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FESTIVAL LISTINGS

Japanese festivals and fairs in and around Tokyo (May 2011) Tourist Information Center, Japan National Tourism Organization The Japanese festival information was compiled in cooperation with the Tourist Information Center of the Japan National Tourism Organization. (1st floor, Shin-Tokyo Bldg., 3-3-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo 100-0005). Call (03) 3201-3331 for all your Japan tourist information needs (open 9 a.m to 5 p.m. daily except Jan. 1). Click to see April's festival schedule. Festivals around other areas of Kanto

BunkyoTsutsuji Matsuri April 9 to May 5		Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri, Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo-ku. People can enjoy seeing azalea flowers in the precincts of the Shrine. Admission to Azalea Garden is ¥200. http://www.nedujinja.or.jp/ Access: The Chiyoda Subway Line to Nezu Sta. (C 14)

Fuji Matsuri April 23 to May 5		Fuji-no-hana Kanshokai, Wisteria blossom viewing at Kameido Tenjin (or Tenmangu) Shrine, Koto-ku. There are over 100 wisteria roots in the shrine's precincts, and they are usually in full bloom in this season. http://www.kameidotenjin.or.jp/fujimatsuri/ Access: The JR Sobu Line to Kameido Sta., and then walk 15 min.

Ueki Ichi April 25 to May 5		Ueki Ichi, Potted Plant Fair in the compound of Ikegami Honmonji Temple, Ota-ku. About totaling 30 open-air stalls selling potted plants or others are set up from around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the fair period. Access: (1) The Tokyu Ikegami Line to Ikegami Sta., and then walk 10 min. (2) The Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Nishi-Magome Sta. (A 01), and then walk 10 min.

Annual Spring Festival at Meiji Shrine April 29 to May 3		Annual Spring Festival of Meiji Shrine, Shibuya-ku. Major events held in the precincts are as follows: On May 29, Bugaku, ancient court dance with music from 11 a.m.; On May 2, noh, classical masked drama, and kyogen, noh farce from 11:45, sankyoku from 3:45 p.m.; on May 3, Japanese traditional music and dance from noon, and kyudo taikai, Japanese archery meet held at Daini-Kyudo-jo from 9 a.m. to around 4 p.m. Access: (1) The JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Sta. (2) The Chiyoda Subway Line to Meiji-Jingumae Sta. (C 03) (3) Daini-Kyudo-jo: The Odakyu Line to Sangubashi Sta.

Annual Festival of Teppozu Inari Shrine May 1 to May 5		Annual Festival of Teppozu Inari Shrine, Chuo-ku. CANCELED

Ome Matsuri Festival May 2 to May 3		Ome Taisai Festival, Ome on the outskirts of Tokyo. CANCELED

Heiwajima Antique Fair May 3 to May 5		Heiwajima Antique Fair at Heiwajima Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Ota-ku, is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (to 4 p.m. on the 5th) daily during the period. The similar event is also scheduled for July 8-10, Sept. 23-25 and Dec. 16-18 this year. http://www.kottouichi.com/ Access: 10 min. by the Tokyo Monorail Line originating at Hamamatsucho Sta. to Ryutsu Center Sta.

Horse Show May 3 to May 5		JRA Horse Show is annually held at Baji Koen Park, Setagaya-ku. Pony equestrian demonstration, pony races, pony rides and the horse steeplechases are scheduled daily during the period. http://www.jra.go.jp/bajikouen/html/event.html Access: (1) The Tokyu Den'en Toshi Line to Sakura-Shinmachi Sta., and then walk 15 min. (2) 10-20 min. by bus for Seijo-Gakuen or for Chofu-eki Minami-guchi from Shibuya Sta., and then get off at Nodai-mae Bus Stop.

Kurayami Matsuri May 3 to May 6		Kurayami Matsuri, Black Night Festival at Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu, on the outskirts of Tokyo. CANCELED

Takara-no-mai May 5		Takara-no-mai, Japanese dance of Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Taito-ku. CANCELED

Annual Spring Festival of Suitengu Shrine May 5		Annual Spring Festival of Suitengu Shrine, Chuo-ku. Kagura (Shinto dance with music) is performed continually in the daytime. Access: (1) The Hanzomon Subway Line to Suitengumae Sta. (Z 10), and then walk 1 min. (2) The Hibiya or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Ningyocho Sta. (H 13, A 14), and then walk 5 min.

Kachiya festival May 5		Kachiya Matsuri Festival at Katori Shrine, Koto-ku. CANCELED

Annual Festival of Shitaya Shrine May 6 to May 8		Shitaya Jinja Taisai, an Annual Festival of Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku. CANCELED

Hinode Matsuri May 7 to May 8		Hinode Matsuri, Sunrise Festival of Mitake Shrine in Ome on the outskirts of Tokyo. On the 8th, a parade of mikoshi (a portable shrine) followed by some two dozen Samurai warriors, is held from Mitake-san Cable Car Sta. to Mitake Shrine from 10 a.m. to around noon. Access: The JR Ome Line to Mitake Sta. From there, 10 min. by bus to Cable-shita Bus Stop and walk to Takimoto Sta. Take a cable car to Mitake-san Sta., and then walk 20-30 min. to the Shrine.

