Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Cultural Festival Arch: A Curated Selection of High-Impact Ideas to Captivate Visitors!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

When it comes to the main decoration for a school festival, isn’t it the arch?

Since it’s often displayed at the entrance and easily catches visitors’ eyes, the production team really puts in the effort.

In this article, we’ve gathered a collection of inspiring ideas, focusing on arches that were actually displayed at school festivals.

From easy options like inflatable air arches to wooden constructions and designs featuring popular characters, we’ve selected a wide range.

We hope this helps as a reference for making your own arch.

[Culture Festival Arches] A curated selection of high-impact ideas to attract visitors! (11–20)

Neuschwanstein Castle

Gate of the Ura High School Festival

Neuschwanstein Castle

A level of realism that feels like you’re actually traveling! Here are ideas for Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a very beautiful castle located in Bavaria, in southern Germany.

Its white, gleaming walls become even more stunning when lit by the sun.

The tall, towering chimneys are also one of its distinctive features.

Aim for a quality that makes visitors to your school festival feel as if they’re sightseeing, and give it a try!

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Otemon Gate of Miyazu Castle

2015 Miyako High School Festival Main Gate Arch Production: Compilation

Otemon Gate of Miyazu Castle

Let’s create something while tracing back through Japan’s history! Here are some ideas for the main gate (Otemon) of Miyazu Castle.

The Miyazu Castle Otemon is said to have been located in Tsuruga, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture.

How about recreating this historic main gate as the entrance to your school festival? In the video, a wooden bridge and signboards are installed.

Near the recreated gate, it would be good to place boards written by the students who made it, explaining its origins and history, and why they decided to build it.

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paper balloon

When you want something festive but don’t have the budget or time for elaborate creations, paper balloons are a great choice.

They have a traditional Japanese feel, making them perfect as decorations for Japan-inspired performances or booths.

Online and in stylish variety shops, you can find designs beyond the classic rainbow pattern, so with the right selection you can create an arch that matches your school festival theme perfectly.

You could use them as decorations and also give them to visitors as a little gift.

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Gachapin & Mukku

This is a parody of the children’s TV show Hirake! Ponkikki that aired on Fuji TV.

If you’re in your 30s or 40s, many of you probably watched it on mornings before heading to school.

The show’s characters, Gachapin and Mukku, appeared on many programs besides Hirake! Ponkikki—Gachapin showcasing his outstanding physical abilities, and Mukku shining with his excellent musical sense.

For adults visiting the school festival, this arch will feel nostalgic and naturally lift their spirits.

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SpongeBob

This is an arch themed after the TV anime SpongeBob SquarePants, which began airing in the United States in 1999.

In Japan, it started airing in 2000 and became popular not only among children but also among young women.

Many unique characters appear, including the main character SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick the starfish.

It’s also recommended to use the underwater city Bikini Bottom, where Bob and his friends live, as a motif and incorporate undersea elements into the design.

Give it a try!

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Ishtar Gate

An arch in the heart; arch construction

Ishtar Gate

This is an arch modeled after the Ishtar Gate, which was built in 575 BCE in Babylon, the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

It features reliefs of the goddess Ishtar of Babylon and bulls, and is a vivid gate covered with blue-painted tiles and roof tiles.

To make it as an arch, first divide it into several sections to create the base, attach boards, and paint them blue.

At the same time, prepare the reliefs, and once the paint is dry, attach them.

Finally, assemble all the parts and add the finishing decorative details to complete it.

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[Cultural Festival Arch] A curated selection of high-impact ideas to captivate visitors! (21–30)

It’s ‘wa’ (Japanese harmony), but it’s not ‘wa’.

Here’s a recommended idea for those who want to achieve an uncommon design: “Japanese, yet not Japanese.” This approach uses a Japanese-style design based on elements like traditional patterns, while creating a non-traditional atmosphere through choices such as color schemes.

For example, you might use a Japanese pattern but choose a bright blue color.

Beyond this, by combining elements that are the polar opposite of “wa” (Japanese style), you can come up with many different designs.

To start, freely pick out various “wa” elements.

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