In 1619, at the beginning of the Edo Period, a checkpoint was established in Edo to inspect weapons coming into Edo and people entering and leaving Edo. Reconstruction of checkpoint buildings, etc., based on written works of the time, has now been completed.

Open Hours: 9am – 5pm
　　　　　　　   Winter Season (December 1 – End of February): 9am – 4:30pm
Admission Fee: Adults 500 yen, Elementary Students 250 yen
　　　　　　　　　  Discounts available for groups of 20 or more.
Time Required: Approximately 45 minutes

Location: Wakamiya-hachimangu Shrine, Kawasaki Ward, City of Kawasaki

A popular festival for fertility and protection from AIDS.
At 10am a “fire carrying ceremony” is ignited with a flint, which is followed by annual festival rites, and then the divine object is placed on the palanquin and Kanamarako volunteers carve daikon radishes. This is followed by the offering of male and female “Daikon Carvings” before the deity, and then the masked procession begins. 3 portable shrines are brought out, around which masked and costumed participants parade in the street. (※Participation is free）.

For details, contact the Wakamiya-hachimangu Shrine (Kanayama-jinja Shrine) (Tel: 044-222-3206).

Location: Kamakura City Yukinoshita / Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, etc.

A grand festival to paint the Spring of Old Kamakura.
There will be bands, a portable shrine, Japanese bands, etc. as well as a parade, debut of Miss Kamakura 2007, a “shizuka no mai” dance, an open-air tea ceremony, and a festival in front of the public Yoritomo memorial.
The horseback archery to be performed on April 15 (Sun) (1pm – 4pm / Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine horse-riding ground) is a popular event.
Also, the Yoshitsune Festival will be held on April 21 (Sat) (From 1pm / Koshigoemanpuku-ji Temple).

For details, contact the Kamakura City Tourist Association (Office) (Tel: 0467-23-3050).

Location: Hadano City / Hadano Tokawa Prefectural Park, etc.

”Hadano Tanzawa Festival” – Annoucing the arrival of Spring in Tanzawa.
Events will be held at Hadano Tokawa Prefectural Park and Shibusawa Station (Odakyu Line), the gateways to outer Tanzawa.
Highlights at Hadano Tokawa Park will include Japanese taiko drumming, a 100-person chorus, and an alp horn musical performance as part of a “ceremony to open the mountain-climbing season” with the beautiful mountain ranges of Tanzawa in the background.
After this will be the departure for a group mountain climb aiming for Tonodake.
A children’s daimyo parade around Shibusawa Station, at the Nishi Elementary School event grounds and there will be a live open-air performance by musicians. A highlight on the eve of the festival will be a fireworks and Japanese taiko drumming performance using “jumbo fire-starters,” a famous product of Hadano.

For details, contact the Hadano City Tourist Section (Tel: 0463-82-5111)

Locations: Naka-ku, Yokohama City / 21 areas all through the Noge shopping district, Isezaki Mall 1-2 Chome, Yokohama City Nishi-ku Minato-mirai, etc.

About 95 groups of street performers from Japan and overseas will gather for a street performance.

For details, contact the Noge Street Performers Executive Committee (Tel: 045-262-1234)

Location: Throughout Chigasaki City

A tribute to the posthumous influence of “Ooka Echizen no Kami Tadasuke Kou,” a famous person of the Edo Period. An Echizen no Kami photograph exhibit, grave-front memorial service, Chigasaki Industrial Fair, Spring citizen’s festival, and many other official events will be held. The Echizen procession and the big portable shrine parade are famous highlights held on Sunday, March 29th (a holiday).

For details, contact the Chigasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tel: 0467-58-1111)

Location: Suigodana, Sagamihara City / Upstream from the Tanabashi Bridge

An exhilarating event where 5 wires are strung across the Sagami-gawa River, and approximately 1,200 carp banners are strung from them and flown above the river. Drum and fife performance on a specially-constructed stage, performance of Okinawan Eisa dancing, Japanese orchestra / folk drumming, band performances, etc.

For details, contact the Sagamihara City Tourist Association (Tel: 042-769-8236).