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Hamamatsu Festival, held at the beginning May each
year, is well-known for Takoage Gassen, or the kite fight, and luxuriously
decorated palace-like floats. The festival originated about 430 years
ago, when the lord of Hamamatsu Castle celebrated the birth of his first
son by flying kites. In the Meiji Era, the celebration of the birth of
a first son by flying Hatsu Dako, or the first kite, became popular, and
this tradition has survived in the form of Hamamatsu Festival. It is extremely
exciting to see over 160 large kites flying in the sky to the sound of
trumpets. Those who visit Hamamatsu at this time of the year can experience
the city at its most exciting time.
(Period : May 3 - May 5) |
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Takoage Gassen (Kite Fight)
The Kite Fight at Nakatajima Dunes seems to symbolize
the hot-blooded traits of Hamamatsu people. As the very famous festival
starts with the sound of fireworks, gigantic kites with lettering and
painting to symbolize each district fly up in the sky and compete by
cutting the strings of other kites. The heroic sound of trumpets helps
tens of thousands of people get even more excited. |
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Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion
FHamamatsu City
You can experience the excitement of Hamamatsu
Festival at any time of the year. In addition to the "virtual festival
experience" with sound and light , you can see a display of gigantic
kites used in the kite fight and the palace-like floats. You can even
observe how kite strings are made.
Adults 400 yen, Free for Jr. High school students
and younger;
Closed on the third Wednesday
every month & The end of the year;
By Bus, Entetsu Nakatajima Line
to "Nakatajima Sakyu" stop, then walk 2 min. ;
Open 9:00 - 16:30 |
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Goten Yatai (Palace-like Floats)
During the nights of Hamamatsu Festival, people
parade downtown carrying over 70 yatai, or palace-lake floats, that
are beautifully decorated while playing Japanese traditional festival
music. The festival reaches its peak when groups of people compete by
violently marching across town. |
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 Hamakita
Manyo Festival
This event takes place in Manyo no Mori Park to commemorate the Manyoperiod
and introduce its culture. As part of the festival, people reenact the
ancient past by wearing traditional clothes from the Manyo period and
presenting poetry readings.
(Hamakita, Hamamatsu City - October) |
Princess
Road Festival
This reenactment of a procession made by the princess in her palanquin
along with her entourage of over 100 people including maids, samurai and
servants makes for a splendid scene beneath the cherry blossoms along
the Toda River. In the Edo period, princesses enjoyed traveling this road
which came to be known as himekaido, or "Princess Road."
(Hosoe, Hamamatsu City - April) |
Enshu
Dainenbutsu (Buddhist Chanting Ritual)
When a family commemorates the first Obon holidays after the death
of a loved one, they may request that a dainenbutsu (Buddhist chanting
ritual) be performed outside their house. This is one of the local performing
arts of the Enshu region. The group always forms a procession in front
of the house led by a person carrying a lantern and marches to the sound
of flutes, Japanese drums and cymbals.
(Saigake Museum, Hamamatsu City - July 15) |
Inasa
Puppet Festival
One of the few puppet festivals held in Japan, featuring 60 performances
of about 30 plays by puppet masters from all over the country. The shows
provide a full day of enjoyment for both children and adults.
(Inasa, Hamamatsu City - November) |
Akiha
Fire Festival
Ever since long ago, Mount Akiha was believed to have supernatural
powers to prevent fires. Bow and arrow, sword and
fire dances are performed at the Akiha Shrine, and
at the Akiha Temple a firewalking ceremony is performed
where both believers and spectators celebrate the festival.
(Haruno, Hamamatsu City - December) |
Shoryu
Weeping Plum Blossom Festival
Within Ryusui Garden there is a stream with 7 small waterfalls and
about 80 weeping plum trees pruned to give the appearance of dragons riding
on clouds to the heavens. There are also 200 young trees planted along
the mountainside.
(Inasa, Hamamatsu City - Late February to Late March) |
Hamakita
Hiryu Festival
This festival is held in honor of Ryujin, the god of the Tenryu River,
and features a wide variety of events such as the Hamakita takoage (kite
flying) event and the Hiryu himatsuri (Flying Dragon fire festival) which
celebrates water, sound and flame.
(Hamakita, Hamamatsu City - June) |
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