 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Home > Travel Guide | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
March
Okichi Memorial Festival
<Shimoda City> March 27
The geisha in Shimoda offer a mass on behalf of Tojin Okichi, who was appointed by the Japanese government to serve as the mistress of Townsend Harris, the first consul in Japan.
Yugano Onsen Odoriko Matsuri
<Kawazu-cho> First Sunday of March
This is a long-lasting event of Yugano Onsen (hot spring) featuring "Izu-no-Odorikoh" (the Izu Dancer, a novel of Nobel Prize laureate Yasunari Kawabata). This festival dedicated to the literal monument of the author features floral tribute by a dancer girl and a young boy, played by Miss Odoriko and a youngster of the town, free service of Amazake (sweet sake) and many other events.
Ta-asobi Festival of Fujimori
<Ooigawa-cho> March 17
This festival is said to have originated as a dedication for good harvest by local farmers who prayed for calming the water of River Ooi, about one thousand years ago. No.25 of dance symbolizing good harvest are dedicated to **Ooi Hachiman Shrine** in Fujimori. The dance is designated as an important national intangible cultural heritage.
Izu-kogen Cherry Blossom Festival
<Ito City> Late March - Early April
A 3,000 meter long arch of cherry trees is so beautiful and magnificent that it will be unforgettable to those who visit there. During the festival period, many attractions are presented at the plaza in front of Izu-kogen train station, where many street shops to sell foods and souvenirs also open.
Kawane-cho Cherry Blossom Festival
<Kawane-cho> Late March - Early April
The festival is held around the arch of cherry trees in Ieyama, which is one of the most well known places for cherry blossoms in Sizuoka Prefecture, and various events are held at Lake of Nomori, Tennozan Park, Ieyama Fureai Plaza, Green Park, etc.
April
Shizuoka Festival
<Shizuoka City>
Early April
The high point, a flower-viewing procession, imitates the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's custom of taking daimyo (feudal lords) to Sengen Shrine to view the cherry blossoms.
Princess Parade in Hosoe
<Hamatsu City>
First Saturday and Sunday of April
The parade, which features a noble woman accompanied by about a hundred retainers, provides a glimpse of what life was like in the Edo period.
Mikumano Shrine Big Festival
<Kakegawa City> First Friday, Saturday and Sunday of April
Mikumano Shrine Big Festival is a symbol of spring in Shizuoka Prefecture. The most attractive feature of this festival is a parade of Mikoshi (portable shrine) and the accompanying thirteen gorgeously decorated floats, which attract visitors with the delicate and dynamic movement.
Himesama Parade
<Hamamatsu City> First Saturday and Sunday of April
This is the biggest event of Hosoe-cho, which restages the passage of Himekaido (street of women) by the princesses of local lords in Edo era. A princess in a palanquin accompanied by hundred-some samurais and waiting maids parades the street.
Okuni Shrine Annual Big Festival <Twelve Piece Court Dance>
<Mori-machi> Mid April
This court dance consists of 12 tunes carried down from the era of Emperor Bunbu (AD701) continuously without being interrupted by so many wars. Presently the dance is played by the parishioners of Okuni Shrine. This is one of three court dances played in the township of Mori.
Yaizu Port Festival
<Yaizu City> Early April
This is an annual event in the spring of Yaizu, a city of fishery and seashore. Markets of fresh fishes and shellfishes as well as processed marine foods and events in the open area are held whole day long and the visitors can join a lottery to win a whole bonito.
Toko Temple - Hiyoshi Shrine Sarumai (monkey dance)
<Shimada City> April 14
Two children wearing masks of male and female monkeys dance to the music of flute and drum. This is nationally unique folklore performance played at the festival of Hiyoshi Shrine, which houses the guardian god of Toko Temple, and is designated as an intangible folklore cultural heritage by Shizuoka Prefecture.
Appare Fuji
<Fuji City> Late April
More than 40 Yosakoi dance teams gather from all over the country. Active performances of Yosakoi dance are played in the bottom of the magnificent Mt. Fuji to tighten the ties of people without regard to the generations.