Sumo Tournament May 8 to May 22		Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall, Sumida-ku. CANCELED

Shishi Matsuri May 8		Shishi-mai Matsuri, Lion Dance Festival of Nagasaki Shrine, Toshima-ku. The dance has a 400-year history and is performed in the precincts of the Shrine from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. When it rains, the dance will be canceled. Access: The Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Shiinamachi Sta., and then walk 2 min.

Kanda Myojin Omikoshi Togyo May 15 to May 16		Kanda Myojin Omikoshi Togyo or Kanda Matsuri Festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. CANCELED

Sanja Matsuri Festival May 21 to May 22		Sanja Matsuri Festival of Asakusa Shrine, Taito-ku. CANCELED

Osunafumi Taisai May 21 to May 23		Osunafumi Taisai, the walking-on-sand ritual of Tamagawa Daishi Temple, Setagaya-ku, is held in the daytime during the period. Everybody is welcome to walk with bare feet on sacred sands in the temple's main hall. Access: The Tokyu Oimachi Line or the Den'en Toshi Line to Futako-Tamagawa Sta., and then walk 10 min.

Kifune Matsuri Festival May 21 to May 22		Kifune Matsuri Festival at Kifune Shrine, Omori, Ota-ku. CANCELED

Annual Festival of Yushima Tenjin Shrine May 22 to May 25		Yushima Tenjin Matsuri, an Annual Festival of Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Bunkyo-ku. CANCELED

Spring Festival of Togenuki Jizo Temple May 24		Spring Festival of Togenuki Jizo Temple (or Koganji Temple), Toshima-ku. Many street stalls are set up from around 9 a.m. to sunset. Access: The JR Yamanote Line or the Toei Mita Subway Line to Sugamo Sta., and then walk 5 min.

Shobo Junshokusha Irei-sai ceremony May 25		Shobo Junshokusha Irei-sai, a memorial service for fire fighters who died on duty, is conducted by members of the Edo Shobo Kinen-kai at Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple), Taito-ku, from 11 a.m. A demonstration of acrobatics on the ladder is held in the compound of the temple from around noon. Access: The Ginza or Subway Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. (G 19, A 18)

Takigi Noh at Shiba Zojoji Temple May 28		Shiba Zo'joji Takigi Noh, open-air torchlight noh plays are performed at Zo'joji Temple, Minato-ku. CANCELED

Annual Festival of Ebara Shrine May 28 to May 30		Ebara Jinja Tenno-sai, an Annual Festival of Ebara Shrine, Shinagawa-ku. CANCELED

Ueki Ichi May 28 to May 29		Ofuji-san-no-Ueki Ichi, a potted plant fair in the neighborhood of Sengen Shrine, Asakusa, Taito-ku. Details to be announced. Access: The Ginza or the Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta.

Annual Festival of Hanazono Shrine May 28 to May 30		Annual Festival of Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku-ku. CANCELED

Tokyo Minato Matsuri May 28 to May 29		Tokyo Minato Matsuri or Port Festival at Harumi pier, Chuo-ku. CANCELED

Festivals around other areas of Kanto Tourist Information Center, Japan National Tourism Organization Festivals around Tokyo

Mashiko-yaki Toki Ichi April 29 to May 8		Mashiko-yaki Toki Ichi, a pottery fair at Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Pref., is held from 9 a.m. to around 5 p.m. at the several venues in Mashiko, such as Kyohan Center, Tsukamoto Seitosho and Togei Mura. http://www.mashiko-kankou.org/mta1/mashikoyaki/toukiiti/tokiichi.htm Access: (1) Kyohan Center and Tsukamoto Seitosho: 50 min. by Toya Bus from Tobu Railways' Utsunomiya Sta. or from Miyano-hashi Bus Stop, which is a 4-min. walk from JR Utsunomiya Sta., get off at Togei-Messe Iriguchi Bus Stop, and then walk 1 min. (2) Togei Mura: 1 hr. by Toya Bus from Tobu Railways' Utsunomiya Sta. or from Miyano-hashi Bus Stop to Sayadokami Bus Stop, and then walk 1 min.

Kasama Himatsuri Toki Ichi April 29 to May 5		Kasama-yaki Toki Ichi or Himatsuri, a pottery fair at Geijutsu-no-mori Koen Park in Kasama, Ibaraki Pref., is held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the fair period. http://www.himatsuri.net/ Access: 1 hr. 10 min. by JR Joban Line's Limited Express Hitachi (or about 2 hrs. by local train) from Ueno Sta. to Tomobe Sta. From there, the JR Mito Line to Kasama Sta., and then walk 20 min. (or special buses to the fair site). A special rapid local train ""Kasama de osanpo-go"" leaves JR Ueno Sta. at 8:05 a.m. for Kasama on May 3.

