Get in the Matsuri Spirit at the Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion

Dedicated to Hamamatsu’s Most Famous Festival

Hamamatsu has many dazzling festivals throughout the year, and one of its largest and most popular is the Hamamatsu Festival, also known as the Kite Festival. Held annually from May 3 to 5, during the Golden Week holiday period, this festival has a history dating back over 450 years and is one of Japan’s most renowned kite festivals.

The Hamamatsu Festival takes place in two parts: during the day, kites battle for supremacy in the sky above the Nakatajima Sand Dunes along the Pacific Ocean, and at night, gorgeous hand-crafted goten-yatai (traditional floats) are pulled by locals through Hamamatsu’s downtown. Visitors can discover all they need to know about this dynamic event at the Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion within Enshunada Coastal Park in Hamamatsu’s Nakatajima district. There, they will find dramatic displays about the kite event and the ensuing nighttime parade.

Giant Kites Made from All-Natural Materials

Step into the pavilion, and your eyes will be drawn to massive Japanese kites decorating every inch of the lobby. Unlike conventional Western kites, traditional Japanese kites are made of handmade washi, a traditional Japanese paper, draped over a lightweight yet sturdy, rectangular bamboo frame.

Hamamatsu’s festival kites are brightly colored and display various designs—from Japanese kanji characters to town logos to faces of mythological creatures like the fearsome tengu. At first glance, you may underestimate the flying ability and range of these kites, but in fact, they require a small team to operate them and can soar hundreds of meters in the air. One kite that broke free during a past festival was later discovered in Chiba Prefecture, having traveled a distance of around 200 kilometers!

Near the entrance lobby, the High-Definition TV Room screens an eight-minute video of the Hamamatsu Festival, while the adjacent Kite Thread Manufacturing Workshop displays the equipment used to wind the kite rope. The ropes used in the festival are wound from hemp strings which are highly resistant to friction and capable of withstanding the strong force of the wind. The exhibits guide you through the intricate winding process, and you can touch samples of this durable kite rope.

Intense Kite Battles

In the large Kites Exhibition Room visitors can easily imagine the dynamic kite battle. Kites of all sizes are suspended from the walls and ceilings, competing for attention and evoking images of a sky crowded with kites. Scenes of kite battles, complete with the sounds of bugles and chants from the kite teams, are played on audiovisual displays.

Within the Hamamatsu area 170 towns participate in the kite battles, each with its own kite as well as matching happi—a loose-fitting, cotton jacket that is traditionally worn at festivals. The happi from some participating towns are on display in the Kites Exhibition Room, and you can try wearing them as well.

Mobile Works of Art

Meanwhile, the Goten Yatai Exhibition Room, with its dim ambient lighting, gives visitors an excellent idea of the sights and sounds of the night festival. A magnificent full-scale float stands out against a backdrop of illuminated photos from past festivals. This float was created to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of Hamamatsu City as it exists today. Its exterior is decorated extensively with intricate wood carvings, reflecting the tremendous skill of the traditional artisans. This high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail is no less impressive on a smaller float parked nearby.

A Sense of Community

With its bright, colorful exhibits and informative, exciting audiovisual displays, as well as its helpful, enthusiastic staff, the Hamamatsu Festival Pavilion showcases the rich cultural heritage of the city’s beloved Hamamatsu Festival, helping visitors to understand the vibrant traditions and community spirit of Hamamatsu.