The Koinobori Festival has become a spring tradition in Soja City.
It is held every year from mid-April to early May at the comprehensive tourist farm “Nomaru Engei Kibiji Farm.”
In 2025, from Saturday, April 12 to Tuesday, May 6, around 100 carp streamers will be raised inside and outside the farm every day, except in severe weather.
There are few places in Okayama Prefecture where more than 100 carp streamers are raised, and this is the time of year when you can almost hear people saying, “We’ve been waiting for this.”
The writer, who lives in Soja City, went to cover the event.
The information provided is current as of when this article was published in April 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Koinobori Festival?
The Koinobori Festival is an event that began in 2013, in which Nomaru Engei raises carp streamers.
Families who can no longer display their carp streamers for various reasons donate them, and they are raised or displayed inside and outside the farm in time for Children’s Day.
The Koinobori Festival is being held for the 13th time this year (2025).
It has now become a spring tradition in Soja City, and many people visit Nomaru Engei from all over to catch a glimpse of the carp streamers gracefully swimming across the blue sky.
What makes the spring tradition, the Koinobori Festival, special
The Koinobori Festival’s highlights are about more than just the large number of carp streamers. Behind the beautiful scenery are the staff’s ingenuity and dedication.
From ways to create a dynamic display to creating a place that connects the memories of families who donated their carp streamers, a great deal of effort goes into making this an event loved by the local community.
Here, we’ll introduce what makes the long-running Koinobori Festival so special.
A colorful and dynamic scene
There are 74 carp streamers outside the farm and 37 inside, for a total of 111. They are arranged in a variety of colors, including black, red, and blue, and the sight of them swimming across the sky is truly spectacular.
They range in size from 2 to 6 meters, and as they sway in the breeze, they look almost alive. Their appearance changes depending on the viewing angle, making them perfect for photos.
Many visitors took out their cameras to capture the colorful scenery as a keepsake.
This magnificent and beautiful scene of spring skies and carp streamers can only be seen at this time of year.
Keeping the display beautiful with daily maintenance and ingenuity
The carp streamers can fly beautifully in the sky every day thanks to the careful maintenance carried out by the staff. They are raised at 9 a.m. and taken down at 5 p.m. every day, and any tangles or damage are repaired or replaced as needed.
They also take care to prevent the carp streamers from getting tangled, for example, by placing smaller streamers at the ends and larger ones in the center.
Thanks to the staff’s daily efforts and ingenuity, which go unseen by visitors, everyone can see the display at its best.
Knowing what goes on behind the scenes may make the beauty of the carp streamers at Nomaru Engei all the more memorable.
Creating local memories for three generations to enjoy
This event is not just something to “see”; it is also a place where family memories are shared across generations.
Some people donate their carp streamers, saying, “I want to show my grandchild the one I used to use,” while others donate them because they can no longer display them at home. Families spanning three generations also visit to see the streamers they donated, and this sense of connection across generations is another part of the Koinobori Festival’s appeal.
Spending a relaxing moment with your family while looking up at the carp streamers can make everyday life a little richer. Come and experience this warm time that brings you closer to your family.
How to enjoy the Koinobori Festival
At Nomaru Engei, carp streamers are not only raised high in the sky outside the farm; they are also displayed throughout the grounds. Some hang from the ceiling, while others are attached to walls, and streamers with a variety of patterns are displayed in different spots. Take a walk around the farm and try a “carp streamer hunt.”
While looking for carp streamers, the writer made an unexpected discovery: a dagashi corner.
Along with snack foods, it also sells nostalgic treats such as temari-dama and puffed rice snacks.
Even though I had visited Nomaru Engei many times, I discovered something new I hadn’t noticed before, giving me another reason to come back.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year: Other Nomaru Engei events to check out
This year marks Nomaru Engei’s 20th anniversary, and a variety of events are being held.
We recommend exploring the grounds at your leisure and enjoying the events together as a family.
Succulent Fair
There will be a succulent plant workshop led by Yazawa Hidenaru, a garden advisor at Home Center Time, as well as a talk show and autograph session with Yazawa and “Rose Prince” Ono Kosho.
There will also be a succulent auction and repotting workshop. Succulents are growing in popularity in 2025, so if you’re interested, be sure to take part.
Petunia and Vegetable Fair
Yazawa Hidenaru, the garden advisor who leads the succulent workshops, will also hold workshops on growing petunias and clematis.
There will also be workshops on growing vegetables. If you’d like to try growing vegetables or have had trouble succeeding in the past, why not join one?
The farm shop will reportedly sell planters and plant tonics at special low prices.
Saturday, April 12, 2025–Sunday, May 11, 2025
Strawberry picking
Of course, strawberry picking is also available, and you can eat as many as you like of four varieties of strawberries for 40 minutes.
It is scheduled to run until early June in 2025, but since it will end once the ripe berries are gone, it’s best to book in advance.
A message from Noumaru Engei to the local community
Ando Yukihiro, the public relations representative for the Koinobori Festival, shared a message for the local community.
Ando (titles omitted)
Recently, more events featuring carp streamers have been held around the prefecture, but I think it’s rare to see more than 100 carp streamers gathered in one place in a rural area. I’d be happy if you stopped by, even just to see the carp streamers.
I think bringing three generations of your family and showing your own carp streamer to your grandchildren is one way to contribute to the community, so I really hope you’ll come by, even if it’s just to see the carp streamers.
These days, there are fewer opportunities to see carp streamers, which is why I hope families will come together to visit the Carp Streamer Festival.
From the Writer
The Koinobori Festival, now in its 13th year in 2025, is a heartwarming spring event created through the dedication of local people and the ingenuity of the staff.
The sight of colorful koinobori swimming across the blue sky was beautiful—a view you’d want to see again and again.
Whether you’d like to spend a relaxing day with your family or enjoy discovering something new, why not visit Noumaru Engei this spring?
Koinobori Festival Information
| Name | Koinobori Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 12 (Sat)–May 6 (Tue), 2025 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Canceled in case of rain or strong winds |
| Location | 411-1 Nishigori, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Noumaru Engei Kibiji Farm |
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Saturday, April 12, 2025–Sunday, April 20, 2025