The Yokohama Parade May 3		The Yokohama Parade, International Masquerade Parade in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref. CANCELED

Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri Festival May 3		Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri Festival at Odawara Castle and other places, Odawara, Kanagawa Pref. Musha Gyoretsu, a warriors' procession is held on Ohoribata-dori Street from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is rather small in scale this year. Access: (1) The JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line or the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo Sta. to Odawara Sta. (2) The Odakyu Line from Shinjuku Sta. to Odawara Sta.

Otako-age May 3 to May 5		Otako-age, a giant kite flying, Nishi-hoshubana, Kasukabe, Saitama Pref. Flying two smaller kites each weighing 150 kg starts at around 1 p.m., and flying two giant kites, each weighing 800 kg starts at around 2 p.m., respectively on both days. When it rains, it will be canceled. Access: The Tobu Isezaki Line to Kasukabe Sta. (East Exit). From there, special buses to the kite flying site are available.

Otako-age May 4 to May 5		Zama-no-Otako-age, a giant kite flying over the riverbank near Zakaebashi Bridge, Zama, Kanagawa Pref. CANCELED

Sagami-no-Otako-age Matsuri May 4 to May 5		Sagami-no-Otako-age Matsuri Festival, involving the flying of a giant kite, in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Pref. CANCELED Access: Shindo Sports Hiroba: The JR Sagami Line to Sobudai-shita Sta., and then walk 15 min.

Kintoki Matsuri Festival May 5		Kintoki Matsuri Festival at Kintoki Shrine, Hakone-machi, Ashigara Shimo-gun, Kanagawa Pref. CANCELED

Performance of Kyogen May 5		Aburi Jinja-no-Kyogen, comic mime plays of Aburi Shrine on Mt. Oyama, Isehara, Kanagawa Pref., are performed from 1 p.m. to around 3 p.m. Access: The Odakyu Line to Isehara Sta. (North Exit). From there, 30 min. by bus to Oyama Cable-eki Bus Stop, and then 6 min. by cable car up to Shimosha Sta.

Sagami-no-Konomachi Festival May 5		Sagami-no-Konomachi Festival of Rokusho Shrine and five other Shrines, O-isomachi and its vicinity, Naka-gun, Kanagawa Pref. Six mikoshi from six shrines parade through the town from noon until 5 p.m. Sagi-no-mai (Heron Dance), Shishi-mai (Lion Dance) and Ryu-mai (Dragon Dance) are performed at Banba Koen Park continually from around 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Access: The JR Tokaido Line to Ninomiya Sta. From there, 10 min. by bus for Hiratsuka to Makinoki Bus Stop or Kokufu-Shinsjuku Bus Stop, and then walk 10 min. to Rokusho Shrine, or 5 min. by taxi from Ninomiya Sta.

Grand Spring Festival of Toshogu Shrine May 17 to May 18		Grand Spring Festival of Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, Tochigi Pref. CANCELED Access: The Tobu Railways' Nikko Line to Tobu-Nikko Sta. or the JR Nikko Line to Nikko Sta., and then 5 min. by bus to Shinkyo Bus Stop.

Itako Ayame Matsuri May 21		Itako Ayame Matsuri, Iris Flower Festival at Maekawa Ayame-en or Iris Garden, Itako, Ibaraki Pref. A million iris flowers of 500 species are in bloom in the garden during the festival period. Admission is free. Yomeiri-fune, a boat escorting a bride, festival music and local Japanese dance are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays during the period. Access: The JR Kashima Line to Itako Sta., and then walk 3 min. to the garden.

Takigi Noh May 27		Takigi Noh, open-air torchlight noh plays in the compound of Kawasaki Daishi Temple, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Pref., are held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is ¥4,000. Access: The Keihin Kyuko Line to Keikyu-Kawasaki Sta. From there, take the Keikyu Daishi Line to Kawasaki-Daishi Sta.

Soga Kasa-yaki Matsuri May 28		Soga Kasa-yaki Matsuri, a ritual of burning paper umbrellas, at Jozenji Temple, Odawara, Kanagawa Pref., is conducted. CANCELED

Kaiko Kinen Bazaar May 31		Kaiko Kinen Bazaar in Yokohama Koen Park near Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref., features over 200 open-air stalls selling potted plants, clothes, toys and the like from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during the period. Access: The JR Negishi Line from Yokohama Sta. (or the JR Keihin Tohoku Line from Tokyo Sta.) to Kannai Sta. (South Exit), and then walk 3 min.

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