Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
March 2010
Opening of the Prefectural Flower and Green Center “Kana Garden”:
From March 1 (Mon)
Location: Teradana, Hiratsuka-City
This newly opened vast garden is a place to learn while enjoying seasonal flowers, horticulture, and agriculture on the theme of “plus agriculture.” It also features a restaurant and scenic deck with superb views of Mt. Fuji. Nearby, visitors can also enjoy picking strawberries and “Hiratsuka flower agriculture” including gardens planted by citizens.
For details, contact Kanagawa GA Partners Co., Ltd. (Tel: 0463-20-8307)
Take the bus from Hiratsuka Station on the JR Tokaido Line and get off at Hiratsuka Yogo Gakko-mae (15 minutes). Kana Garden is a 3-minute walk.
Awashima-jinja Shrine Annual Festival:
March 3 (Wed)
Location: Awashima-jinja Shrine, Ashina, Yokosuka-City
Awashima-jinja Shrine is trusted by many women for marriage and the safe delivery of children. On the day of the festival, people can directly touch the “shintai” religious object that is said to bring the blessing of children, and an offering of bottomless ladles associated with the legend of Awashima-jinja Shrine will take place. Also on that day, a memorial service for old needles is held and paper doll amulets are gathered. After a Shinto priest purifies them, they are imbued with the impurities and misfortune of one year, put in a small boat, and floated into the ocean in a ritual called “nagashibina.”
For details, contact Awashima-jinja Shrine (Tel: 046-856-0707)
Take the bus from Zushi Station on the JR Yokosuka Line or Shin-Zushi Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line and get off at Ashina (25 minutes). The shrine is a 5-minute walk.
Oyama Tofu Festival:
March 6 (Sat) to March7 (Sun)
Location: Oyama, Isehara-City
A festival celebrating Oyama’s famous tofu held at the Tofu Plaza. A thanksgiving festival will be held in which large pieces of tofu are offered to “kamidana” Shinto altars, thanks is offered for tofu, and the health of the participants is prayed for. Other events include making boiled tofu in a four meter diameter cauldron, free “Sennin Nabe” cuisine for five hundred people, handmade tofu making, and wanko tofu speed eating contests.
For details, contact the Isehara Tourism Association (Tel: 0463-94-4711)
Take the Oyama Cable Station-bound bus from the North Exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at the last stop (30 minutes)
> Oyama Tofu Festival
Shonan Enoshima Spring Festival:
March 13 (Sat) to March 14 (Sun)
Location: Enoshima Island and other locations, Fujisawa-City
A festival celebrating the beginning of spring in Shonan. Events include a comedy concert, open-air tea ceremony corner, shell festival parade, children’s procession, young shell stocking, taiko drum performances, street performances, “voice measurement” at the Enoshima caverns, and events at the Enoshima Aquarium.
For details, contact the Fujisawa-City Tourist Association (Tel: 0466-22-4141)
Get off at Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line
“Yudate Shishi-mai” Dance: March 27 (Sat)
Location: Suwa-jinja Shrine, Sengokuhara, Hakone-Town
The giant kettle in the shrine precincts is filled with hot water and heroic “Shishi-mai” (lion dance) is performed nearby. Afterwards, the “lions” stir the kettle with bundles of bamboo grass and sprinkle “yubana” (hot springs mineral deposits) over the heads of attendees to pray for their health.
For details, contact the Hakone-Town Tourism Information Center (Tel: 0460-85-5700)
Take the Kojiritogendai-bound bus from the East Exit of Odawara Station and get off at Sengoku (45 minutes)
> Sengokuhara Yudate Shishimai Lion Dance
http://www.hakone.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Odawara Kamaboko Sakura Festival:
March 27 (Sat) to March 28 (Sun)
Location: Joshi Park Ninomaru Plaza, Castle precincts, Odawara-City
A Kamaboko Sakura Festival is held in Joshi Park, which is famous for its sakura (cherry blossoms). Events include performances by master kamaboko (fish cake) makers, a “Kikikama” kamaboko sampling event, a “One Night Castle Battle” kamaboko board stacking contest, information about kamaboko cuisine, and Odawara daiko drum performances.
For details, contact the Odawara Kamaboko Association (Tel: 0465-22-4068)
Oiso Saigyo Festival: March 28 (Sun)
Location: Shigitatsuan, Oiso, Oiso-Town
A festival held to commemorate the contributions of Oiso Hoshi. Planned events include a ceremony, incense offering, tea offering, performances, instruments, flower offering, poetry offering (haiku and tanka), a haiku gathering, and a tanka gathering.
For details, contact the Oiso Town Economic Affairs and Tourism Division (Tel: 0463-61-4100)
5-minute walk from Oiso Station on the JR Tokaido Line
Hasuge-jinja Shrine Festival: March 28 (Sun)
Location: Hasuge-jinja Shrine. Hasugesan, Aikawa-Town
Planned events at the Hasuge-jinja Shrine “shugenjo” training hall ruins include a solemn and secret “holy fire” fire walking ritual and performances within the shrine precincts.
For details, contact the Aikawa-Town Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Division (Tel: 046-285-2111)
Take the bus from the Bus Center at the East Exit of Hon-Atsugi Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at Ipponmatsu (35 minutes). The shrine is a 20-minute walk.