Location: Odawara-City / Odawara Joshi Park, other locations
Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
May 2008
Odawara Hojo Godai Festival : May 2 (Fri) to May 3 (Holiday)
On the 2nd, there will be a memorial service in front of Hojo Godai’s grave and a handmade armor parade. The main festival will be held on the 3rd, including a warrior departure ceremony, bands, warrior groups, large-scale townspeople parade, warrior homecoming ceremony, and returning ceremony.
For details, contact the Odawara-City Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-22-5002)
Approximately 10 minute walk from the East Exit of Odawara Station
> Odawara Castle
> Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri Festival
http://www.odawara-kankou.com/ (Japanese)
Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Festival and the 56th Annual Yokohama Parade (International Costume Parade) : May 3 (Holiday)
Location: Around Naka-Ward, Yokohama-City
A large parade (approximately 4,000 people in 70 groups) featuring extravagant floats, marching bands, etc. will take place. Events include the opening parade, kid’s parade, and a “super” parade.
For details, contact the International Costume Parade (Tel: 0180-99-4045, available from 1 week before the event)
Get off at Kannai Station or Sakuragi-cho Station on the JR Negishi Line or the Yokohama Municipal Subway Line, or get off at Bashamichi Station or Nihon Odori Station on the Minato Mirai Line
> Yamashita Park
> The Yokohama International Costume Parade
http://www.yokohama-cci.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Shonan Village Festival 2008 : May 3 (Holiday) to May 5 (Holiday)
Location: Kami-Yamaguchi, Hayama-Town / Shonan Village Center
A piano concert will be held on the 3rd (holiday) to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the piano. The 3rd and the 5th (holiday) will feature lectures and screenings of Zhang Keming’s film “Wrapped in Green,” which won the Grand Prize at the 11th Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival (“Earth Vision”). Local items, goods from Aizu, and local beer will also be on sale.
For details, contact Shonan Village Center (Tel: 046-855-1802)
Take the Shonan Village-bound bus from Zushi Station on the JR Yokosuka Line or Shin-Zushi Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line and get off at Shonan Village Center (approximately 30 minutes)
> Shonan Village (Shonan Village Center)
Sagami Giant Kite Festival : May 4 (Holiday) to May 5 (Holiday)
Location:
*Kasenjiki, Araiso area, Sagami-gawa River, Sagamihara-City / Shindo Sports Hiroba
*Shimo-isobe
*Sandan-no-taki Shita Hiroba
*Kasenjiki, Araiso area, Sagami-gawa River, Sagamihara-City / Shindo Sports Hiroba
*Shimo-isobe
*Sandan-no-taki Shita Hiroba
A ritual handed down from the Edo Period, giant kites are flown at the Shindo Sports Hiroba (14.5 and 9.0 square meters), Shimo-isobe, and the Sandan-no-taki Shita Hiroba (10.8 square meters) to pray for the birth of children and abundant harvests.
In addition, approximately 1,200 carp streamers will be flown above the Sagami-gawa River from April 29 (Holiday) to May 5 (Holiday) at Suigoutana (upstream from the Takadabashi Bridge; take the Suigoutana-bound bus from Fuchinobe Station on the JR Yokohama Line and get off at the last stop [approximately 30 minutes]).
For details, contact the Sagamihara-City Tourism Association (Tel: 042-769-8236)
*Kasenjiki, Araiso area, Sagami-gawa River, Sagamihara-City / Shindo Sports Hiroba
-Approximately 15 minute walk from Soubudai-shita Station-mae on the JR Shonan Line
*Shimo-isobe
-Take the Isobe-bound bus from Soubudai Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at the last stop (approximately 15 minutes). Approximately 10 minute walk.
*Sandan-no-taki Shita Hiroba
-Approximately 10 minute walk from Shimomizo Station on the JR Shonan Line
> Sagamigawa River
> Sagami Giant Kite Festival and Giant Kite Center
> Sagami Giant Kite Festival
http://www.e-sagamihara.com/index.html (Japanese)
Zama-City Giant Kite Festival : May 4 (Holiday) to May 5 (Holiday)
Upstream from the Zakaebashi Bridge, Zama-City / Sagami-gawa River Grounds, Zama-City
At Kasenjiki at the Sagami-gawa River, a giant 13 square meter kite (the size of 100 tatami mats) weighing approximately 1 ton will be flown from 200 meters of rope and 47 70 meter threads. Other events include sale of giant kite goods, “wanpaku” sumo, hayashi music, taiko drumming, and folk dance performances.
For details, contact the Zama-City Department of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (Tel: 046-252-7604)
Take the Isobe-bound bus from Soubudai Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at Sobudai-shita (approximately 6 minutes). Approximately 15 minute walk.
> Sagamigawa River (Sagamigawa River)
> Zama Giant Kite Festival
Kamakura Beach Festa 2008 : May 10 (Sat) to May 11 (Sun)
Location: Yuigahama shore to Yuigahama Park, Kamakura-City
A myriad of fun early summer events will take place at the Kamakura beach, including Prefectural Police Band performances, Yosakoi dancing, street dancing, beach cleaning, skydiving shows, hula dancing, beach concerts, jazz performances, sand sculptures, and food booths.
For details, contact the Kamakura Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tel: 0467-23-2562)
Approximately 15 minute walk from Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
Yukake Festival : May 24 (Sat)
Location: Yugawara-Town / Yugawara Spa Town
The origin of the festival dates back to the Tokugawa Period, when water from the hot springs of Yugawara, said to cure diseases, was put in barrels and presented to shogun families. This festival recreates a ceremony where water was poured for purification. A parade is held where people along the road spiritedly pour hot water into 5 mikoshi (portable shrines) built from wooden tubs.
For details, contact the Yugawara Spa Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-64-1234)
Take the bus from Yugawara Station on the JR Tokaido Line and get off at Ochiai-bashi (10 minutes)
http://www.yugawara.or.jp/index.htm (Japanese)