Morinosato Obon Matsuri - 2

The night, I came back during the Bonodori. Many people in ykata dancing around the stage. Some of the little girls had a fan in their obi with a number on it. This was for the dancing contest, the best ones could get some little presents. All of the applicants got a little something for the fun.
Then we had a lottery. I guess each member of the jichikai get a ticket and can then participate. I was talking to some friends so I did not clearly listen what kind of presents you could get. People who were not there to pick up the present would miss it. They were calling new numbers right away. They force people to come to the event in a way. More people there are, more fun it is.
Then the moment that everybody waited for : the hanabi. Sorry no picture because I prefered to enjoy it with my own eyes. This is not an event like the Ayu festival but as a district festival, this is one of the most amazing in Atsugi (refering to comments I heard), maybe the best.
The hanabi put an end to the festival. People slowly when back home with the sound of the taiko band.

 

Morinosato Obon Matsuri

This week end was the Morinosato Obon Matsuri. I heard so many times that Morinosato is preparing every year a big event compare to the other districts. This is a place with money and/or with a strong community center. It is not a personal opinion, just a resume of all the little comments I got when I say I am living in Morinosato. The city is helping in a way but the main strenght comes from the community center and people involved into. Basicaly it means everbody as an annual fee is requested to be paid.
Whatever the comments, the event is pretty amazing. Many people from outside are coming to enjoy the masturi. Everything is well organised, cheap and good food and just cool atmosphere. Last year I was in Kyushu, so this is a pretty good surprise.

First part, the day time event. People and children are walking around the disctrict carrying some mikoshi. They end on the wakamiya ground where many tents from each chome provides you food and drinks, some games, some resting places...
Then we can enjoy some music events from elementary and junior high students. A bit too short.
Then I went back home to eat something before the night main events.

23rd Morinosato Christmas Matsuri

Chaque annee le Jichikai organise un Christmas Matsuri a quelques jours de Noel. Les ecoliers, collegiens, retraites entre bien d'autres preparent quelques shows. Plusieurs stands de nourritures, a des prix tres abordables, proposent Jyaga-batâ (Patate-beurre), Udon, Suigyoza, Choco-banana, Cuisse de poulet grillée, Yakitori, Karaage-frites, crepes, pop-corn, barbe a papa... De quoi prendre quelques calories qui aident a combattre le froid ambiant.

Oyama

Oyama is a mount located in Isehara city, in the Tanzawa Natsional Park. I went there myself few years ago for a little walk through the hiking course. There is few events there and the main one is the Tofu festival held in end of February, around the last week end. Next matsuri will be soon, end of August. (28th~29th). It is a mikoshi (people carrying a shrine on their shoulders)

Oyama has 3 levels. Lower level with all the restaurants and shops. You can have a tofu based lunch or diner after your hicking. They close early on the Low season. 4~5pm if I remember well.

You have also a cable-car station. It will bring you to the second level where you can find a temple, the Ōyama-dera. The cable-car has a sub-station in the middle but you only have access to some hicking tracks. Nothing else.

To reach the Top Level, you will have to walk. It is not that hard. I did it with a 1yo baby on my back. Dirt and big stones so do not come with high hills like the basic japanese dating girl. From the top, you will have a clear view through the shonan area to Yokohama. You can see the Fuji from the other side. The shrine on the top end, Ōyama-Afuri Jinja, has nothing impressive, even disapointing. Do not come for this. Come to enjoy the walk and the nature.

Take the Oyama Cable Station-bound bus from the North Exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at the last stop (30 minutes)
If you come by car, you will find some "private owned" parkings for 1000~1500¥/1day. (I went in December). Forget the baby car, stairs start from the first shops.

Wikipedia (eng)
Tourist Info

Oyama, Tanzawa

Morinosato Koinobori Festival

Again, back to the Golden Week. Begining of May was held the Koinobori Matsuri in the Wakamiya Park. I did not go. I was in Yokohama at that time to "enjoy" the parade and the spider show. I found on the Morinosato 4chome community homepage a video that show the event.

36th Atsugi Green Festival

The 36th Atsugi Green Festival was held this week end. Saturday was a extremely rainy day. Even so, the event was not canceled and hearing from the nurserymen/gardeners, many people came... not me. Anyway I wanted to go there on Sunday because of the Shinkenger show. Remember the Iiyama Sakura festival. Same heroes but a different company, so different gags but as enjoyable for kids, especially when they can shake hands.

Right before the show, and 3 other times in the day, the kind of Atsugi Green Association was offering some flowers. 4 kinds so 4 long queues which started 30 min before the distribution, 1 plant per person. Some local shops were also providing different kind of goods, food and advices for your garden or bonsai. Of course you can find the basic set of every matsuri : okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba, choco-banana... shops. Even the proximity of Sanwa Supermarket does not make prices lower. There were also various kind of flowers and trees that we could purchase directly.

The Wakamiya park has a Steam Locomotive on display as you know now. There is also a long track for a mini-SL but I never seen anything running on it since I am here. That was a good opportunity to try both steam and electric type of mini train. We could guess that a local association of passionnate people are taking care of this. It was free to ride the trains and free to take a look inside the huge steam machine.

