Location: Central shopping district in Hiratsuka City
Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
July 2007
- Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Star Festival
- Yudate Lion Dance
- Enoshima Tenno Festival
- Toronagashi and Noryo Fireworks
- Wind Bell Market in Kawasaki-Daishi Temple
- Kibune Festival
- Kanagawa Yamato Awa Oodori Dance
- Yokohama Hawaii Festival 2007
- Akari no Saiten ("Festival of Lights") - Odawara Lantern Summer Festival
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Star Festival :
July 5 (Thu) to July 9 (Sun)
The central shopping district in Hiratsuka City will be covered in gorgeous, colorful decorations strung from bamboo branches. Lights are shined on the decorations until 9:30 p.m. to create an even more romantic atmosphere. On Thursday the 5th, there will be a kiyari matoi (lumberjack song) parade and an orihime (female textile worker performance) parade. They will be followed by a thousand-person Tanabata dance parade on Friday the 6th, folk art performances by friendship cities Takayama City and Hanamaki City on Saturday the 7th, and the Shonan Hiratsuka Orihime and Band Parade on Sunday the 8th, as well as several other events.
For details, contact the Hiratsuka City Commerce and Tourism Office (Tel: 0463-35-8107).
Just outside the North Exit of Hiratsuka Station on the JR Tokaido Line
Yudate Lion Dance : July 15 (Sun)
Location: Suwa Shrine in Miyagino, Hakone Town
After a quiet dance performance at the front shrine, a sword dance in the garden and other ceremonies, lions will sprinkle water boiled in a cauldron over the heads of visitors, and the Yudate Lion Dance will be offered up as a prayer for good health. The events will take place from 2 to 4 p.m.
For details, contact the Hakone Town Tourist Information Center (Tel: 0460-85-5700).
40-minute bus ride from the East Exit of Odawara Station (get off at Miyagino)
> Miyagino Yudate Lion Dance
http://www.hakone.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Enoshima Tenno Festival : July 15 (Sun)
Location: Yasaka Shrine and Koyurugi Shrine in Enoshima, Fujisawa City
Portable shrines from Yasaka Shrine and Koyurugi Shrine, which are located on opposite shores, cross paths during this annual festival. The highlight of the festival is when the shrines get carried across the sea from one shore to the other. Festivities begin around 11 a.m.
For details, contact the Katase-Enoshima Tourist Information Center (Tel: 0466-24-4141).
Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line, Enoshima Station on the Enoden Line and Shonan-Enoshima Station on the Shonan Monorail
> Enoshima Tenno Festival
http://www.fta-shonan.jp/index.html (Japanese)
Toronagashi and Noryo Fireworks : July 16 (holiday)
Location: Katase coast and Sakai riverside in Fujisawa City
About 500 fireworks are set off after thousands of lanterns are sent down the Sakai River (Katase River). The events will take place from 7 p.m. to around 8 p.m.
For details, contact the Katase-Enoshima Tourist Information Center (Tel: 0466-24-4141).
Wind Bell Market in Kawasaki-Daishi Temple :
July 18 (Wed) to July 22 (Sun)
Location: Tht precinct of Kawasaki-Daishi Temple, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City
The Wind Bell Market is a seasonal tradition in Kawasaki-Daishi Temple. Wind bells will be gathered from all over Japan (800 types from 47 prefectures for a total of around 25,000 bells) all the way from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south to invite cool summer breezes.
For details, contact the Kawasaki Daishi Temple (Tel: 044-266-3420).
Take the Keikyu Daishi Line to Kawasaki Daishi Station from Keikyu Kawasaki Station on the Keikyu Line
> Kawasaki Daishi
http://128.121.227.65/kawasakidaishi.html (Japanese)
Kibune Festival : July 27 (Fri) to July 28 (Sat)
Location: Kibune Shrine and Manazuru Port in Manazuru Town
Beautifully decorated boats cast their reflections on the blue waters for a spectacular sight during this boat festival at Manazuru Port. The festivities begin on Friday the 27th with "Mizuuke," a launching ceremony for the two kobayabune boats located on either side of the main mikoshibune boat that carries a portable shrine. Hand-paddled boats will then tow the kobayabune, mikoshibune and hayashibune boats. On Saturday the 28th, the portable shrine and hanadashi floats will be paraded throughout the town, and Kashima odori dance performances will take place at various locations along the way.
For details, contact the Manazuru Tourism Association (Tel: 0465-68-1001).
Take the bus for five minutes from Manazuru Station on the JR Tokaido Line and get off at Miyamae.
> Kibune Festival
http://www.manazuru.net/index.htm (Japanese)
Kanagawa Yamato Awa Oodori Dance : July 27 (Fri) to July 29 (Sun)
Location: The shopping district around Yamato Station in Yamato City
There will be a small festival on Friday the 27th, the night before the main events. More than 4,000 people will participate in the grand Awa Odori dance bashes on Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th.
For details, contact the Yamato Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tel: 046-263-9111).
Yamato Station on the Odakyu Enoshima line and Sotetsu lines
Yokohama Hawaii Festival 2007 : July 27 (Fri) to July 29 (Sun)
Location: Yokohama Port Osanbashi Hall and other locations in Naka-ku, Yokohama City
This festival features Japan's largest Hawaiian market, Hawaiian concerts, hula dances, Hawaiian food, workshops (ukulele, lei making, ribbon leis, lomi lomi), 1,000 hula dancers, 1,000 ukulele players, Yokohama and Hawaiian historical exhibits and other attractions.
For details, contact the executive committee (Tel: 045-664-6633).
Nihon-odori Station on the Minato Mirai Line
> Yokohama International Passenger Terminal "Osanbashi Pier"
Akari no Saiten ("Festival of Lights") - Odawara Lantern Summer Festival : July 28 (Sat) to July 29 (Sun)
Location: Ninomaru Square in the Odawara Castle Park in Odawara City
Various events will take place on stage at Ninomaru Square, the main venue for the festival, including the opening music festival, citizen performances, the Odawara Band Contest, the Odawara Lantern Dance Parade (contest), and the Odawara Castle Drum Performance.
For details, contact the Odawara Tourism Association (Tel: 0465-22-5002).
10-minute walk from the East Exit of Odawara Station
> Odawara Castle
> "Akari no Saiten" Odawara Lantern Summer Festival
http://www.odawara-kankou.com/ (Japanese)