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【Must Visit at Least Once】 4 Festivals and Traditional Events in Central Japan

Japan has many festivals and traditional events that have been handed down since ancient times.

This time, we will introduce four festivals and traditional events in the Chubu region.

If you’re interested, why not come to Japan during the festival?

*Please check the official website for the dates of the festival.

1. Hamamatsu Festival [Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture]

▲Photo provided：Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau

It boasts one of the largest numbers of spectators in the country, with over 1.7 million people visiting over the three days of the festival every year. The “kite-flying battle” takes place at the Nakatajima Kite Flying Site, and in the evening, a grand event is held at the Hamamatsu City Center Area, including the pulling of Goten Yatai floats. The purpose of the Hamamatsu Festival is for the whole community to celebrate the birth of the first child. The young men of the town, parents and children fly kites high into the sky, bearing the family crest and the name of the firstborn, in hopes of the children’s healthy growth.

▲Photo provided：Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau

The Goten Yatai floats, which fantastically decorate the city at night, parade through the streets, competing with each other for beauty to the sound of reverberating music.

2. Tahara Festival [Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture]

▲Photo provided：Tahara City

It is known for its floats carrying mechanical dolls and is a traditional event that brightens up Tahara city in the fall. Three Karakuri floats carrying the parade are paraded through the town. At night, children perform hand dances on the floats, and hand-held fireworks (Tedutsu Hanabi) are set off at the finale.

▲Photo provided：Tahara City

3. Yoshida Fire Festival [Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture]

▲Photo provided：Yamanashi Tourism Organization

This festival is counted as one of the three strangest festivals in Japan, and is said to have a history stretching back 400 years. The highlight is the torch lighting on the first day. More than 70 large torches, each 3m high, are lit all at once. The sight of the night sky turning red and the approach to the shrine engulfed in flames is truly spectacular. On the second day, the mikoshi is paraded through the parishioners and returned to Sengen Shrine. The festival reaches its climax when parishioners walk alongside the mikoshi, holding “Susukino Tamagushi” offerings.

▲Photo provided：Yamanashi Tourism Organization

4. Mountain burning on Mt. Omuroyama [Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture]

▲Photo provided：Ito City Tourism Division

The mountain burning is said to have a history of 700 years. The event began with the aim of preserving the mountains, but has now become a part of the spring tradition. The sight of the fire rising from the base to the summit is truly spectacular. Many visitors come every year to see the magnificent scenery.

▲Photo provided：Ito City Tourism Division

5. Enshu Hamakita Hiryu (Flying Dragon) Festival [Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture]

▲Photo provided：Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Bureau

This festival is symbolized by a dragon, as the Tenryu River was once known as “violent Tenryu.” This festival can be enjoyed from day to night, with activities such as Hamakita kite flying, stage performances, an experience plaza, a product exhibition, and the Hiryu Fire Festival.

The highlight of the show is the finale, “Hiryu (Flying Dragon) Niagara.” Niagara fireworks will be fired from the body of the 60m-long flying dragon suspended by a crane, and fireballs will be fired from the head.

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My own reward trip to heal the fatigue of everyday life②

The place I booked for lunch that day was Funagiraso. Located right next to the Funagira Dam in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, it is surrounded by green trees, and you can enjoy your meal while looking out at the emerald green reflection of the dam lake.

Funagiraso, which used to be a Japanese-style inn, is now run by a third-generation chef as a French restaurant. It is a place with clean water, and the specialty of the inn at the time was carp dishes, which were said to be good for pregnant women. If you make a reservation, you can still choose carp as your main dish.

Sea Lake Report: Walk along the Okuhamana Nature Trail in search of spectacular views.

Lake Hamana may have a strong image of marine leisure, but not many people know that it is actually a place where you can enjoy hiking and trail running. To the west are the Kosai Mountain Range, and to the north are the mountains Jogamine and Tommakuyama, where hiking trails are available. It is also popular as a low-altitude hike that can be easily done on holidays.

This time, I used the Tenryu Hamanako Railway to walk the course from Hamanako Sakume Station to the summit of Jogamine and descend to Kiga Station, and I would like to share with you how it went.

My own reward trip to heal the fatigue of everyday life①

When my fatigue reaches its peak, I want to escape from everyday life and go on a trip. Having said that, I somehow feel restless when I go on a trip with someone else. That’s right, let’s go on a reward trip just for me! That’s what I thought.

The journey begins on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway. Start from Shinjohara Station and look out at Lake Hamana from the train window. The Tenryu Hamanako Railway is famous for its beautiful scenery, but there are other interesting points as well. There are a wide variety of restaurants within the station building and adjacent areas. At Shinjohara Station, there is a shop called “Station Eel Shop Yamayoshi” that sells eel bento, and you can also eat it on the train. There are also many stylish shops such as Granny’s Burger, a Mikkabi beef burger shop, at Mikkabi Station, and Piazza, a stone oven pizza shop at Kanasashi Station.

A great solo trip. I can’t help but want to pack my schedule in, but my purpose today is to do nothing. There are places where you can have that luxury. While riding the train, we arrived at the station hotel “INN MY LIFE” at Futamata Honmachi Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway.
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