Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
April 2010
Kanamara Festival: April 4 (Sun)
Location: Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, Kawasaki-Ward, Kawasaki-City
This festival, popular even among foreigners, is to pray for fertility and protection from AIDS. After a “fire carrying festival” ceremony where a bonfire is lit by striking flint, an annual ceremony will be held, and the deity will be put into the mikoshi (portable shrine). Then, Kanamara group volunteers will carve daikon radishes into male and female forms and offer them to the gods, followed by a masked procession.
For details, contact Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine (Kanayama-jinja Shrine) (Tel: 044-222-3206)
From Keikyu Kawasaki Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line, take the Keikyu Daishi Line and get off at Kawasaki Daichi Station. The temple is a 3-minute walk.
> Kanamara Festival
Doi Festival and Warrior Parade:
April 4 (Sun)
Location: Gosho-jinja Shrine to Yugawara Station and other locations, Yugawara-Town
In this historically inspired event, approximately 70 people costumed in handmade armor as historical personages including Jiro Sanehira Doi, Minamoto no Yoritomo, lords, and other characters will parade about Yugawara from Gosho-jinja Shrine to Yugawara Station. Calling of the names of the warriors going into battle and a departure ceremony will take place at Gosho-jinja Shrine, and calling of the names of the warriors going into battle, “jomo no mai” dance, and a departure ceremony will take place in front of Yugawara Station. A Jiro Sanehira Doi and Minamoto no Yoritomo memorial service, “jomo no mai” dance, grave visits, etc. will also be held at Jogan-ji Temple.
For details, contact the Yugawara-Town Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-63-2111)
Kamakura Festival: April 11 (Sun) to April 18 (Sun)
Location: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and other locations, Yukinoshita, Kamakura-City
This magnificent festival heralds the arrival of spring in the old capital of Kamakura, and also features celebrations of Buddha’s birthday. Events include kyudo (Japanese archery), bands, “shizuka no mai” dance, a festival in front of Minamoto no Yoritomo’s grave, open-air tea ceremony, lighting up the old capital military family houses, a Minamoto no Yoshitsune festival, yabusame-daiko drums, and horseback archery.
For details, contact the Kamakura City Tourist Association (Tel: 0467-23-3050)
Get off at Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
> Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
> Kamakura Festival
Yokohama Street Performance 2010
: April 17 (Sat) to April 18 (Sun)
Location: Minato Mirai 21, Naka-ward, Yokohama-City
Street performers from inside and outside of Japan will gather and perform in the street. Performances will take place at Isezaki Mall (7 stages: 25 people in 14 teams), Yoshida-machi Street (jazz performances: 25 people in 4 teams/art exhibitions and sales: 50 people), and at Minato Mirai 21 (13 stages: 208 people in 14 teams).
For details, contact the Yokohama Street Performance Committee (Tel: 045-662-0931)
Get off at Sakuragi-cho Station, Kannai Station, or Hinode-cho Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line
> Yokohama Landmark Tower and Queen's Square Yokohama
> Yokohama Minato Mirai Manyo Club
> Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and Red Brick Park
Noge Street Performance
: April 18 (Sun), April 24 (Sat) to April 25 (Sun)
Location: Naka-ku, Yokohama City/the Noge shopping district
120 people in 40 groups of street performers from Japan and overseas will gather and perform in the street.
For details, contact the Noge Street Performers Executive Committee (Tel: 045-262-1234)
Get off at Sakuragi-cho Station or Hinode-cho Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line
> Noge Street Performance Festival
Flying Carp Streams at the Sagami-gawa River
: April 29 (holiday) to May 5 (holiday)
Location: Suigotana, Sagamihara-City/Upstream from the Takadabashi Bridge
An exhilarating event where 5 wires are strung across the Sagami-gawa river, and approximately 1,200 carp streamers are strung from them and flown above the river.
For details, contact the Sagamihara Tourism Association (Tel: 042-769-8236)
Take the Suigotana-bound bus from Fuchinobe Station on the JR Yokohama Line or JR Sagamihara Station and get off at the last stop (approximately 30 minutes)
> Sagamigawa River
> Carp Streamers Koinobori Sagami River
http://www.e-sagamihara.com/index.html (Japanese)