Ebisu (the god of wealth) sits with clasped hands on a rock at Hongakuji Temple in Kamakura City. It is believed that good fortune will come after he brings calmn to the world. People pray for the prosperity of their business and a good economy in the coming year. "Fuku-Musume" fortune maidens in beautiful traditional costume sell lucky bamboo ornaments ("Fuku-Zasa") during the "Ebisu-Ichi" market from January 1 to January 3 at the Hongaku-ji Temple of the Ebisu Deity. January 10 (Wed) is the day of the main "Ebisu-Taisai" festival, with the New Year "Fuku-Mochi" lucky rice cake making ritual performed from noon following the "Hon-Ebisu" Buddhist prayer service from 11:00 a.m.

For details, contact Honkaku-ji Temple (Tel: 0467-22-0490).

A ceremony performed as the start of a building contractor's work. Construction workers, led by a priest, carry a wooden block from the second gate to the pavilion while chanting valiantly. From there they use a hatchet, measure the block's dimensions with a carpenter's square, saw it, apply ink and shave the wood to finish it up with ancient tools.

For details, contact Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (Tel: 0467-22-0315).

Hinata Yakushi Temple was once called Hinatasan-Ryozenji Temple and is said to have been founded by Saint Gyoki in 716 A.D. during the reign of Empress Gensho. It is one of three of its kind in Japan. It houses 25 important cultural assets, including three Yakushi-nyorai statues and an Amida-nyorai statue. An exhibition of the principal images of Buddha is also held on the first three days of the New Year.

For details, contact Hinata Yakushi (Tel: 0463-95-1416).

A festival designated as one of the country's important non-tangible folk-cultural assets. Green bamboo sticks are set up along the shore, with New Year's decorations and good-luck talismans piled up 7-8 meters high in 9 places which are set on fire all at once at around 7 p.m. after the sun sets. People roast dumplings on a stick in the fire and pray for good health. Near the shore fishermen divide into teams for a game of tug-of-war called "Yanna-gokko.

For details, contact Oiso-machi Tourism Association (Tel: 0463-61-3300)

The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City and is designated as one of the country's important non-tangible cultural assets. Girls aged 5 to 15 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of "chakkirako", but it has been performed in the downtown area as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period. Every year many people visit and take photographs of the festival.

For details, contact Miura City Tourism Association (Tel: 046-888-0588)

Various events are held throughout the season at this plum orchard which boasts around 4,000 trees with red and white blossoms. The trees are decorated with lights from February 24 to March 11. On the first day the "Geisha dance of Yugawara spa" no Mai opening ceremony is held, and during the season there are "Ume-biyori" tours of the orchard, Japanese drum performances, open-air tea ceremonies (fees apply) and other events. Entrance fee: 200 yen per person (15 years of age and above *Excluding middle school students) *Entrance is free for guests staying at Yugawara Spa.

For details, contact Yugawara Spa Tourism Association (Tel: 0465-64-1234)

The "Hibuse" fire festival at Manpukuji Temple involves setting fire to notes and straw ropes from previous years in the garden after a catechism by mountain priests, reading of the sutras, and even a firewalk in which regular visitors can participate following the barefoot mountain priests (starting at 1 p.m.).

For details, contact Manpukuji Temple (Tel: 0465-42-1235).