Nagafuji Festival
<Iwata City> Late April - Early May
Beautiful wisteria trellises all around color purple, under which Noh performances in the day and under the bonfires, music played by Japanese harp, introduction of Fuji Musume (wisteria queen of the year) and outdoor tea ceremony are performed and the tea made of the leaves of the year and freshly made rice cake are served free.
Ose FestivalEUchiura Fishery Harbor Festival
<Numazu City> April 4
Ose Festival is an annual festival of Ose Shrine, which is known as one of the strangest festivals in the country for "Isami Odorih" played by men dressed in womenfs clothes. Uchiura Fishery Harbor Festival is held at the same time, where Japanese drums are played and fresh local food products are sold by the producers.
Atami Odori
<Atami City> Late April
This is an all-out Japanese dance show performed once a year, where Geisha girls of Atami region show the performances they have trained hard day and night and the viewers can see the traditional beauty. Atami Odori is so popular that every year fans make a long waiting line before the theater opens.
Shunki Kobo-ki Yukumi-shiki(springtime hot water dedicating ceremony in commemoration of the passing of Kobodaishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism)
<Izu City> April 21
The ceremony is conducted after the legendary story that Kobodaishi found the hot spring "Tokko-no-Yuh", from which Shuzenji Onsen hot spring resort developed, about 1,200 years ago. Young girls with wooden pail parade through the street of hot spring resort and dedicate hot water to the spirit of Kobodaishi at the main hall of Shuzenji Temple.
Sagara Picnic Races
<Sagara-cho> April 29
This is a nationally unique horse race held on the sea shore. About 30 thoroughbreds from all over the prefecture as well as from other places contend severe races on white sands. Since the viewers can see the race from up close, the races are very popular not only to horse race fans but also to grown-ups and minors.
May
Hamamatsu Festival
<Hamamatsu city> May 3-5
One of Japan's best-known kite-flying festivals, it includes a float procession.
Yabusame (Mounted Archery),
<Fujinomiya City> May 4-6
Black-Ship Festival
<Shimoda City> May 16-18
Lively parades and events commemorate the arrival of Commodore Perry.
Enshu Daimyo GyoretsuEMaiguruma
<Iwata City> Late May
This Daimyo Gyoretsu (procession of local lord) is restaged at Mitsuke-juku, which was about the middle of 53 stations existed on Tokaido main street between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) in Edo era. At the same time, Maiguruma Odori, which is a mass dance event performed on the street, and Maiguruma, danced under the bonfire by a pair of man and woman, are staged.
Horaibashi(Hirai Bridge)
<Shimada City> Late May
Horaibashi (Hirai Bridge) is the world longest wooden footbridge, accredited in Guinness Book of World Records. This festival features a parade of Bonbori (paper lanterns) over the bridge in the midnight and many other events.
|
|
|
|
June
Dontsuku Festival
<Higashi Izu-machi> June 2-3
During this humorous festival, local geisha parade through the streets carrying a phallus representing the deity's shape. The festival praying for harmonious marital relations and the prosperity of one's descendants goes back two thousand years. Spectators invariably smile at the sight of this festival, whose frank, easygoing nature is typical of Izu.
Ajisai(Hydrangea) Festival
<Shimoda City> June 1-30
Numerous events are held on Sundays during this time, when around 3 million hydrangeas bloom in Shimoda Park.
Yoshiwara Gion Matsuri
<Fuji City> Early June
Gion Matsuri is an event originated in Gion, Kyoto to quieten down evil spirits that cause disease and disaster and it spread out all over the country. The gorgeous and dynamic festival features a parade of Mikoshi (portable shrine) carried by children and youngsters and 21 decorated floats pulled around the area.
Enshu Hamakita Hiryu Matsuri
<Hamamatsu City> First Saturday and Sunday of June
Various types of events are held during the festival such as the "Hamakita Takoage (kite flying)" to fly huge kites in Hamakita district, the valiant "Hiryu Himatsuri (Flying Dragonfs fire festival)" which features water, sound and flame, the "Mizu-no-michi Local Product Marketh" where many shops gather from the basin area of Tenryu River, a parade of the Flying Dragonfs head which is the symbol of the festival and a performance of Japanese drums.
