Issue 8, July/August 2007 Is a Publication of the Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office What’s Up Aichi －Timely Tourist Information On And The Surrounding Central Japan Region－

Beat the Heat at Aichi Beaches sunbathers. Events held throughout the Toyohama Sea Bream Festival summer make Blue Sun Beach a great Visitors to Nagoya this summer will surely place to mingle with other beachgoers. As long as you’re at the seaside, why not find that the stifling heat takes a bit of the make time for a one-of-a-kind oomph out of their adventurous mind-set. Couples will want to hit Tokoname City’s marine-themed festival with the warm At the end of rainy season in July, the Ono Beach for a late afternoon swim people of an Aichi fishing town? earth seems to sweat out all of the before strolling along the shoreline and Minami Chita is Aichi prefecture’s leading moisture it absorbed during the previous taking in the breathtaking views. Also in fishing town, and many of the townspeople weeks, making for the most humid days of Tokoname City, the shallow waters of make their livelihoods fishing the Ise Bay Sakai Beach are perfect for travelers who the year. Luckily for travelers, Aichi has to feed the hungry Nagoyans to the north. 350 miles of coastline where you can shed want to blend with the locals while For a place whose prosperity is so closely some clothes and escape the sticky heat. collecting shellfish or just roll up their pant tied to the sea, it’s perhaps no surprise legs and let the cool saltwater sooth their that the year’s biggest event is the Sea Generally, swimming season in Central travel-weary feet. Japan begins in mid July with the end of Bream Festival, or Tai Matsuri, held on th th rainy season and lasts until late August, Several other beaches stretch down the July 28 and 29 this year. The festival, when sharing the water with territorial Chita Peninsula to the west of Minami surrounded by symbolism and tradition, is jellyfish puts you at risk of bringing home a Chita Prefectural Nature Park, including a great opportunity to get a glimpse into most unwelcome souvenir. Aichi’s most popular, Utsumi Beach, the the values of rural Japan.

ideal destination for travelers with people-watching in mind. Utsumi is also In the weeks before the festival, Minami your best bet for jumping into a pickup Chita’s five districts each construct a sea game of beach volleyball. bream float of up to 60 feet long from wood, bamboo and cotton. The sea bream The seashore of eastern Aichi is slightly are then paraded through the streets on further afield, but travelers who make the the shoulders of the town’s young people trip will be rewarded with less crowded to heartening tunes played by taiko beaches stretching for miles along the (traditional drum) players and flutists who Pacific Ocean. Head to the Irago resort are precariously perched inside the giant area, at the tip of the Atsumi Peninsula, fish. The strength of the creations is then Karate Kid-style crane kicks highly encouraged where the deep blue waters and jagged put to the test as they are butted into each rock formations frame an awe-inspiring other and rammed into a ceremonial sunrise and provide a stunning backdrop structure known as the okari-ya. Aside from the cool Pacific waves, Aichi beaches offer unique options for tourists for the resplendent Cape Irago looking for temporary relief from the Lighthouse, a popular destination for scorching summer. Umi no ie, or beach Japanese visitors. A dip in the shallow houses, are not, as the name might waters is a great way to cool off after a suggest, overnight facilities for weekend round of golf or a leisurely ride along the beach bums, but rather shady hut-like area’s scenic bike routes on a cycle rented retreats from which to take in views of the from a local hotel. sea. After an ice-cold draft beer or a Surfers from all over the country flock to refreshing kakigori, the Japanese version nearby Pacific Long Beach for some of of a snow cone, a lazy afternoon nap on the best waves in Japan. With a dozen or Terrified townspeople flee the wrath of Fishzilla cool tatami mats while being gently so breaks, Pacific Long Beach has enough caressed by a sea breeze blowing into the wave diversity to keep all levels of surfers The celebration culminates in the plunging open façade is a great way to rejuvenate satisfied. Even if you’ve never set foot on a of one or several of the giant fish into the between dips in the ocean. Many beach board, you can enjoy the waves vicariously sea while the musicians fight to maintain houses also offer changing rooms, lockers by taking in one of the surf competitions their balance and keep up their and shower facilities for a minimal charge. held throughout the summer. inspirational tunes. Against a constant battering of waves, the float-bearers fight The Chita Peninsula is the nearest ocean So make sure to pack a bathing suit and to keep the sea bream upright and ensure getaway to Nagoya. Shinmaiko Marine flip-flops for your trip to Japan this summer. that it only turns to the left; the Japanese Park Blue Sun Beach, in Chita City, is a With such outstanding and varied beaches seamen’s term for “counterclockwise” manmade white sand beach with a large awaiting you in Aichi, you might just decide resembles the word for “catch,” so it is field that is perfect for family picnics and to bypass some of the country’s cultural believed that keeping the sea bream sports. The beach’s gentle breezes attract offerings and spend your days lazily rotating only to the left will ensure a windsurfing enthusiasts and cool off soaking up the sun. bountiful fishing season and continued prosperity for the town. surprisingly strong and quick, but if you’re the city streets. agile enough to snag one, your reward is Visitors to the festival can catch a bus from the unforgettable experience of fresh With such a colorful festival, the organizers Utsumi Station, which is a one-hour train tentacles expertly barbequed for you by of the fireworks display, held the following ride from Meitetsu Nagoya Station. the staff of Yukosha, the organizers of day, have their work cut out for them so as your hunt. not to be outshined by the revelers. They

