Location: Ashigara Pass Summit Hiroba (public space)

Ashigara Pass has a superb view of Mt. Fuji. Legend has it that there, underneath the harvest moon, Yoshimitsu Shinra-Saburou instructed his pupil Tokiaki Toyohara in the secret music of shou (a bamboo woodwind instrument). Gagaku (traditional court music) and other events will be held related to this legend. After fuezuka kuyou (traditional flute performances) and fuku-mochi maki (tossing lucky rice cakes), other performances will be held including ashigara bayashi (traditional orchestra performances), taiko drums, shigin (Chinese poem recitation), youkyoku (Noh singing), shou, kenbu (sword dances), soukyoku (koto music), kyuudou (archery), hinawa-juu (traditional firearms), minyou (folk dances), and sasara odori dances.

For details, contact the Minami-Ashigara-City Department of Commerce and Tourism: (Tel. 0465-73-8031).

Location: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Yukinoshita, Kamakura-City

A yoimiya festival (celebration the night before the main festival) will be held Friday the 14th. On Saturday the 15th, a shinkousai ceremony focused on the main shrine’s three mikoshi (portable shrines) handed down from the Muromachi Era as well as Shinto priests, sacred horses, and people carrying ritual items such as pennants, shields, and spears will proceed from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine to the second torii gate. In front of the second torii, yaotome mai (a type of Kamakura kagura, Shinto ritual dance) will be performed. On Sunday the 16th, majestic Ogasawara-style yabusame (horseback archery) will be displayed by archers wearing traditional hunting costumes from the Kamakura Era who shoot at a series of three targets from the backs of running horses. They receive huge applause from the spectators if they hit their mark.

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

Location: Osan no Miya Hie-jinja Shrine, Minami-ku, Yokohama-City

The annual festival of Hie-jinja Shrine, a shrine affectionately called “Osan no Miya” or “Osan-sama.” On Saturday the 15th, Yokohama’s largest mikoshi (portable shrine) will be paraded around various places throughout town. A fair will take place within the shrine precincts and popular sacred performances will be held.

For details, contact Osan no Miya Hie-jinja Shrine: (Tel. 045-261-6902).

Location: Kobuchi Eki-mae Street, Sagamihara-City

Over 30 teams (1,000 plus dancers) will perform yosakoi odori dance on four special stages in the street, at Kobuchi-nishi Park, and other locations. Food stalls, etc. will also be available.

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

Location: Samukawa-jinja Shrine, Miyayama, Samukawa-Town

Intense Takeda-style yabusame, where archers shoot at targets from the backs of running horses, will be exhibited within the precincts of Samukawa-jinja Shrine. Thursday the 20th is the annual festival, featuring a presentation of kendo (Japanese fencing) and performances.

For details, contact Samukawa-jinja Shrine: (Tel. 0467-75-0004).