Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
September 2009
- Rokusho-jinja Shrine Annual Festival “Kushi Matsuri”
- Hiratsuka Hachimangu Bonbori Festival
- Kaisei Awa Odori Dance
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Annual Festival
- Samukawa-jinja Shrine Yabusame
- Osan no Miya Autumn Festival
- Sagamihara Yosakoi RANBU!
- Isehara Daijingu Shrine Annual Festival
- Hadano Tobacco Festival
Rokusho-jinja Shrine Annual Festival “Kushi Matsuri” :
September 6 (Sun)
Location: Rokusho-jinja Shrine, Kokufu-hongo, Oiso-Town
On this day, combs, hina dolls, sorrowful letters, and talismans are gathered at the shrine, where an exorcism is performed over them and they are burned the next day. Within the shrine precincts, shrine maidens perform sacred dances, heron dances and Oiso Kokufu taiko drum performances are held, and large mikoshi are carried about.
For details, contact Rokusho-jinja Shrine (Tel: 0463-71-3737)
Take the Hiratsuka Station-bound bus from the South Exit of Ninomiya Station on the JR Tokaido Line (5 minutes) and get off at Kokufu-shinjuku (approximately 3-minute walk)
Hiratsuka Hachimangu Bonbori Festival :
September 11 (Fri) to September 14 (Mon)
Location: Hiratsuka Hachimangu Shrine, Sengen-Town, Hiratsuka-City
Writing and paintings on hundreds of paper lanterns from famous Shonan inhabitants will be displayed within the shrine grounds and lit up at night. Noh mask and ceramics exhibitions will be held, and traditional Japanese dance, shrine maiden puppet shows, and koto (Japanese harp) performances will be held at the kagura-den.
For details, contact Hiratsuka Hachimangu Shrine (Tel: 0463-23-3315)
10-minute walk from the North Exit of Hiratsuka Station on the JR Tokaido Line
Kaisei Awa Odori Dance: September 12 (Sat)
Location: Kaisei-Town, Ashigarakami District / Odawara Prefectural Road, Town Road #201, in front of the Kaisei-Town Hall, other areas
Street dances and group dances consisting of approximately 1,200 dancers will be held.
For details, contact the Kaisei-Town Industrial Development Department: (Tel. 0465-84-0317)
From Shin-Matsuda Station on the Odakyu Line, take the Sekimoto-bound bus (10 minutes) and get off at Yotsukado
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Annual Festival:
September 14 (Mon) to September 16 (Wed)
Location: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Yukinoshita, Kamakura-City
An event which boasts 800 years of history and tradition. A hama-ori-shiki (going to the beach ritual) will be held Monday the 14th. On Tuesday the 15th, mikoshi will be infused with the spirit of the god and carried throughout the parish area. The main shrine’s three mikoshi 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, or Shinto ritual dance) will be performed. On Wednesday the 16th, annual stately 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. In addition to these events, offerings of tea and flowers will take place and activities such as martial arts, music, and traditional dance will also be held.
For details, contact Rokusho-jinja Shrine (Tel: 0463-71-3737)
10-minute walk from Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
> Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
> Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Annual Ritual
http://www.hachimangu.or.jp (Japanese)
Samukawa-jinja Shrine Yabusame: September 19 (Sat)
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. Sunday 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)
5-minute walk from Miyayama Station on the JR Sagami Line
> Samukawa jinja Shrine
> Samukawa-jinja Shrine Mounted Archery
http://www.samukawa-jinja.or.jp/index02.htm (Japanese)
Osan no Miya Autumn Festival:
September 19 (Sat) to September 20 (Sun)
Location: Osan no Miya Hie-jinja Shrine, Minami-ku, Yokohama-City
The annual festival of Hie-jinja, a shrine affectionately called “Osan no Miya” or “Osan-sama.” On Saturday the 19th, Yokohama’s largest mikoshi (portable shrine) will be paraded around by a small trailer. On Sunday the 20th, many mikoshi fans will gather to watch an event exclusive to this festival, and one for which Yokohama is well-known. Forty to fifty mikoshi will be energetically carried throughout the shrine precincts. Both days will also feature paper lanterns and lively fairs.
For details, contact Osan no Miya Hie-jinja Shrine (Tel: 045-261-6902)
Take the Hiratsuka Station-bound bus from the South Exit of Ninomiya Station on the JR Tokaido Line (5 minutes) and get off at Kokufu-shinjuku (approximately 3-minute walk)
> Osan no Miya Autumn Festival
Sagamihara Yosakoi RANBU!:
September 20 (Sun)
Location: Kobuchi Eki-mae Street to JUSCO, 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. An exchange plaza, food stalls, etc. will also be available.
For details, contact the Sagamihara City Tourism Association (Tel: 042-769-8236)
Get off at Kobuchi Station on the JR Yokohama Line
http://www.e-sagamihara.com/index.html (Japanese)
Isehara Daijingu Shrine Annual Festival:
September 20 (Sun) to September 21 (Mon)
Location: Isehara Daijingu Shrine, Isehara, Isehara-City
A yoimiya festival with dances and other events will be held Sunday the 20th. A shinkousai celebration where mikoshi are carried throughout the parish area, taiko drum performances, and shinshin gyouji (various sacred events) will take place Monday the 21st. After the mikoshi is returned to the shrine, mochi (sweet rice cakes) and candy will be scattered to visitors from the kagura platform, an event known as “mochi-maki.”
For details, contact Isehara Daijingu Shrine (Tel: 0463-96-1611)
10-minute walk from the North Exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line
Hadano Tobacco Festival:
September 26(Sat) to September 27 (Sun)
Location: Hadano-City Honcho Elementary School area
Long ago, tobacco cultivation flourished in Hadano-City. The Hadano Tobacco Festival is a grand event on the theme of “fire.” Activities will include parades, a dance festival, jumbo fire-lighting tug of war contest, awa odori dance, taiko performance, Koubou fire festival, and shikake fireworks.
For details, contact the Hadano-City Department of Tourism
(Tel: 0463-82-5111)
(Tel: 0463-82-5111)
Get off at Hadano Station on the Odakyu Line
> Hadano Tobacco Festival
http://www.kankou-hadano.org/ (Japanese)