July
Fireworks:
During the first three weeks or so of July, fireworks displays are held at various placed in the prefecture, including Atami, Abekawa, Kanzanji, and Arai.
|
|
|
Hosoe Shrine Gion Matsuri
<Hamamatsu City> Third Saturday and Sunday of July
Following the tradition passed down from Edo era, the sacred spirit of Hosoe Shrine is mounted on a boat, which cruises down Miyakoda River and around the shore of Lake Hamana. This is a traditional scenery of Hosoe in the summer together with such lyrical scenes as the Japanese traditional festive music played by flutes and drums and the beautiful mass lights of paper lanterns.
Abekawa Fireworks Show
<Shizuoka City> Last Saturday of July
The fireworks shown at the upstream of Abekawa Bridge is a lyrical scenery of Shizuoka City in the summer. 10,000 shooting-up fireworks and 50 set fireworks color the sky of summer night.
Fuji Matsuri
<Fuji City> Fourth Sunday of July
This is a festival which takes place around Aoba Street, where all citizens gather. Many kinds of events are held such as Fuji All Citizensf Samba and fireworks show, among which the Musical Parade of Princess Kaguya is especially popular as Fuji City is the background of the famous folk story "Taketori Monogatari".
Mt. Fuji Drums Festival
<Gotemba City> Last Sunday of July
Performances of Japanese drums by the local teams and a contest of Japanese drum players from all over the country are held on the specially constructed stage at Gotembaguchi, mount climbing point of Mt. Fuji. It is a dynamic event to see and listen to the sound of drums echoing from Mt. Fuji.
Matsukawa Wooden Basin Race
<Ito City> First Sunday of July
This is a humorous race to ride 1 m in diameter and 30 cm deep wooden basins down 400 meter section of Matsukawa River, which flows in the middle of Ito Onsen (hot spring) region. Races are fought by individuals, groups and countries (international), where voluntary participations of viewers are welcome.
Atami Kogashi Matsuri / Decorated Floats Contest
<Atami City> Mid July
Wood carving floats and decorated floats from every blocks of the city parade in the downtown area of Atami. Many floats decorated with ideas worked out for one year since the festival of last year gather to the seashore street in front of Sun Beach to create gorgeous and spectacular scenery.
Genji Ayame Matsuri
<Izu-no-kuni City> First Saturday and Sunday of July
A parade of decorated floats, fully dressed warriors, Mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by geisha girls, etc., to solace the spirit of Ayame who was borne in Izu-nagaoka about 800 years ago and is known to have fallen in love with Minamoto-no-Yorimasa colors whole town with festive atmosphere.
Ito Onsen Yume Hanabi (dream fireworks)
<Ito City> July 29 - 31
The fireworks show is held during the three days of Nagisa Matsuri and can be seen from almost any seashore of Ito City. 1,000 shooting-ups of size 3 to 10 fireworks and large size Starmine fireworks from 30 launching pads are fired every day, totaling 7,500 shots during the three day period.
Dogashima Himatsuri (fire festival)
<Nishi-izu-cho>
This is the biggest fireworks show in Nishi-izu area, which is shown with the motif of legendary fight to beat pirates. The spectacular firework, which burns a pirate ship, is valiant and fantastic.
August
Shimizu Port Festival
<Shizuoka City> First Saturday and Sunday of August.
The festival features a lantern-lit dance through the streets and numerous aquatic events.
Anjin Festival
<Ito City> August 8-10
The festival commemorates William Adams, known in Japanese as Miura Anjin, who built and launched the first Western sailing ship in Japan. The earliest Englishman to come to Japan, he also served as advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu on diplomatic affairs.
Drum Festival
<Shimoda City> August 14-15
Military drums of the sort used in the early seventeenth century are featured in a parade during which a mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried through the streets.
Enshu Fukuroi Fireworks
<Fukuroi City> Mid August
30,000 shooting-ups of impressive fireworks are displayed in the summer night sky like large flower blossoms. This is counted as one of ten large fireworks shows in the country and is known as a lyrical scenery of Enshu (old name of Shizuoka Prefecture) in the summer.
Ooi River Fireworks Show
<Shimada City> Mid August
This is a lyrical scenery in the summer, which colors up Ooi River with about 8,000 shooting-ups of fireworks. The fireworks are really gorgeous and spectacular.
