My first trip this year, 2011, is Shimoda City. It has a kind of southern climate aspect and they are just in the midst of flower event in this cold air. Flowers make us feel warm, aren’t they ?＾＾
Shimoda is indeed full with attractions as I’ve reported before. This time, I visited “Tsumekizaki Coast” to see “Narcissus Festival” of millions of daffodils around the exquisite coast. It’s just having its best.
From the bus depot beside Izukyu Shimoda Station, I took the special bus of #10 for Tsumekizaki Coast. You can see the time table in the picture. 20 minutes and ¥420 bus fare is definitely worth it ! On its way, you will pass by the roadside station “Kaikoku Shimoda Minato” where you can enjoy shopping or restaurant.

The bus dropped us at the seemingly forlorn site on the hill but the first view from there surprised me very much as to throw me into an illusion that I was standing in a tropical island ! “Holy mackerel !” was the only word for it. Millions of daffodils were moderately swaying in the wind just as they were singing to the sea. I saw a lighthouse on the hill over the seashore. Curiosity did not get the better of myself. A walkway along with aloe vera flowers, several street markets down under, and the sea of deep blue. Everything seemed enchanting and inviting to me ! Here we go !＾＾

I walked down the pathway, feeling the chilly wind from the sea with the sweet scent of daffodils. About 50 - 60% was in bloom, I surmised.
I came across a sign board of Cape Tsumekizaki and found several trails for the hike. I really wish I had had enough time. 2 hour hike was not for that day because I had another schedule.
Now, stairs up to the hill leading me to the lighthouse. I stepped on it, expecting exclusive views, and apparently it never disappointed me.
I walked up to the lighthouse and looked down from there. Some people were on the rock for fishing, others were in the sea for surfing. I stayed there for a while just overlooking some of Izu Seven Islands, which seemed to have washed everything on me away.

I strolled halfway along the hiking trail, though the bus time was around the corner, not wanting to leave Cape Tsumekizaki. Nothing falls in vain. I found some good view points where I could admire daffodils below my eyes. I was just beside myself with taking pictures. Smells of the sea and daffodils were just like enchanting me to another world. It was almost 1 hour behind time when I walked for the bus stop.＾＾；

This is NOT the end of this story. I found something surprising on my way back to the bus stop. It is a park ( or square ? ) full with various kinds of flowers ! I’ll report it next time !

Bye for now !＾＾

Shimoda Narcissus Festival ― December 20 to January 31
Access ： 15 minutes by bus of #10 from Izukyu Shimoda Sta.

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

What do you imagine to hear “Battles in the sky”？ Air force？ UFO？ Or Superman vs. Spiderman？ X-men don’t fly, do they？
Today, I wanna show you a real unique festival in Hamamatsu.
That is “Hamamatsu Festival”, the largest festival in Shizuoka.

In Japan, children used to enjoy kite-flying during New-Year Holidays. I say “used to” because I seldom see kites in the sky over the years.
But here in Hamamatsu, thanks to the wild windy climate called “Enshu-no-Karakkaze”, you can see Kite-flying Festival every year on May 3 - 5th at Nakatajima Dunes. Kites for what? It’s for celebration for the birth of their first child.
And no doubt people in Hamamatsu don’t commemorate these special days for their adorable children with common kites. They prepare, by towns, huge kites with their children’s name on them and let them on the wind to the higher point of the sky.
See the picture. It is not an easy task to let them go up! With calling-out, whistling and drumming, they run and tug the line one after the other.

Now let’s see how it works!

A huge spool with kite-line of over 1000m

Ready：
In the silence of cheering spectators, they wait and wait, to hear the voices of the god’s wind coming to sweep off the kite into the sky!

Set：
Now, the time has come! They put the kite on the wind attentively just as if they put their real child on the running merry-go-round.

Go!：
Here we go! With their wish on the kite, it burst into the crystal-clear blue sky!

The real enthusiastic festival comes after this peaceful we-celebrate-the-child’s-birth kite-flying.

Yes, Kite Battles!!

This year, 174 towns reportedly participated in this festival. A hundred seventy four!! That is, as many as 174 kites!!
The rule of the battle is simple. Cut the line, that’s it, but not so simple. They tangle the kite-lines with others followed by shout of jubilation of spectators, and the festival reaches its crescendo.

In the evening, they perform Float Parades. More than 80 towns prepare their own floats illuminated in gold to pull them along the main street close to Hamamatsu Station with the vigorous sound of whistles and drums. Just like an illusion created in the darkness, the pleasant sound and fantastic light last until around 21:00. Unfortunately, I had to leave Hamamatsu just before Float Parades was about to start, but you can see the aspect through this well-written official English website.

And you know what?
Newspaper reported that more than 1.7 million tourists came to see Hamamatsu Festival for three days.

Hamamatsu Festival is held every year on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Not only Kite Battles and Float Parades, but more than ten small events are also invitingly performed in the city. If you can’t wait until next year, why don’t you visit "Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion" and see real kites, tools and hi-vision TV that runs the appearances of the festival to feel the virtual experience.

Here is a cool PDF that explains Hamamatsu Festival, maybe better than I do ＾＾；

Nakatajima Dunes

Please find other information from the URLs below

Au revoir ＾＾ｖ


Hamamatsu Festival ：
You can read through this official HP well-written in English and other languages, and this is the very proof that Hamamatsu Festival is being worldwide, isn’t it?

Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion ： ※as of May in 2010
Admission ： ¥400
Opened ： 9:00 – 16:30
Closed ： Third Mondays (in case it marks a holiday – third Tuesdays) and the Year-end (Dec 29 – 31)
Access ： From JR Hamamatsu St. ⇒ Bus Terminal #6 to “Nakatajima-Dunes”

Hamamatsu Visitors and Convention Bureau ： For your Hamamatsu Information
Hamamatsu Daisuki Net ： For your sightseeing information in Hamamatsu

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you! ＾＾