1 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. 2012 Japan National Tourism Organization. 2. Dates and functions are subject to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance. 3. Events marked with are the major events. 4. Dates of events marked with are the same every year. 5. Japanese explanation appearing at the bottom of each entry give the name of the event and the nearest railway station in Japanese. Point to this Japanese when you need help from a Japanese passerby. 6. Please refer to URL (basically in Japanese) for each event. 7. The Subway Lines and Station Numbers are indicated in parentheses ( ). Note: The Internet Website of Japan National Tourism Organization is available at <http://www.jnto.go.jp>. TOKYO 東京 Calendar Events to be enjoyed in July 2012 Date Jun. 30 & Jul. 1 Torigoe Chinowa-kuguri, Torigoe Shrine, Taito-ku. A traditional ceremony to pray for good health and longevity is held at the Shrine from 8 pm to 8:30 pm on June 30th. Suijosai-Katashiro-nagashi, a Shinto purification ceremony of Torigoe Shrine is held on July. 1st. A Gozabune boat carrying Katashiro, paper cut in the shape of dolls, guarded by dozens of boats, departs from Yanagibashi Bridge at around 10 am and goes down the Sumida River as far as Tokyo Bay, where the ritual is held. (1) The Toei Asakusa or Oedo Subway Line to Kuramae Sta. (A 17, E 11), and then walk 5 min. to Torigoe Shrine. (2) The JR Sobu Line or the Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusabashi Sta. (A 16), and then walk 1 min. to Yanagibashi Bridge. 台東区鳥越鳥越神社茅の輪くぐり / 水上祭形代流し (1) 鳥越神社へは 地下鉄都営浅草線又は都営大江戸線蔵前駅より徒歩 5 分 (2) 柳橋へは JR 総武線又は都営浅草線浅草橋駅より徒歩 1 分 Kishibojin-no-Natsu-ichi, Summer Fair of Zoshigaya Kishibojin Temple, Toshima-ku, features about 40 stalls selling potted morning glories, wind-bells, gold fishes and others, from around 11:30 am to 10 pm daily during the fair period. (1) The JR Yamanote Line to Mejiro Sta., and then walk 10 min. (2) The Toden (street car) Arakawa Line to Kishibojin-mae Sta. 豊島区雑司が谷 鬼子母神 鬼子母神の夏市 (1) JR 山手線目白駅より徒歩 10 分 (2) 都電荒川線鬼子母神前駅 Date Jul. 9 & Jul. 10 Hozuki Ichi, Ground Cherry Fair at Sensoji Temple, Taito-ku. Around 150 to 200 stalls selling ground cherries and wind-bells are set up in the precincts usually from 8 am to 10 pm (or until the time when all are sold out on the 10th). http://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/shimanrokusennich.html The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. (G 19, A 18) 台東区浅草寺境内 ほおずき市 地下鉄銀座線又は都営浅草線浅草駅 Date Jul. 13 Chidorigafuchi Toro-nagashi or floating lighted lanterns on the water in the Palace Moat at Chidorigafuchi Park, Chiyoda-ku, is held from 6:45 pm to around 8 pm. When it heavily rains, this event will be canceled. The Tozai, Hanzomon or Toei Shinjuku Subway Line to Kudanshita Sta. (T 07, Z 06, S 05) 千代田区千鳥ヶ淵ボート場横 千鳥ヶ淵灯籠流し 地下鉄東西線 半蔵門線 都営新宿線九段下駅
2 Date Jul. 13 ~ Jul. 15 Tsukuda Bon Odori, folk dancing, which is open to all, is held at a square near Tsukudakobashi Bridge, Tsukuda, Chuo-ku, from 8 pm to 9:30 pm daily during the period. When it rains, it will be canceled. The Yurakucho or Toei Oedo Subway Line to Tsukishima Sta. (Y 21, E 16)(No. 6 Exit), and then walk 10 min. 