Yaizu Shrine Aramatsuri
<Yaizu City> August 12-13
This is the large festival of Yaizu Shrine, which is known as the most valiant festival event in Tokai district. Two Mikoshi, Okoshi and Mekoshi, carried by a few thousand people dressed in white parade through the town till late in the evening. It is an excitement to see this valiant and dynamic event.
Kinoene Shrine Ceremonial Festival
<Fuji City> First Saturday and Sunday of August
Various kinds of events are held and many street stores are open on Fuji Honmachi Street beginning from JR Fuji station and the surrounding area. The event is featured by the traditional festive music bands competing each other by playing 5 different traditional festive tunes.
Mishima Summer Festival
<Mishima City> Mid August
This festival features decorated floats and festive bands, a parade to restage the war procession of Minamoto-no-Yoritomo (the founder of Kamakura Shogunate), Noheibushi (folklore song and dance) Parade, Mishima Samba Parade and other events, as well as many street stores. This is the biggest scale festival in Mishima City.
Futamata Matsuri
<Hamamatsu City> Late August
This is a ceremonial festival of Futamata Suwa Shrine. Under the boiling sun, 14 decorated floats parade through the town to create the climax of the festival. It is so exciting and the viewers will recall the memory of old days by seeing this summer festival.
|
|
|
|
September
Mitsuke Hadaka Festival
<Iwata. City>
A naked festival in honor of the shrine deity, held on the Saturday preceding August 10 under the old lunar calendar.
Misakubo Matsuri
<Hamamatsu City> Saturday and Sunday in mid September
A disguise contest, which is very unique and nationally well known, is held in the day and a valiant parade of decorated floats is performed in the evening to heat up whole town to the climax of the festival.
Simada-mage Matsuri
<Shimada City> Third Sunday of September
Shimada-mage is the most popular traditional womenfs hair style originated by Tora-gozen. It is a beautiful scenery to have about 50 beauticians of the city parade the town wearing Shimada-mage and Yukata, and the festival attracts many viewers from in and out of the city.
Shizuoka Odakkui Matsuri
<Shizuoka City> Mid September
This is a new event originated to collect people from all over the country to Shizuoka City. This participatory type event was established by fusing gYosakoih dance and image songs and traditional regional dances of local communities. Participating teams create their own choreography to the tunes arranged by themselves and compete each other.
Yawatano Autumn Festival
<Ito City> Mid September
This is a ceremonial festival of Hachimangu Kinomiya Shrine in Yawatano. After the Shinto rites, two Mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by young men parade 2.8 km road to the sea shore. Mando, lanterns weighing 60 kg each and decorated floats from each part of the town joint the festival and attract many people.
Monzenmachi Shimoda Kaido Festival
<Mishima City> September 23
The street is closed to vehicular traffic and the scenery of a typical town in front of a temple in early Showa era (1920ies) is restaged for pedestrian visitors. Many shops which remind those of early Showa era are open on the street side and various events are held such as Mishima Mikoshi, Noheibushi dance, Mishima Samba Parade, sword fight play, street performances and Food Market of Shimoda Kaido.
October
Obi Festival
<Shimada City> Three days in mid-October.
This traditional festival held once every three years features a colorful procession of daimyo, menservants, and Kashima dancers.
Kakegawa Grand Festival
<Kakegawa City>
A boisterous giant lion dance and a daimyo parade highlight this unusual festival held once every three years.
Fu-Hachimangu Shrine Ceremonial Festival
<Iwata City> First Saturday and Sunday of October
Decorated floats elaborated by local inhabitants come out from every town blocks and parade with the festive music played by drums and flutes as well as spirited encouragement shouts. The festival has an atmosphere of good old days.
Kaketsuka Yatai Maturi (Decorated Floats Festival)
<Iwata City> Third Saturday and Sunday of October
Port of Kaketsuka prospered as a commercial port from Edo era to Meiji era. Kaketsuka Yatai Festival carries down the tradition of such old days to the present and is performed to pray for the safety of seaway. Gorgeous decorated floats with many lanterns parades together with the players of festive music and creates very attractive scenery.
Yokoo Kabuki Regular Performance
<Hamamatsu City> Second Saturday and Sunday of October
Yokoo Kabuki is played at farm villages and is passed down by tradition for more than 200 years. This Kabuki is designated as an intangible folklore cultural heritage by Shizuoka Prefecture. All of the actors, music instrument players, Gidayu singers and stagehands consist of local residents.
