60th Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
Date: July 1 (Thurs) to July 4 (Sun)Location: Central shopping district in Hiratsuka-City
Kanagawa This Month - Latest Kanagawa Tourist Information
July 2010
Recommended events in Kanagawa
Location: Central shopping district in Hiratsuka-City
Gorgeous, colorful bamboo decorations will be hung throughout Hiratsuka. The decorations are lit up until 9 p.m., creating a romantic atmosphere that is different from the daytime. Approximately 3,000 decorations will be displayed within the city, about 500 of them in the central part of town. Some decorations are as large as ten meters. A parade will be held every day during the duration of the event.
For details, contact the Hiratsuka-City Department of Commerce and Tourism (Tel: 0463-35-8107)
For details, contact the Hiratsuka-City Department of Commerce and Tourism (Tel: 0463-35-8107)
For details, visit
http://www.city.hiratsuka.kanagawa.jp/tanabata/index.htm (Japanese)
http://www.city.hiratsuka.kanagawa.jp/tanabata/index.htm (Japanese)
Just past the North Exit of Hiratsuka Station on the JR Tokaido Line
> Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
"Akari no Saiten" Odawara Lantern Summer Festival
Date: July 24 (Sat) to July 25 (Sun)Location: Ninomaru Square in Odawara Joshi Park, other locations, Odawara Castle, Odawara-City
Events include an opening music festival, Odawara lantern dance parade, kabuki performance of “The Medicine Seller,” Odawara castle taiko drum performances, Odawara orchestra recitals, and more. There will also be areas where participants can make Odawara lanterns and picture letters, as well as many shops within the venue. In addition, an Odawara lantern art fair will also be held on the water (approximately 2,300 lanterns created by elementary school students from Odawara-City will be displayed on the waters of the castle moat, and will be lit up at night).
For details, contact the Odawara-City Tourist Association (Tel: 0465-22-5002)
For more information, please visit:
http://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/kanko_4/e_index.html
For more information, please visit:
http://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/kanko_4/e_index.html
10-minute walk from the East Exit of Odawara Station
> Odawara Castle
> "Akari no Saiten" Odawara Lantern Summer Festival
http://www.odawara-kankou.com/ (Japanese)
Topics
The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival:
Hiratsuka was firebombed in 1945, when seventy percent of the central area of the town was burnt. It was rebuilt afterwards, and many people attended the “Reconstruction Festival” held in 1950. In 1951, the 1st Tanabata Festival was held with Hiratsuka shopkeepers playing a central role, which 100,000 people attended. It has been held every year since, and the 59th Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival in 2009 had 2.3 million attendees.
Tanabata Festivals are held at various locations all over Japan, but the festival in Hiratsuka is known as one of Japan’s finest because of its gorgeous bamboo decorations.
Tanabata is a fusion of several different events including an ancient Japanese festival praying to ancestors for abundant crops (Obon) and a rite praying to improve needlework skills that came from China. It is said that the first Tanabata Festival was held at the imperial court during the Nara period. In modern times, it is customary for people write their wishes on tanjuku (narrow cards) and hang them on bamboo plants. This began in the Edo period, and is unique to Japan.
Japanese lanterns:
Lanterns are an essential part of Japanese festivals. They are also deeply ingrained in Japanese life, and red lanterns can often be seen hanging in front of popular bars and drinking establishments.
Lanterns originally came from China. The current type, which can be folded up and is held by hand, is known as “kago chochin.”
Odawara used to be one of the lodging places on the Tokaido Highway, and is the place where craftsmen first made lanterns with bodies that fold up tightly to fit into a cover. This was to make them easy for travelers to carry.
Odawara lanterns have been chosen as one of Kanagawa Prefecture’s 100 most famous regional crafts. They are made of wood, bamboo, and paper. People used to place a candle inside to provide light at night. There are currently many types, and are popular as souvenirs among visitors from overseas.
Lanterns originally came from China. The current type, which can be folded up and is held by hand, is known as “kago chochin.”
Odawara used to be one of the lodging places on the Tokaido Highway, and is the place where craftsmen first made lanterns with bodies that fold up tightly to fit into a cover. This was to make them easy for travelers to carry.
Odawara lanterns have been chosen as one of Kanagawa Prefecture’s 100 most famous regional crafts. They are made of wood, bamboo, and paper. People used to place a candle inside to provide light at night. There are currently many types, and are popular as souvenirs among visitors from overseas.
Information about Kanagawa Prefecture
15th Kawasaki-Daishi Temple Wind Chime Market
Date: Five days from July 17 (Sat) to July 21 (Wed)
Location: Kawasaki-Daishi Heiken-ji Temple precincts, Kawasaki-Ward, Kawasaki-City
Nothing expresses summer better than Kawasaki-Daishi Temple's wind chime market. Approximately 32,000 wind chimes of 900 varieties from forty-seven locations ranging from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south invite cool summer breezes.
Location: Kawasaki-Daishi Heiken-ji Temple precincts, Kawasaki-Ward, Kawasaki-City
Nothing expresses summer better than Kawasaki-Daishi Temple's wind chime market. Approximately 32,000 wind chimes of 900 varieties from forty-seven locations ranging from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south invite cool summer breezes.
For more information, please visit: http://www.kawasakidaishi.com/english/events.html (english)
Take the train from Keikyu-Kawasaki Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line to Kawasaki-Daishi Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line
> Kawasaki Daishi
http://www.kawasakidaishi.com/english/events.html (English)
2010 Yokohama International Marine Entertainment Show
Date: July 17 (Sat) to July 19 (Mon)
Location: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse area, Zonohana area, Osanbashi Pier, Yamashita Park
2010 is the fifth year that this festival is being held. It makes use of the “land, sea, and sky” and includes marine-related events as well as those dealing with disaster prevention, sales of local products, a food stall village, and music. The Yokohama Port Fireworks Show will be held on the 18th.
Location: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse area, Zonohana area, Osanbashi Pier, Yamashita Park
2010 is the fifth year that this festival is being held. It makes use of the “land, sea, and sky” and includes marine-related events as well as those dealing with disaster prevention, sales of local products, a food stall village, and music. The Yokohama Port Fireworks Show will be held on the 18th.
For more information, please visit: http://www.yme.gr.jp/ (Japanese)
Yugawara Onsen Yassa Festival
Date: July 31 (Sat) and August 2 (Mon) to August 3 (Tue)
Location: Around Yugawara-Town
Events on Saturday the 31st include a Samba Parade and an evening fireworks display at Izumi Park. Yassa Festival Parades and evening fireworks will also take place from Monday the 2nd to Tuesday the 3rd.
For details, contact the Yugawara-Town Tourist Division (Tel: 0465-63-2111)
Location: Around Yugawara-Town
Events on Saturday the 31st include a Samba Parade and an evening fireworks display at Izumi Park. Yassa Festival Parades and evening fireworks will also take place from Monday the 2nd to Tuesday the 3rd.
For details, contact the Yugawara-Town Tourist Division (Tel: 0465-63-2111)
For more information, please visit: http://www.yugawara.or.jp/english/e_festival.htm (english)
Get off at Yugawara Station on the JR Tokaido Line