中央区佃 佃盆踊り 地下鉄有楽町線又は都営大江戸線月島駅 (6 番出口 ) より徒歩 10 分 Date Jul. 13 ~ Jul. 16 Mitama Matsuri, Soul Festival associated with "Buddhist Bon Festival" is held at Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. Over 30,000 lanterns are lit up along the approach to the Shrine from 6 pm to 9:30 pm daily. Various events and performances, such as traditional dances and Mikoshi (portable shrines) carrying, are scheduled in the precincts of the Shrine daily during the festival period. http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/schedule/mitama.html The Tozai, Hanzomon or Toei Shinjuku Subway Line to Kudanshita Sta. (T 07, Z 06, S 05) 千代田区靖国神社 みたままつり 地下鉄東西線 半蔵門線又は都営新宿線九段下駅 Date Jul. 13 ~ Aug. 12 Ueno Natsu Matsuri or Ueno Summer Festival, on the banks of Shinobazu Pond and in the compound of the Pagoda in Ueno Park. On the 21st, a parade of local performing arts and folk dancing is held on Chuo-dori Ave. Various events, such as Toro-nagashi (floating lighted lanterns), Ueki Ichi (potted plant fair), Kotto Ichi (antique fair), and an exhibition of ice sculpture will be scheduled during the festival period. http://www.ueno.or.jp/ichioshi/ichioshi_27.html JR, Subway Ginza or Hibiya Line to Ueno Sta. to go to the park. 台東区上野公園周辺うえの夏まつり ( 江戸趣味納涼大会 ) 上野公園へはJR 又は地下鉄上野駅下車 Date Jul. 14 Mizudome-no-mai, the dance of three Shishi lions and two dragons to pray for rain to stop, is presented in the precincts of Gonshoji Temple, Ota-ku, from around 1 pm to 3 pm. As people in this area suffered a catastrophic flood in the old times, this event came into being. The Keihin Kyuko Line to Keihin Omorimachi Sta., and then walk 7-10 min. 大田区大森東厳正寺水止舞京浜急行大森町駅より徒歩 7~10 分 Date Jul. 20 Sumomo Matsuri, Plum Festival of Okunitama Shrine, Fuchu, on the outskirts of Tokyo, a 40- min. train ride from Shinjuku Sta. Stalls selling plums are set up in the precincts of the Shrine from around 8 am. Kagura (Shinto dance with music) is performed three times between 2 pm and 7 pm. Crow-pattern Uchiwa -fans (It is said that a crow drived evil away in the past.) are sold (500 yen) in front of Haiden (hall of worship) from 6 am until the time when all are run out. http://www.ookunitamajinja.or.jp/matsuri/sumomo.html (1) The Keio Line to Fuchu Sta., and then walk 5 min. (2) The JR Nambu Line or Musashino Line to Fuchu Honmachi Sta., and then walk 5 min. 府中市大国魂神社 李祭 ( すももまつり ) (1) 京王線府中駅より徒歩 5 分 (2) JR 南武線又は武蔵野線府中本町駅より徒歩 5 分
3 Date Jul. 20 ~ Jul. 22 Heiwajima Antique Fair is held at Heiwajima Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Ota-ku, from 10 am to 5 pm (to 4 pm on the 22nd) daily during the period. A similar fair is scheduled for Sep. (21-23) and Dec. (14-16) this year. The Tokyo Monorail Line to Ryutsu Center Sta. 大田区平和島東京流通センター平和島骨董まつり東京モノレール流通センター駅 Date Jul. 24 Katsushika Noryo Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) over Shibamata Yakyu-jo (baseball ground) on the riverside of the Edo River, Katsushika-ku, is held from 7:20 pm to 8:20 pm (about 10,800 fireworks). In case of rain or strong wind, it will be postponed to the 25th. (1) The Keisei Kanamachi Line to Shibamata Sta., and then walk 10 min. (2) The Hokuso-Kaihatsu Railway to Shin-Shibamata Sta., and then walk 15 min. 