shows in the Tokyo and Yokohama areas.
The only reason it doesn't get a full 5 out of 5 is because of the nature of the main viewing area. The viewing area is very long, but it's also quite narrow, and (as mentioned) very close to the fireworks' launching spots. This means there are relatively few places you can go to get a clear, central view without needing to 'save your spot' literally 5 days in advance (not exaggerating, literally 5 days in advance for the best free spaces). For locals, that's no real problem but for people making a special trip to Koga (like me and my group), it feels like there's no way to get a 'great' spot without paying for the expensive premium area. The way the locals save space for themselves is also irritating because many of them take way more space than they actually use and some don't even show up, leaving unused space in the middle of the best spots.
And unfortunately, it's basically impossible to watch the show from 'behind' despite it taking place on a golf course. The issues above wouldn't be issues so much if it were possible to watch the show from the other side of the course.
To sum up, it's truly a fantastic show but some organisational aspects meant I couldn't quite enjoy it to its fullest. In any case, I would strongly recommend it to anyone nearby or in the Tokyo area.
3. Navel Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Fakijp
Cheap and enjoyable place.pony ride.tunnel walk .yummy food at restuare ts.athletic play ground. A lot more
4. Koga Peach Matsuri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
There are more than 1,500 flowering peach trees of 5 different varieties growing in the peach grove at Koga Sogo Park, and they bloom with bright pink flowers from the middle or March to early April. The Koga Peach Matsuri is held to coincide with this period, and there are open-air tea ceremonies, local specialty products on sale, and rows of shop stalls run by local businesses. A variety of daily events are held on a specially built stage, including Exhibitions of traditional performing arts and song Performances.
Reviewed By totomai m - Chiba, Japan
Sakura may be the most popular bloom in Japan during spring, but there are other flowers that are equally beautiful too. One of them is the momo hana or peach blooms. And the perfect place to visit in order to enjoy the pink blooms will be the Koga Park.
To my surprise, the park is not that crowded even the blooms are already 80-90% open. I wonder why Japan is so obsessed with Sakura but not with the peach blooms. Both are equally beautiful.
Koga Park is like a paradise on earth. It is worth a visit during spring. Forget sakura and you will enjoy the momo hana.
5. Takami Senseki Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By 待兼山 - Osaka Prefecture, Japan
古河歴史博物館の向かいに、立派な長屋門があります。中は竹林に囲まれた藁葺きの武家屋敷です。古河藩の家老で、渡辺崋山の国宝肖像画で有名な鷹見泉石の役宅です。家老屋敷に相応しい大きな建物ですが、建物内部に上がることはできません。外からの見学のみ。玄関脇の囲炉裏端に落ち着いた休憩場所があります。
6. Koga Lantern Sao Momi Matsuri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
This event is said to have started when people carrying lanterns out to greet the priests of Nogi Shrine-formerly part of the Koga domain-on their return from a "Tour of the 7 Villages" that fell under the shrine's authority began rubbing their bodies together to stave off the cold. Even today this is called "Okaeri" (welcome back) and is well known by many people. An enclosure called "yarai" is constructed by assembling logs in a specially-designated event area in front of Koga Station. Inside this area, teams of roughly 20 young people support nearly 20-meter long bamboo poles with lanterns attached at the top, and attempt to extinguish their opponents' lanterns while aggressively slamming together. Embers scatter from colliding lanterns in an energetic and high-intensity display.
Reviewed By のんびり巡り - Minato, Japan
JR古河駅西口お祭り広場で毎年12月初旬に開催される関東では珍しい奇祭です。
市内各団体が20メートル近い竹竿の先につけた提灯を激しく揉み合いながら、相手の提灯の火を消し合う祭りで「関東の奇祭」と言われています。
この祭りは、江戸時代古河藩領（現・栃木県野木町）の野木神社の神官が、ご神体の神鉾を奉じて馬に乗り、神社の神領である七ヶ村の末社を巡り「七郷めぐり」を終え、のちの12月3日末明に帰社するのを、提灯を持って出迎えた人達が、寒さをしのぐために身体を揉み合ったのが始まりで、その名も「お帰り」と言われていました。
当時は、「今夜べぇだ、今夜べぇだ」という掛け声を叫びました。楽しみ羽目をはずしていいのも、今夜だけという意味のようです。
現在の会場では、高さ約10メートルの矢来を設置し、各団体がぶつかり合いながら竹竿を激しく揉み合うさまは、誠に勇敢です。
ぜひご来場の上、ご観覧ください。16時くらいから21時くらいまで行われるので、防寒は万全にしていった方が良いでしょう。
7. Koga City Museum of History
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By 待兼山 - Osaka Prefecture, Japan
JR古河駅から徒歩で15分ほど。古河城の出城あとに建っています。周囲はお堀を復元したようで、建物もお城の櫓のようです。館内は、鷹見泉石関連資料、古河の歴史関係、古河文人の書画の展示がされています。室町時代以降城下町として栄えた古河の歴史を知ることができます。
8. Watarase River
9. Tenkoku Art Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By 待兼山 - Osaka Prefecture, Japan
旧城下町の通りに面して建っている、てん刻専門の美術館。入館は有料です。案内板によれば、建物はこちらで酒類卸売業をされていた平野家の大谷石の石蔵で、国の登録有形文化財に指定されています。 建物見学だけでも楽しめます。
10. Koga Yokambe Matsuri
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
The Koga Yokambe Matsuri is a large-scale annual industry festival held at Koga Park, with a different theme every year. This popular festival features over 100 vendor stalls run by companies and stores, offering fine food and shopping to visitors. The festival easily accommodates children, providing playground equipment and a hero show. The stage Performances are a highlight of the festival, and include dancing, taiko drums, and wind ensembles. There will be special parking available during the festival, as well as a shuttle bus.
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