The Hamamatsu Festival is usually held on consecutive holidays in May (3rd, 4th, and 5th) in Hamamatsu, which is currently enjoying the popularity of the historical drama "What to do about Ieyasu".
For three days, the whole town is enveloped in the excitement of the festival, with the flying of large kites, which has continued since before the Edo period, and the magnificent Goten-yatai floats being pulled around.
What is the Hamamatsu Festival?
Must-see kite flying
This is a brave kite battle of large kites that takes place at Nakatajima Dunes.
Each town in the city has its own design, and parents of children born in that year compete to make a large kite and wish for the healthy growth of their children.
A permanent Hamamatsu Matsuri Kaikan (festival hall) has been built near the kite flying site, where visitors can see and learn about the Hamamatsu Festival throughout the year.
Location: 1313 Nakadajima-cho, Minami-ku, Hamamatsu City
Phone: +81-53-441-6211, or
Access: 15 min. by bus from JR Hamamatsu Stn. or Entetsu Shin-Hamamamatsu Stn., get off at Nakadajima Dune bus stop on the Nakadajima Line, and walk shortly.
Magnificent cart pulls
Although the way the festival is held has changed since the Corona Disaster, the traditional stalls are pulled from day to night in the center of Hamamatsu City (within a 10-minute walk from JR Hamamatsu Station and Entetsu Shin-Hamamatsu Station) for the three days of the festival.
Hamamatsu Festival is a "Citizens' Festival
This festival is said to have originated in Hamamatsu before Ieyasu, and is said to have been named after a legend that the lord of Hikima Castle (Hamamatsu Castle at that time) flew a kite to wish for the healthy growth of his child.
Even today, kites of various designs are made in each town, and the kites are flown by the townspeople on the Nakatajima dunes overlooking the magnificent Pacific Ocean, fighting with kites from other areas to cut the strings.
For this reason, the parents and grandparents of each family with a child born that year pay a large sum of money to make a kite, and the townspeople are invited to fly the kite by serving sake during the festival.
Therefore, not only the festival site, but truly the whole Hamamatsu area is in a frenzy.
The kite flying site is a battlefield!
During the period, the kite flying battle at Nakadajima Sand Dunes, which can be reached by shuttle bus from Hamamatsu Station, turns into a truly heroic battlefield.
The kites are flown by the townspeople in their matching happi coats, and they fight with kites from other towns, cutting each other's strings in the process.
The powerful "neri" (parade), with its well-trained shouts and body-bumping, is something that is hard to find at other festivals.
Currently, more than 170 towns in the city are participating.
Pulling stalls in the center of Hamamatsu City
From May 3 to 5, roads within a 10-minute walking distance from JR Hamamatsu Station and Entetsu Shin-Hamamamatsu Station will be blocked off, where the magnificent Goten-yatai floats will be pulled around.
This is also the stage for the traditional yatai floats built by each town and decorated with lanterns to showcase the flutes and drums that have been practiced throughout the year.
The lively sound echoes throughout the day and night, attracting many people to watch.
On the 3rd and 4th, stalls go around each town (stalls from surrounding towns gather in the center), but on the 5th, all the stalls in the city (more than 80) gather in the center, creating a more lively atmosphere.
It all started with a kite flying by the lord of Hikima Castle
One of the origins of the Hamamatsu Festival is said to be the flying of a kite to celebrate the birth of the first son of the lord of Hikuma Castle, which existed in Hamamatsu before the reign of Ieyasu.
Since then, it has become a local custom to fly a kite in celebration of the birth of a child.
Originally called "Enshu no Karakaze," kites soared high in the sky on the strong wind from the sea, captivating people's hearts.
Hamamatsu was badly bombed and burned to the ground during the Pacific War, but the festival was revived three years later.
Since then, it has continued to be an essential festival for the people of Hamamatsu.
Surprisingly good place to visit the Hamamatsu Festival!
There is a surprising hole in the ground where you can watch the kite flying battle at Nakatajima.
This is the observation corridor at Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu, located in front of JR Hamamatsu Station (5-minute walk from the station).
This is the 45th floor of Act City Hamamatsu, the tallest building in Hamamatsu, and is an observation deck from which you can see everything from the ocean to the mountains.
From here, you can see the entire Nakatajima kite flying site and enjoy the kite flying battle from the same vantage point.
If you check the start time around noon each time, you will have a good view of the moment when all the kites start to fly with the bugle call at the site, and you can see how powerful it is!
The teppanyaki restaurant "Sazanka" at the Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu has counter seats overlooking the southern ocean side, from which you can watch the kite-flying contest while enjoying your meal.
Reservations are required on holidays, so it is recommended to inquire early.
Traffic regulations, etc.
During the Hamamatsu Festival, the city center and JR Hamamatsu Station
Shin-Hamamatsu Station
All areas around the First Avenue Station will be closed to traffic and cars will not be allowed to enter.
Therefore, please note that the only way to visit here is by public transportation.
summary
It is no exaggeration to say that the whole of Hamamatsu is filled with enthusiasm for the Hamamatsu Festival, and above all, the local people love this festival so much that they devote an entire year to it.
It is a festival that does not originate from a temple or shrine, but is led by citizens, and most importantly, enjoyed by citizens.
This year, Hamamatsu is also the setting for the historical drama "Douwa Ieyasu!
They are also planning an event in collaboration with that drama.
Looking forward to the official announcement!