葛飾区柴又野球場 ( 江戸川河川敷 ) 葛飾納涼花火大会 (1) 京成金町線柴又駅より徒歩 10 分 (2) 北総開発鉄道新柴又駅より徒歩 15 分 Date Jul. 25 ~ Jul. 28 Kagurazaka Matsuri Festival in the Kagurazaka area, Shinjuku-ku. Hozuki Ichi or Ground Cherry Pod Fair is held in the compound of Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple from 5:30 pm to 10 pm on the 25th & 26th. Awa Odori folk dancing is presented by townspeople in Yukata (cotton Kimono ) along Kagurazaka-dori Street from 7 pm to around 9 pm on the 27th & 28th. http://www.kagurazaka.in/matsuri/index.html (1) The JR Sobu Local Line, the Yurakucho, Tozai, Namboku or Toei Oedo Subway Line to Iidabashi Sta. (Y 13, T 06, N 10, E 06) (2) The Tozai Subway Line to Kagurazaka Sta. (T 05) 新宿区毘沙門天善国寺神楽坂通り神楽坂まつり ( ほうずき市 / 阿波踊り ) (1) JR 総武線又は地下鉄有楽町線 東西線 南北線 都営大江戸線で飯田橋駅 (2) 地下鉄東西線神楽坂駅 Date Jul. 28 Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) over the Sumida River, Taito-ku, is held from 7:05 pm to 8:30 pm (20,000 fireworks). In case of rain or strong wind, it will be postponed to the 29th. http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. (G 18, A 18) (There are some other stations close to the sites to see the fireworks, such as Honjo-Azumabashi Sta. (A 19) on the Toei Asakusa Subway Line, Ryogoku & Asakusabashi Sta. on the JR Sobu Line or Narihirabashi Sta. on the Tobu Isezaki Line.) 台東区隅田川 ( 桜橋 ~ 言問橋 駒形橋 ~ 厩橋 ) 隅田川花火大会地下鉄銀座線又は都営浅草線浅草駅 ( 他に地下鉄都営浅草線本所吾妻橋駅 JR 総武線両国駅 浅草橋駅又は東武伊勢崎線業平橋駅下車可 ) Date Jul. 28 ~ Aug. 3 Asagao-ten, an exhibition of potted morning glories is held near the tennis courts in Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, from 7 am daily. Flowers of morning glories are in bloom usually in the morning. The Hibiya, Chiyoda or Toei Mita Subway Line to Hibiya Sta. (H 07, C 09, I 08) 千代田区日比谷公園 朝顔展 地下鉄日比谷線 千代田線又は都営三田線日比谷駅
4 Date Jul. 31 ~ Aug. 7 Hono Asagao-ten, an exhibition of potted morning glories at Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku, is held from 6 am daily during the period. Flowers of morning glories usually can be seen until around 10 am. A class of making pressed Asagao flowers for children is held from around 8 am every day during the period. The Tozai, Hanzomon or Toei Shinjuku Subway Line to Kudanshita Sta. (T 07, Z 06, S 05) 千代田区靖国神社 奉納あさがお展 地下鉄東西線 半蔵門線又は都営新宿線九段下駅 KANTO 関東 Narita Gion Matsuri Festival of Shinshoji Temple, Narita, Chiba Pref. This festival has a history of 1,000 years, and features Mikoshi (a portable shrine) and ten colorful floats parading along the city's main streets daily during the festival period. On the 8th, the highlight of the festival, Sobiki (carrying Mikoshi and drawing the floats) is held on an approach to the temple from 1 pm, and then Soodori (dancing by townspeople) is performed from 3:40 pm. http://www.nrtk.jp/lang/en/events/05_gion.html The JR Sobu Narita Line to Narita Sta. or the Keisei Line to Keisei Narita Sta., and then walk 10 min. 千葉県成田市新勝寺薬師堂 成田祇園祭 JR 総武成田線で成田駅 又は京成線で京成成田駅より徒歩 10 分 Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri, Star Festival at Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Pref., a 70-min. train ride from Tokyo Sta. Main streets of the city are decorated with Tanabata ornaments and strips of rainbow-colored paper. Some more events are scheduled during the festival period. The JR Tokaido Line to Hiratsuka Sta. 神奈川県平塚市湘南ひらつか七夕まつり JR 東海道線平塚駅 Date Jul. 8 Tenno-sai Festival of Yasaka Shrine (Enoshima Shrine), Enoshima, Fujisawa, Kanagawa Pref. Mikoshi (a portable shrine) is carried into the sea of Enoshima from 11 am. The scene of the youths jostling one another in the sea is always a vigorous and magnificent sight to behold. Mikoshi parades on to Koyurugi Shrine, and returns to Yasaka Shrine at around 6 pm. (1) The Odakyu Line to Katase-Enoshima Sta., and then walk 15 min. (2) The Enoshima Dentetsu (Enoden) Railways to Koshigoe Sta., and then walk 5 min. 神奈川県藤沢市八坂神社 ( 江ノ島神社内 ) 小動神社 天王祭 (1) 小田急線片瀬江ノ島駅より徒歩 15 分 (2) 江ノ島電鉄腰越駅より徒歩 5 分 Date Jul. 13 ~ Jul. 15 Gion Matsuri Festival of Yasaka Shrine, Katori, Chiba Pref. The highlight of the festival is a parade of ten beautiful floats topped by large-size dolls modeled after historical figures, birds & beasts and so on, on the main streets in the city, from 10 am to 10 pm daily during the festival period. http://www.katorishi.com/matsuri.html The JR Sobu Line to Sawara Sta., and then walk 15 min. 千葉県香取市佐原八坂神社 八坂神社祇園祭 JR 総武線佐原駅より徒歩 15 分
