Location: Minato Mirai 21, Nishi-Ward, Yokohama-City/Rinko Park Area
Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
June 2009
Yokohama Port Opening Festival : June 1 (Mon) to June 2 (Tues)
2009 is the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port. Events are held through the cooperation of the townspeople to celebrate the opening of the port. Events include public sail drills on the boat Kaiomaru, sunset pleasure boat cruises, Chinese lion dances, and concerts. A chorus of 1,000 townspeople will perform “Dream of Harmony.” The “Beam Spectacle in Harbor Finale,” a music and laser show where approximately 3,000 fireworks will be set off, will be held Tuesday June 2nd.
For details, visit http://www.kaikosai.com/
For details, contact the Yokohama Port Opening Festival Committee (Tel: 045-212-5511)
For details, contact the Yokohama Port Opening Festival Committee (Tel: 045-212-5511)
15-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station, or get off at Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line
> Yokohama Minato Mirai Manyo Club
> Yokohama Port Opening Festival
Jamokamo Festival : June 7 (Sun)
Location: Hara Shinmeisha Shrine, Namamugi, Tsurumi-Ward, Yokohama-City
A festival held for approximately 300 years to protect against disease. Two large snakes (male and female) made out of grass are carried throughout the town. These snakes, approximately 1 meter wide and 20 meters long, are made within the shrine precincts from 6:30 the morning of the festival, then depart from the shrine at 13:00. After they are carried around the town and brought back to the shrine at 17:00, they are then burned within the precincts the following morning.
Asama-jinja Shrine Annual Festival : June 6 (Sat) to June 7 (Sun)
Location: Asama-jinja Shrine, Asama-Town, Nishi-Ward, Yokohama-City
On Saturday June 6th, mikoshi (portable shrines) will be carried about. On Sunday June 7th, 8 children’s mikoshi will be paraded energetically throughout the town. On both days, the road to Asama-shita (the old Tokaido Highway) will be lined as it is every year with approximately 400 stands, allowing visitors to get a taste of the lively old Yokohama downtown area.
For details, contact Asama-jinja Shrine (Tel: 045-311-2891)
13-minute walk from the West Exit of Yokohama Station, or take the bus and get off at Asama-shita
Susaki-taijin Shrine Lantern Festival : June 12 (Fri) to June 14 (Sun)
Location: Susaki-taijin Shrine, Kanagawa-Ward, Yokohama-City
The annual festival of Susaki-taijin Shrine, which was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1191. The main event is on Sunday June 14th, when one of Japan's largest mikoshi (approximately 2 tons heavy and 5 meters tall) will be pulled by a tractor throughout 37 towns. When it grows dark around 19:00, the paper lanterns attached to the mikoshi will be lit up, a lantern parade will take place, and many street stands will be opened on the road to the shrine.
For details, contact Susaki-taijin Shrine (Tel: 045-441-5081)
Approximately 3-minute walk from Kanagawa Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line
Tiger Dance : June 13 (Sat)
Location: Tametomo-jinja Shrine, Nishi-Uraga-Town, Yokosuka-City
An unusual type of folk dance even within Japan that is based on the scene from the play "The Battles of Coxinga" by Chikamatsu Monzaemon when Watonai, the hero, hunts a tiger. At the special stage within the shrine precincts, children dressed in Chinese clothing will perform a dance, then two people costumed as large and small tigers will appear. Acrobatic dances "tora-kaeshi" and "tama-hiroi" will be performed along with hayashi music consisting of shamisen, flute, and taiko drum instruments. Finally, "tora-taiji" (tiger killing) will be performed. Events take place from the evening.
For details, contact the Yokosuka-City Lifelong Study Department
(Tel: 046-822-8483)
(Tel: 046-822-8483)
Take the Kurihama Station-bound bus from Yokosuka Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line and get off at Konya-Town (approximately 5 minutes)
Gosho-jinja Shrine Annual Festival : June 14 (Sun)
Zaimokuza, Kamakura-City
The annual festival of Gosho-jinja Shrine, the patron shrine of Zaimokuza. Three mikoshi will be carried through the town in Zaimokuza, then brought into the ocean at 15:00, where they will be paraded about.
For details, contact the Kamakura City Tourist Association (Tel: 0467-23-3050)
Take the bus from the East Exit of Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
Shio-Kagura Festival : June 16 (Tue)
Morito-jinja Shrine, Horiuchi, Hayama-Town
This year's festival is a large festival held once every five years. "Shio-Kagura" dance ("Yudate-Kagura") is performed to pray for marine safety and bountiful fishing catches.
For details, contact the Hayama-Town Fisherman's Cooperative Association (Tel: 046-875-9509)
From Zushi Station on the JR Yokosuka Line or Shin-Zushi Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line, take the beach bus bound for Hayama and get off at Morito-jinja Shrine (approximately 15 minutes)
Summer Purification Rites : June 30 (Tues)
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Yukinoshita, Kamakura-City
- Enoshima-jinja Shrine, Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi
- Samukawa-jinja Shrine, Miyayama, Samukawa-Town
- Hakone-jinja Shrine, Moto-Hakone, Hakone-town
Events are held at various shrines to rid oneself of the impurities of the last half-year, including ceremonies and Chinowakuguri (Passing through the Circle of Miscanthus). Rites will be held at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Enoshima-jinja Shrine, Samukawa-jinja Shrine, Hakone-jinja Shrine, and other locations.
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (Tel: 0467-22-0315)
- Enoshima-jinja Shrine (Tel: 0466-22-4020)
- Samukawa-jinja Shrine (Tel: 0467-75-0004)
- Hakone-jinja Shrine (Tel: 0460-83-7123)
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine: 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
- Enoshima-jinja Shrine: 15-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line, or 20-minute walk from Enoshima Station on the Enoden Line or Shonan Enoshima Station on the Shonan Monorail
- Samukawa-jinja Shrine: 5-minute walk from Miyayama Station on the JR Sagami Line
- Hakone-jinja Shrine: Take the bus from the East Exit of Odawara Station and get off at Moto-Hakone (60 minutes)
- http://www.hachimangu.or.jp (Japanese)
- http://www.enoshimajinja.or.jp/ (Japanese)
- http://hakonejinja.or.jp/ (Japanese)