The event is few days before the こどもの日 (child's day on may 5th) and we hook on fabric carps as a symbol of strength and courage (it was the former boy's day against the girl's ひなまつり on march 3rd). The Wakamiya park has a huge row of carps floating in the middle of the pond. Impressive.

Wakamiya Midori Festival

La Machine -Yokohama

A preview of the incredible show. Next from April 28 to September 27.
Japan Times

Yokohama Noge Street Performance

Bunch of stages are set for pantomimes , acrobats, jugglers, magicians, musicians, dancers, clowns and others during two days, April 18th and 19th.
Check the following links.
Kanagawa Kankou (eng)
Yokohama Daidogei HP (jp)

Port de Yokohama - 150e anniversaire

Yokohama fete les 150 ans de l'ouverture de son port. La date anniversaire est le 2 juin 2009. Plusieurs evenements viendront ponctuer les festivites dont pour commencer une troupe francaise, la compagnie de François Delarozière La Machine.

Deux de ses machines artistiques et magiques, dont La Princesse deja presentee a Liverpool, seront sur le port de Yokohama vers le Akarenga le samedi 18 avril (11h~19h) et le dimanche 19 avril (14h~20h30).

Plusieurs sites dedies au 150e anniversaire sont dispatches dans Yokohama. Le Bayside Area accueillera la performance mecanique du 28 avril au 27 septembre tous les jours sauf les week-ends.


This will be soon the 150th anniversery of Port of Yokohama opening. To celebrate, many events will be held, as for a start the french company "La Machine" with two artistic mecha. One is "the Princess" that was alrealdy shown in Liverpool.
April 18th (11h~19h) and April 19th (14h~20h30) in the Red Bricks Warehouses (Yokohama Akarenga)
Then they will have daily performance (except week ends) on one of the Anniversary dedicated place Bayside Area from April 28th to September 2http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif7th

City of Yokohama - event site (eng) (jp)
La machine (fr)
UPDATE: The princess arriving in Yokohama click here and here(jp)

36th Atsugi Green Festival

April 25 (sat) ~ April 26 (sun) from 10am to 4pm


第３６回厚木市緑のまつり(36kai Atsugi Midori no Matsuri) will be held in the Morinosato's Wakamiya Park. Different activities and performances will be held during the week end such as classic Rakugo (26th 1pm), Harmonica concert, dance and the indefatigable Shinkenger show (26th 11am & 2:15pm).

Kids (and parents) will be able to ride a Mini Steam Locomotive on the dedicated track, in front of the displayed D51 SL, west of the park (26th only)

More detailed infos on Atsugi Kankou HP (jp)

Miyagase Festa 2009

April, 4th (sat), 5th (sun), 11th (sat) and main event on 12th (sun) at Miyagase Dam.

Once again, the Shinkengers will have a show for the kids. A big chance that it will be the same performers as Iiyama Sakura Festival. As usual 2 shows (11:50~ & 14:10~). A small theatrical company will performs songs, dance and Tsugaru shamisen.

www.miyagase.or.jp (jp)

Iiyama Sakura Matsuri

Aujourd'hui avait lieu le Iiyama Sakura Festival, festival qui a lieu tous les ans entre deux week end (inclus), cette annee du 28 mars au 5 avril. Des performances ont lieu les week end. En famille, nous y sommes alles ce samedi. Pourquoi ce jour ? Parce que les Shinkenger etaient presents pour une prestations des plus comiqes.

D'abord, que sont les Shinkenger. Ce sont la nouvelle generation de Bioman. Nouvelle saison pourrait-on dire car ils changent chaque annee. Cette annee est donc basee sur le theme des samourais. Ils ecrivent des kanjis pour se transformer ou obtenir des armes et pouvoirs speciaux. Leurs armes, costumes et tout l'univers graphique est base dessus.

Le show se termine, on peut aller serrer la main des heros. Les petits sont tout fou. Le merchandising fonctionne bien car on vous propose des posters, calendriers et autres par la meme occasion. Il n'est pas obligatoire d'acheter mais j'imagine que c'est leur moyen d'ameliorer leur recette du jour. Le show, comme toute performance est gratuite.

Suivent un groupe de cheerleaders. Rien d'exceptionnel, la moyenne d'age doit etre de 10 ans. Les petites filles sont contentes. On a eu aussi le droit a un groupe de pop-rock pas mal qui viennent juste de sortir leur premier album et un groupe de koto. Ma foi, regarder les Sakura avec cette musique est bien agreable.

Il faut venir avec sa petite bache pour pique-niquer sous les cerisiers. Amenez votre bento ou profitez des petits stands typiques des Matsuri : Yakisoba, Takoyaki, Saucisses, Yakitori, Choco-banana... que du bon !

Pour digerer, on peut facilement aller visiter le Iiyama Kannon Temple a une cinquantaines de marches de la. Les rangees de lanternes donnent un aspect magique a la scene. Bien, on n'est pas a Kyoto ou Nara, je vous l'accorde, mais ca satisfait le chaland !

Iiyama Onsen Association Site (jp)
Kanagawa tourist information (eng)

Iiyama Sakura Festival