Odawara Hojo Godai Festival
Date: May 2 (Sun) to May 3 (holiday)Location: Odawara Joshi Park and other locations, Odawara-City
Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
May 2010
- Recommended events in Kanagawa: Odawara Hojo Godai Festival
- Recommended events in Kanagawa: Yukake Festival
- Topics: The Odawara Hojo Godai Festival and Odawara Castle
- Topics: Yugawara Spa and the Yukake Festival
- Information about Kanagawa Prefecture
- Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Festival/58th Annual Yokohama Parade (International Costume Parade)
- Zama-City Giant Kite Festival
- A Splendid Food Festival: Yokosuka Curry Festival
Recommended events in Kanagawa
Location: Odawara Joshi Park and other locations, Odawara-City
The Odawara Hojo Godai Festival, which features 1,800 people, is the largest tourist event in Odawara-City. Events on Sunday the 2nd include a memorial service in front of Hojo Godai’s grave (Soun-ji Temple, Hakone Yumoto) and a handmade armor parade. On the 3rd (holiday), a warrior departure ceremony (Akagane Gate Plaza), band performances, warrior groups, large-scale townspeople parade, wind instrument performances, and folk dance parade will be held.
For details, contact the Odawara-City Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-22-5002)
Other event information: http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/english/festival/may.html
Other event information: http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/english/festival/may.html
Approximately 10-minute walk from the East Exit of Odawara Station
> Odawara Castle
> Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri Festival
http://www.odawara-kankou.com/ (Japanese)
Yukake Festival
Date: May 22 (Sat)Location: Yugawara Spa Town, Yugawara Spa Town
The origin of this unique festival in Yugawara Spa Town dates back to the Tokugawa period. This festival recreates a ceremony where water was poured to pray for travel safety. A parade is held where people along the road spiritedly pour hot water into five mikoshi (portable shrines) built from wooden tubs.
For details, contact the Yugawara Spa Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-64-1234)
Other event information: http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/english/festival/may.html
Other event information: http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/english/festival/may.html
Take the bus from Yugawara Station on the JR Tokaido Line and get off at Ochiaibashi (10 minutes)
http://www.yugawara.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Topics
The Odawara Hojo Godai Festival and Odawara Castle:
The Odawara Hojo Godai Festival is named after the Odawara Hojo clan, which was active during the Sengoku (Warring States) period. Odawara Castle expanded as a base of power in the Kanto Region thanks to the Odawara Hojo clan, and by the end of the Sengoku period was one of Japan’s largest fortresses. During the Edo period, it fulfilled an important role as a strategic point of defense to protect the western part of Kanto. Currently, visitors can view historical materials at the restored castle keep and take commemorative photographs wearing Sengoku period clothing with the castle as a backdrop.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/kanko_4/e_index.html
Yugawara Spa and the Yukake Festival:
Yugawara Spa is an old hot spring that was even mentioned in the Manyoshu (“Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”), Japan’s oldest collection of poetry. It is said that shogun used to use the hot water to soothe their injuries during the Kamakura period. During the Tokugawa period, the hot spring came to be known not only for injuries but also for curing illnesses, and water from Yugawara Spa was put in barrels and presented to shogun families – a ritual called “Yudochu.” When the mikoshi (portable shrines) used to present the water depart, water is poured to pray for travel safety and a purification ceremony is held at Kumano-jinja Shrine (also called “Yunokongen”) in the current Manyo Park. Of the five mikoshi, three are carried by locals, one by Yugawara geisha, and one by women only.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.yugawara.or.jp/english/e_festival.htm
Information about Kanagawa Prefecture
New Visit Japan Tourist Information Center opened in Odawara
The Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center, a new information center for foreign travelers, was opened in Odawara on April 6. The Service Center provides information about public transportation and sightseeing, and also sells a variety of tickets including the Hakone Free Pass. Information is available in English, Chinese, and Korean.