November
Nanadaru Festival
<Kawazu cho>
The seven waterfalls provide the setting for various events during the festival, including the opportunity to feast on an unlimited quantity of wild-boar stew.
Street Performance World Cup in Shizuoka
<Shizuoka City> Early November
This is a world championship contest of street performers from all over the world. Various talented performers who play juggling, pantomime, magic, etc., gather from domestic and abroad and creates wonder and laughter here and there in the town and the viewers will be moved by the excitement.
Shiritsumi Matsuri
<Ito City> November 10
Shiritsumi Matsuri is a festival in the evening, which is performed in the dark hall of Otonashi Shrine. The festival features Shiri-sumo, which is fought by two people on a wooden basin hitting each other by their hips in accordance with the festive music to push the opponent out. Thus, it is one of the strangest festivals in the country. Whoever wants to play Shiri-sumo may participate the fight on the spot.
|
|
|
|
December
Fire Festival
<Akiha Shrine on the summit of Mt. Akiha> <Shimoda City> 15-16 December
This festival in the western part of the prefecture includes arrow, sword and fire dances.
Narcissus Festival
<Shimoda City>
Held from mid-December through January when thousands of wild narcissus bloom on Cape Tsumekizaki.
Mt. Akiwa / Akiwa Temple Big Festival
<Shizuoka City> December 15-16
Akiwa Temple is worshipped as the god to get fire under control. The Shinto ceremony gHiwatarih in the evening of 16th is for the practitioners and participants to walk over not-completely-extinguished fire placed on the holy mount by bare foot to cleanse their dirty spirits.
January
Atami Plum Blossom Festival
<Atami City> mid-Junuary to mid-March
Special events are scheduled on weekends.
Hina-no-Tsurushi Matsuri
(hanged doll ornament festival)
<Higashi-izu-cho> January 20 - March 31
From ancient days, the people of Inatori Onsen (hot spring) area, put up a pair of ornaments decorated with many kinds of dolls on both sides of the tiered stand for dolls on the Hinamatsuri (girlsf day festival) days with a wish of their childrenfs happiness.
Umezu Kagura (Shinto music and dance)
<Kawane-honcho> Mid January
This is a traditional Shinto ceremony passed down from about 500 years ago. The ceremony is performed after Iwato Kagura, which is a well-known story of the age of gods. Sanpo-no-mai (three treasures dance), Tenno-no-mai (guardian godfs dance), Oni-no-mai (demonfs dance), etc., are dedicated to the gods. The Kagura is an intangible cultural heritage of Shizuoka Prefecture.
Nue Exorcising Festival
<Izu-no-kuni City> January 28
This is a Shinto ceremony for a new year to lustrate an evil and invite good luck, which was made after the story of Gen-Sanmi-Yorimasa (a high-ranking imperial guard in Heian Era) who fought off a monster, Nue, which had a head of monkey, a body of tiger and a tail of snake in Shishiiden.
February
Setsubun (Spring Equinox) Festival
February 3
The day before spring begins under the lunar calender. The occasion is marked by colorful ceremonies at the Sengen Shrine in Fujinomiya, Mishima Taisha, and many other famous shrines throughout the prefecture.
Minami Cherry and Rape Blossoms Festival
<Minami-izu-cho> February 5 - March 10
The banks of Aono River in Shimokamo Onsen (hot spring) region is known for early flowering cherry trees, which make a magnificent contrast with the rape blossoms beneath the trunks. Various events are held during the period.
Daruma Doll Market of Bishamonten Festival
<Fuji City> January 7 - 9 by lunar calendar
This is a festival known for hosting one of three biggest Daruma Doll Markets in the country. Bishamonten is one of four guard gods who safeguard the principle of Buddhism and is worshipped as a god to provide a fortune of war. The gDaruma Doll Marketh is a feature of the festival and many Daruma dolls such as Suzukawa Daruma, made nearby, Joshu Daruma and Yakumo Daruma are sold and attracts 300,000 visitors.
 |
||
 |
Presented by Shizuoka Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture Tourist Association |  |
 |
||
| All rights of this website such as articles, photographs and pictures are reserved. | ||