Calendar of Events May 2018 Notes: 1. Published by Tourist Information Center of Japan National Tourism Organization and all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. ©2018 Japan National Tourism Organization 2. Dates, times and functions are subject to change without notice. Especially schedule of outdoor events and flower festival may change due to the weather. Be sure to check the latest information in advance. 3. The access shows only major route. Please refer to following URL for alternative transportation from the station where you want to start. http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ 4. Japanese words appearing in the column provide the name of the event, the place and access for you to point out to Japanese passerby when you need help. 5. Please refer to URL (basically in Japanese) for each event. If you have further questions, please call TIC, JNTO at following number. TIC, JNTO Tel : (03)-3201-3331 from overseas +81 3 3201 3331 Tango-no-sekku 端午の節句 Tango-no-sekku, Boy's Festival held on May 5. Families Glossary： with boys display dolls that depict warriors or heroes, and Buddhist saint who is seeking a state of Bosatsu fly carp streamers to express their hopes that the boys will spiritual enlightenment Special Remarks: advance in life, like strong carps that swim upstream. Bugaku Ancient court dance with music Dates and Times are shown as follows which is common in Japan. May 5 has been changed to become a national holiday Matsuri Festival, Event Dates : M/D April 3 ⇒ 4/3 Mikoshi Portable shrine called Children's Day to celebrate the growth of children Noh Traditional masked drama Time : 24 hours system 8:00am ⇒ 8:00 regardless of boys or girls. Yamahoko/Yama Float 8:00pm ⇒ 20:00 Ukai 鵜飼 Cormorant fishing, an ancient method of catching Ayu (sweetfish or trout-like fish), handling trained cormorants. (This takes place at night under the blazing torches fastened to the prows of fishing boats from May until October. ) Region Dates Pref. City Venue Event Summary Access URL Summary: JR Ou Honsen Line to Hirosaki Park, Cherry Blossom Festival with about 2,600 cherry trees on the ground Hirosaki Sta. From JR奥羽本線弘前駅より徒 Hirosaki Castle Hirosaki Sakura of Hirosaki Castle and along the castle's moat in Hirosaki Park. The there, walk 20-30 min. 歩20～30分又は弘前市 http://www. Tohoku Aomori Hirosaki 4/21 ～ 5/6 ground Matsuri festival period is subject to change depending on blossoming. or take Konan 100 yen 内循環100円バス【弘南バ hirosakipark.j 東北 青森県 弘前市 弘前公園、 弘前さくらまつり bus to Shiyakushomae ス】で15分市役所前下車、 p/sakura/ 弘前城跡 Schedule & Key events: Bus Stop (15 min.), and 徒歩4分 ●daily sunset-23:00 Cherry blossoms light up then walk 4 min. Summary: Festival in commemoration of the famous warlord "Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578)". Uesugi-jinja Shrine, JR Yamagata Yonezawa Uesugi Schedule & Key events: http://uesugi Tohoku Yamagata Yonezawa Matsukawa River Shinkansen Line to JR山形新幹線米沢駅より 4/29 ～ 5/3 Matsuri ●5/3 .yonezawa- 東北 山形県 米沢市 and others Yonezawa Sta., and 徒歩10分 米沢上杉まつり 9:30- Parade of Mikoshi of Uesugi-jinja Shrine and floats, through matsuri.jp/ 上杉神社、 then walk 10 min. 松川河畔ほか the city's main street 10:20- Uesugi Gundan Gyoretsu (a parade of about 1,000 Samurai warriors), through the city's main street 14:00- Kawanaka-jima Gassen (sham battle) at Matsukawa riverside ©2018 Japan National Tourism Organization 1/11 Region Dates Pref. City Venue Event Summary Access URL Summary: Festival featuring a procession of people playing the roles of historical figures and warriors and En'nen-no-mai (Shinto dance with music to pray for longevity and a good harvest of the year), designated as one of the National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. JR Tohoku Honsen Line to Hiraizumi Sta., and JR東北本線平泉駅より Chuson-ji Temple, Schedule & Key events: http://hiraizu Hiraizumi- then (1) 中尊寺: Tohoku Iwate Motsu-ji Temple Fujiwara Matsuri ●5/3 mi.or.jp/even 5/1 ～ 5/5 cho (1) Chuson-ji Temple: 徒歩25分 東北 岩手県 中尊寺、 藤原まつり 10:00- Procession from Chuson-ji Temple to Motsu-ji Temple t/haru_fuji.ht 平泉町 walk 25 min. (2) 毛越寺: 毛越寺 ml 13:30- Procession from Motsu-ji Temple to Konjikido in the precincts (2) Motsu-ji Temple: 徒歩7分 of Chuson-ji Temple walk 7 min. ●5/4 12:00- Noh performance at Hakusan-jinja Shrine in the precincts of Chuson-ji Temple ●5/5 11:00- En'nen-no-mai at Motsu-ji Temple Summary: Festival featuring a parade of Mikoshi , children in fancy attire and warriors followed by 11 Yamahoko and townspeople dancing Suzume Odori (local Japanese dance). Simin Hiroba, Schedule & Key events: http://www. Aoba-jinja Shrine JR Tohoku Shinkansen Tohoku Miyagi Sendai Sendai Aoba Matsuri ●5/19 JR東北新幹線仙台駅より aoba- 5/19 ～ 5/20 and others Line to Sendai Sta., and 東北 宮城県 仙台市 仙台青葉祭り 10:00-21:00 Suzume Odori in Simin Hiroba (civic open space), 徒歩20分 matsuri.com/ 市民広場、 then walk 20 min. index.html 青葉神社ほか Motokajicho Park and other sites in the city ●5/20 9:00- Mikoshi leaves Aoba-jinja Shrine to join Jidai-emaki Junko procession 11:15-16:30 Parade of Mikoshi, Yamahoko and Suzume Odori on Ichibancho Street, Higashi-Nibancho Street and Jozenji Street Summary: Festival with over a 400-year history. The highlight of this festival is a parade of Mikoshi and gorgeous 50 floats which include the eight floats of four pairs of big Shishi-gashira (shaped like a huge lions' http://www.s Sakata City Hall head) along the city's main streets. Many more events are scheduled JR Uetsu Honsen Line to Tohoku Yamagata Sakata Sakata Matsuri JR羽越本線酒田駅より徒 akata- 5/19 ～ 5/21 and others during the festival period. Sakata Sta., and then 東北 山形県 酒田市 酒田祭り 歩10～15分 kankou.com/ 酒田市役所ほか walk 10-15 min. event/80 Schedule & Key events: ●5/20 12:00- Ritual pray near Sakata City Hall 13:00- Parade of Mikoshi and 50 floats ©2018 Japan National Tourism Organization 2/11 Region Dates Pref. City Venue Event Summary Access URL Summary: Oribe Hills One of the biggest Ceramic Fair in Japan. Mino-yaki ceramic has a JR Chuo Honsen Line to (Toki Mino-yaki 400-year history and more than 300,000 people come and visit this Toki-shi Sta. (North JR中央本線土岐市駅(北 http://www. Chubu Gifu Toki Oroshi Center) Toki Mino-yaki Matsuri 5/3 ～ 5/5 festival every year. Exit) From there, take 口)より無料シャトルバス oribe- 中部 岐阜県 土岐市 織部ヒルズ 土岐美濃焼まつり free shuttle bus (15分おき) hills.com/ (土岐美濃焼卸商業団 (every 15 min.) 地) Schedule & Key events: ●daily 9:00-17:00 Summary: Kite Battle Festival. Huge kites are flown by groups of citizens, who compete each other by trying to cut the lines of their rivals' kites by JR Tokaido Shinkansen skillful maneuvering. JR東海道新幹線浜松駅下 http://hama Nakatajima Tako- Line to Hamamatsu Sta. Chubu Shizuoka Hamamatsu Hamamatsu Matsuri 車、アクトシティイベントホー matsu- 5/3 ～ 5/5 age Site and others From in front of Act-City 中部 静岡県 浜松市 浜松まつり Schedule & Key events: ル前よりシャトルバス daisuki.net/m 中田島凧揚げ会場ほか Event-Hall, take shuttle (9:00-14:00) atsuri/ ●5/3&4 10:00-15:00 Kite Battle bus (9:00-14:00) ●5/5 12:00-15:00 Kite Battle ●daily 18:30-21:00 Parade of floats, through the city's main streets Summary: Cormorant fishing. It will be held every day during the period except on the night of the full moon (9/25 this year) or when the water is JR Tokaido Honsen Line excessively muddy. Fee is 3,100 JPY or 3,400 JPY without meal. For https://www. to Gifu Sta. From there, Chubu Gifu Gifu Nagara River Nagaragawa Ukai reservation, please call 058-262-0104 (Gifu City Ukai Kanransen JR東海道本線岐阜駅より ukai- 5/11 ～ 10/15 take bus to Nagara- 中部 岐阜県 岐阜市 長良川 長良川鵜飼 Jimusho), or reserve through major travel agencies. バスで15分長良橋下車 gifucity.jp/uk bashi Bus Stop (15 ai/ min.) Schedule & Key events: ●daily (except 9/25) 19:45-20:30 (Departure time: 18:15, 18:45, 19:15) ©2018 Japan National Tourism Organization 3/11 Region Dates Pref. City Venue Event Summary Access URL Summary: Kurofune Matsuri (Black Ship Festival) started in 1934 is an international event that brings together Japanese and Americans and promotes friendly relations between the two nations. This festival was originally named after the historical event in 1854 when the U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry came to Shimoda by seven Black Ships (Kurofune in Japanese) in order to demand the opening of Japanese ports to the foreign countries. If it rains, fireworks display will be held http://www.s From JR Tokyo Sta, take Shimoda Port on the following day. himoda- Chubu Shizuoka Shimoda Kurofune Matsuri JR Limited Express JR東京駅よりJR特急"踊り 5/18 ～ 5/20 and others city.info/even 中部 静岡県 下田市 黒船祭 "Odoriko" to Izu-Kyu 子"で伊豆急下田駅下車 下田港ほか Schedule & Key events: t/kurofune.ht Shimoda Sta. ●5/18 ml 20:15-20:40 Fireworks display over Shimoda Port ●5/19 11:30-12:30 Parade of brass bands and people disguised as Perry and his men along the city's main streets ●5/20 11:00-12:00 Parade of brass bands and people disguised as Perry and his men along the city's main streets Summary: Festival, designated as both the National Important Tangible and Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and registered as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The highlight of this festival is a procession of seven floats featuring gorgeous goldwork and lacquer https://www. Katahara-cho Mikurumayama Hokuriku Toyama Takaoka ware, which are local specialty industry and artifacts, escorted by JR Johana Line to takaoka.or.jp 5/1 Intersection Matsuri JR城端線高岡駅より徒歩 北陸 富山県 高岡市 people in traditional attire.