For more information, please visit
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/news/pdf/20100329.pdf
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/news/pdf/20100329.pdf
Silk Museum Special Exhibition:
The World of Persian Silk Carpets
Date: April 24 (Sat) to May 23 (Sun)
The Silk Museum is one of the few facilities worldwide to focus on silk alone. The Port of Yokohama was opened in 1859, and many foreign ships landed there, leading to the establishment of many foreign trading companies. Raw Japanese silk threat was brought to the Port of Yokohama, where trade flourished through the trading companies. From the time of the port opening until the Showa period, a great deal of raw silk thread was exported. In 1909, Japan exported more raw silk thread than any other country, including China.
The Silk Museum is one of the few facilities worldwide to focus on silk alone. The Port of Yokohama was opened in 1859, and many foreign ships landed there, leading to the establishment of many foreign trading companies. Raw Japanese silk threat was brought to the Port of Yokohama, where trade flourished through the trading companies. From the time of the port opening until the Showa period, a great deal of raw silk thread was exported. In 1909, Japan exported more raw silk thread than any other country, including China.
A special exhibition will be held displaying over one hundred silk Persian carpets in one building. These carpets have been made by hand since ancient times in Iran, which has a great deal of history and tradition. The highlight of this exhibition is a carpet that was used four hundred years ago in Japan’s Gion Festival.
For more information, please visit Silk Museum
http://www.silkmuseum.or.jp/english_main/information/
http://www.silkmuseum.or.jp/english_main/information/
The Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office Building
will be open to the public
Dates: May 3 (Mon/holiday) to May 4 (Tue/holiday)
The Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office Building will be open to the public, which was a very popular event last year. The building was constructed in 1928 and, after a building in Osaka, is the second oldest government building in Japan that was actually used by the governor in the performance of his official duties. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to see the Governor’s Office (from outside the door), the Third Reception Office (formerly used for noble visitors), the Large Assembly Hall (former Assembly Hall), and the rooftop (which offers views of the port). Information about other prefectural government office buildings and images of olden days in Kanagawa will also be available in the Large Assembly Hall, and products from Kanagawa Prefecture will be on sale in front of the entryway. Currently, this building is also used for shooting movies and television programs.
The Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office Building will be open to the public, which was a very popular event last year. The building was constructed in 1928 and, after a building in Osaka, is the second oldest government building in Japan that was actually used by the governor in the performance of his official duties. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to see the Governor’s Office (from outside the door), the Third Reception Office (formerly used for noble visitors), the Large Assembly Hall (former Assembly Hall), and the rooftop (which offers views of the port). Information about other prefectural government office buildings and images of olden days in Kanagawa will also be available in the Large Assembly Hall, and products from Kanagawa Prefecture will be on sale in front of the entryway. Currently, this building is also used for shooting movies and television programs.
Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Festival/58th Annual Yokohama Parade (International Costume Parade): May 3 (holiday)
Location: Around Naka-Ward, Yokohama-City
A large parade (approximately 3,500 people in 80 groups) featuring extravagant floats, marching bands, and other attractions will be held.
For more information, contact the International Costume Parade (Tel: 0180-99-4045, available from 1 week before the event)
Get off at Kannai Station or Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line or 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)
Zama-City Giant Kite Festival: May 4 (holiday) to May 5 (holiday)
Location: 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 strings of 70 meter long threads.
For details, contact the Zama-City Department of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (Tel: 046-252-7604)
A free shuttle bus is available from Sobudaishita Station on the JR Sagami Line to the venues
Other locations: Shimo-isobe, Kami-isobe
> Sagamigawa River
> Sagami Giant Kite Festival and Giant Kite Center
> Zama-City Giant Kite Festival
http://www.e-sagamihara.com/index.html (Japanese)
A Splendid Food Festival: Yokosuka Curry Festival: May 8 (Sat) to May 9 (Sun)
Location: 15-minute walk from Yokosuka-Chuo Station on the Keikyu Main Line
Enjoy shops and buffets featuring Yokosuka Naval Curry and other related products. Other events include curry and cuisine from all over Japan, various types of entertainment, and street performances.
For details, contact the Yokosuka-City Department of Economics and Tourism (Tel: 046-822-9672)
15-minute walk from Yokosuka-Chuo Station on the Keikyu Main Line