What to do and see in Hamamatsu, Chubu: The Best Events

The Hamamatsu Festival, also called the "Kite Festival," is held to coincide with Boy's Day (May 5). This custom of launching the first kite of the festival traces its roots to the Edo period. A must-see event is a battle of massive kites. Each municipality launches one with its own crest, and the goal is to maneuver it into other kites and sever their cords. The result is a spectacular performance. Lofted high on the wind, the kites battle it out high in the sky, and spectators go wild. In the evening, illuminated shrines make the rounds.

This festival held on the banks of the Tenryu River celebrates water, sound, and flame. In the afternoon, giants kites are flown in the sky , and performances like group Buddhist incantations and "flying dragon" taiko fill up the night. For the finale, tezutsu fireworks are launched into the sky. The highlight is the launch of the 60m long "flying dragon Niagara" that dances in the breeze.

Thousands of lanterns with wishes written on them are set afloat on Uchiura Bay near Kanzanji Onsen. Following the lantern floating ceremony, starmine fireworks are launched into the sky before a fireworks contest with some 3,000 shells reflects off of the lanterns and the surface of the bay. There are also a number of ryokan in the area where you can enjoy the lantern floating ceremony and fireworks from the comfort of your room.

This traditional fireworks display with a 120-year history is launched from the banks of the Kashima Tenryu River. Roughly 4,000 fireworks including 12-inch ball shells and starmines brilliantly color the night sky. Enjoy what is now a symbol of the summer, with these powerful fireworks and their booming sounds echoing through the valley.

This fireworks show is held every year in early August at Lake Inohana, situated on the north side of Lake Hamana. Powerful, majestic tezutsu fireworks spout into the air, raising a curtain of light, followed by the launching of about 2,500 shells. The biggest attraction is the giant starmine launched over the lake for the finale. The burst spreads out beautifully like a folding fan, brilliantly coloring the night sky and the surface of the lake. The display can also be viewed from higher ground and hills nearby.

Jatopia Hamamatsu's Hamakita Eino Ryokkaboku Center holds both a spring festival and the Autumn Ueki Festival. Rituals are performed at a plant shrine in the center, and garden trees, bonsai, decorative plants, and gardening materials are exhibited and sold. Other events include a conference, flower pressing lessons, and a character show.