Octopus Hunting in meet the challenge with 15,000 bursts set Tako tsukami is a one-of-a-kind experience to popular music. Also unique to this Climb Mt. Fuji 9 that you won’t want to let slip away, so festival is the pyrotechnics competition in Visit Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion 9 have your travel agent or another which firemasters vie to outdo each other Stay in a ryokan 9 Japanese speaker contact Yukosha at in one-minute face-offs. 0569.68.3611 to set up your adventure. Catch an octopus with bare hands

What?! You mean wrestling with an Toyota City can be reached in less than an Fireworks Add Flash to Aichi Festivals hour from Nagoya. eight-legged sea beast was not on your to-do list for Japan? Well you must not If your days are filled with the pleasures of have heard the ancient Japanese saying: water this summer, Aichi fills your nights “He who visits Japan without conquering with the wonder of fire. Fireworks are a and devouring the mighty octopus has not staple of late-summer festivals, and towns truly visited Japan.” all over the prefecture are proud to show off their flair for flares. Well fret not, intrepid traveler, because Aichi has just the place for you to complete Visitors to Nagoya won’t want to miss the your journey properly and create an chance to celebrate summer in the city unforgettable story to tell all of your with 300,000 spectators at Nagoya Port envious friends back home. Festival, or Minato Matsuri, taking place on July 21st. Last year, 3,600 dazzling Himakajima is a large island located off of explosions lit up the sky over the port’s Aichi’s southern coast, smack dab in the Nagoya Garden Pier. This year, the 100th middle of the Mikawa and Chita Bays, a anniversary of the port’s opening is certain location that provides the island with to add to the excitement. enviable access to some of the richest Not your average bottle-rocket waters in Japan. Just an hour away from The pier is a short walk from Nagoya Port the city, Himakajima is a popular (Nagoyako) station at the end of the Meiko Not only the sheer number—the festival subway line. boasts a whopping 20,000 fireworks—but destination for Nagoyans hunting for the the variety draws hanabi enthusiasts from most delectable seafood. And hunt they do, True firework freaks will want to head out all over central Japan to Okazaki City’s because at Himakajima visitors have the of Nagoya for Aichi’s most spectacular Summer Festival for one of the country’s unique opportunity to capture and eat their displays. On July 20th and 21st, most popular displays. In addition to the own octopus. City amazes with its blazes during the kaleidoscopic explosions in the sky, half a Gion Festival at the Yoshida Shrine. On million spectators spend nearly three Friday night, streams of flames spray from hours spellbound by ground- and hand-held tezutsu fireworks, showering the water-based pyrotechnics. Get to the night sky in blinding hues of orange. festival early to claim the best viewing spot Originating from the shrine and dating and enjoy an array of tasty treats offered back to the Warring States period, up at the colorful food stalls while you wait Toyohashi’s fireworks gained popularity for the show to begin. This year’s festival during the Edo era when well-known will be held on August 4th. artists and writers praised their beauty. Take the half-hour ride on the Meitestu line On Saturday, the town hosts a more from Nagoya to Higashi Okazaki station or “Be sure to get my good side.” typical display boasting 12,000 explosions Okazaki Koen Mae station, both of which

that reach a dazzling climax with the are a ten-minute walk from the festival site. Roughly comparable to a greased pig popular “Starmine” grand finale. chase at an American county fair, octopus catching, or tako tsukami, is unique to Toyohashi City is less than half an hour

Himakajima, and you won’t find it in any from Nagoya by bullet train. Aichi Prefectural Government guidebooks. Groups of 10 can take part in San Francisco Office the slippery, slimy activity for 31,500 yen Toyota City’s Oiden Festival, held this c/o JETRO San Francisco th (approximately $25 per person with an year on July 28 , is a light-hearted affair in 235 Pine Street Suite 1700 extra charge for additional participants) which you’re just as likely to encounter San Francisco CA 94104 from July to September (with a brief break cross-dressed men performing Phone: 415-392-1333 ex 252 during the August O-bon holiday). boy-band-worthy boogies or housewives Fax: 415-788-6927 moonlighting as pink-haired cheerleaders ¥ Email: [email protected] Tako tsukami is highly recommended for as anything more traditional. Ten-thousand Akihiro Oyaizu, Douglas Shelton groups with energetic children looking to flamboyantly dressed citizens participate cool off in mid-summer. The octopuses are in the enormous dance competition held in