5 Date Jul. 19 & Jul. 20 Chichibu Kawase Matsuri Festival of Chichibu Shrine, Chichibu, Saitama Pref. On the 19th, eight colorful floats gather at the Shrine around 7 pm, and a fireworks display is held over Michino-eki Chichibu from 8 pm to 9 pm. On the 20th, Mikoshi (a portable shrine) and the floats leave the Shrine at 1 pm for the Arakawa River, and then the festival reaches its climax when Mikoshi is carried into the river at around 3 pm. http://navi.city.chichibu.lg.jp/festival/kawase/index.html (1) 1 hr. 10 min. by the JR Takasaki Line from Ueno Sta. to Kumagaya Sta. From there, 50 min. by Chichibu Tetsudo Railway's Express to Chichibu Sta. (2) 1 hr. 30 min by Seibu Railway's Limited Express "Red Arrow" from Ikebukuro Sta. to Seibu-Chichibu Sta. From there, walk 8 min. to the Shrine, and walk about 20 min. to Michi-no-eki Chichibu. 埼玉県秩父市秩父神社 秩父川瀬祭 (1) 上野駅よりJR 高崎線で1 時間 10 分熊谷駅まで行き 秩父鉄道に乗り換えて50 分秩父駅下車 (2) 池袋駅から西武鉄道特急レッドアロー号で1 時間 30 分 西武秩父駅下車 秩父神社へは徒歩約 8 分 道の駅ちちぶへは徒歩約 20 分 Date Jul. 20 ~ Jul. 22 Uchiwa Matsuri, Fan-offering Festival of Yasaka Shrine, Kumagaya, Saitama Pref., features a parade of beautifully decorated twelve floats to the tune of festival music daily during the period. On the 22nd, the festival reaches its climax when all the floats gather at the "Omatsuri Hiroba" square, where young men compete in drumming on the floats from around 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. During the festival period, Uchiwa fans are distributed on the streets in the city. http://www.city.kumagaya.lg.jp/kanko/matsuri/kumagayautiwamaturi/index.html The JR Takasaki Line to Kumagaya Sta. 埼玉県熊谷市八坂神社 うちわ祭 JR 高崎線熊谷駅 Date Jul. 25 Kamakura Coast Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) at Zaimokuza and Yuigahama Beach, Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref., is scheduled from 7 pm to 8 pm (about 2,000 fireworks). When it rains, it will be postponed to the 26th. The JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura Sta., and then walk 15 min. 神奈川県鎌倉市材木座海岸由比が浜海岸 鎌倉花火大会 JR 横須賀線鎌倉駅より徒歩 15 分 Date Jul. 30 Saitama-shi Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Display) at Owada Koen Park, Saitama, Saitama Pref., is held from 7:30 pm (5,000 fireworks). In case of rain or strong wind, the fireworks display will be postponed to the 31st. http://www.scvb.or.jp/event/data/oowadahanabi.html Owada Koen : The Tobu Noda Line to Omiya Koen Sta., and then walk 15 min. 埼玉県さいたま市大和田公園 さいたま市花火大会 大和田公園会場 : 東武野田線大宮公園駅より徒歩 15 分 Date Jul. 31 Ashinoko Kosui Matsuri, Lake Festival on Lake Ashi, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa Pref. Follwing the Shinto rites conducted by the Hakone Shrine's priests on the boats at the center of the lake, Toro-nagashi or floating lighted lanterns on the water starts from 7:30 pm. And then, a fireworks display is scheduled. 1 hr. by bus from Odawara Sta., and then get off at Moto-Hakone Bus Stop 神奈川県箱根町芦ノ湖 芦ノ湖湖水まつり 小田原よりバスで 1 時間元箱根下車