Events in Kanagawa Prefecture (Hayama, Zushi)

This is the most important festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, continuing for over 800 years. Of the three days,the Yabusame Shinji on the final dayis a must-see.

Archers of the Ogasawara school shoot arrows at targets from atop a galloping horse. The power of the performance is conveyed even without understanding the language, making it highly recommended for international guests. While viewing is generally free, restrictions will be in place within the shrine grounds, so please follow the guidance on the day. Arrive early for a good viewing spot.

This is the most important festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, continuing for over 800 years. Of the three days,the Yabusame Shinji on the final dayis a must-see.

Archers of the Ogasawara school shoot arrows at targets from atop a galloping horse. The power of the performance is conveyed even without understanding the language, making it highly recommended for international guests. While viewing is generally free, restrictions will be in place within the shrine grounds, so please follow the guidance on the day. Arrive early for a good viewing spot.

This is the festival of Hayama's oldest shrine, said to have over 1250 years of history. Portable shrines (mikoshi) are carried, and night stalls line the shrine grounds.

This is not an event created for tourists, but a festival for the local people. Precisely for this reason, you can see the everyday face of this town. The shrine grounds are narrow, so please hold hands with small children.

A once-a-year market where Hayama shops gather. From food and drink to bread, general goods, and crafts, the town's 'best' are lined up on the shrine grounds.

You can visit many individual shops that are usually scattered throughout the town all at once, so if you're only going out once during your stay, this is the place. Items sell out quickly, so go in the morning.

This is a triennial art festival featuring domestic and international artists, including Zushi-resident photographer Daido Moriyama. With the registered tangible cultural property 'Former Honda Residence' as the main venue, the streets of Zushi and even the alleys of the Numa area become exhibition stages.

Instead of a museum, it's a format where you encounter artworks while walking through the town, in historical buildings and urban spaces. Admission is generally free, with only some exhibitions, live performances, and workshops being charged. With a long duration of three weeks, it can be easily combined with other plans.

This is an autumn festival where citizens are the main stars. Stalls and stages by local organizations line the spacious lawn park.

Because it's not a tourist event, the atmosphere of the people living in this town comes through directly. It's a suitable place to spend a day with children.

This is one of Japan's leading citizen marathons, with approximately 26,000 runners. The course runs along the coast from the Seisho Bypass to National Route 134.

While it's an event for runners,the entire Shonan area is an option for participants looking for accommodation the night before.For guests not running, please inform them that National Route 134 will be congested due to traffic regulations on the day.

This is a New Year's event at the fishing port. Fishermen throw oranges from their boats, and people gathered catch them.

It's a festival that doesn't require language, so international guests can enjoy it as is.You'll get hit if you're not ready to catch them.It's a port, so watch your step and the direction of the throws.

This is a fire ritual on Koshogatsu (Little New Year), where New Year's decorations and amulets are burned on Morito Beach. Flames rise on the clear winter beach, wishing for good health throughout the year.

There are fewer events around the accommodations in winter, but this is a regular event on the morning of January 14th. It's a good match for accommodations in Morito, which are right by the beach, and you can stop by during a morning walk.

One of the earliest cherry blossom viewings in Japan.More than a month earlier than Somei Yoshino, the deep pink Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom in February. This is the only time you can see the rows of trees along the railway tracks and the yellow of the canola flowers simultaneously.

It provides a reason to come to Hayama during the coldest and quietest season. The best viewing time varies depending on the blooming status, so please check the official page before heading out.

Azaleas are the town flower of Hayama. Approximately 15,000 bushes are planted in Hananoki Park, next to the town hall, and the entire slope turns colorful from mid to late April.

Admission is free, and you can enter in the morning or evening. There are years when a festival is held, but it is basically a "place to quietly view flowers." The timing of blooming varies by year, so please check Hayama Town's blooming status page before you go.

A giant screen is set up on the sandy beach, and movies are shown from dusk. Zushi Beach becomes an outdoor cinema for two weeks during Golden Week.

There are also music and food stalls, and the focus is more on "time spent on the beach" than the movie itself. It gets chilly after sunset, so please bring a jacket and a mat.Screenings depend on the weatherSo, it's best to check the official announcement on the day before heading out.

A town-wide arts festival that has continued for over 30 years. Instead of art museums,private homes, ateliers, shops, and gardens become the venuesYou walk around town with a map, enter open houses to view artworks, and talk with the creators. These three weeks offer the best glimpse into the essence of Hayama. Venues may be open or closed on different days, so please check the official website's program for opening days before visiting.

You walk around town with a map, enter open houses to view artworks, and talk with the creators. These three weeks offer the best glimpse into the essence of Hayama. Venues may be open or closed on different days, so please check the official website's program for opening days before visiting.

This is a small spring annual festival of Kumano Shrine, an auxiliary shrine outside Morito Daimyojin. Yudate Kagura (hot water ritual dance) is performed, and a ritual where arrows are shot in four directions also takes place. There is a simple saying that picking up a shot arrow brings happiness for a year.

It's not a large festival for tourists, but an event within the local life of Hayama. It's held on the fixed date of May 15th.

This is a large fireworks festival in Shonan, with approximately 7,000 fireworks concentrated in less than an hour.A distinctive feature is that it's held in late May,not in summer.

The grand finale, perfectly synchronized with music, is a highlight. Zushi Beach is about 10-15 minutes by car from Hayama. On the day of the event, surrounding roads will be very congested, so public transport or early travel is recommended.

Hayama's beaches areopen from early July to the end of August.During this period, lifeguards are on duty and beach houses are open.

Isshiki Beach was selected as one of CNN's "World's 65 Best Beaches" and is also included in the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Best Beaches for Swimming." Its location next to the Imperial Villa makes it quiet. Morito Beach is the widest in Hayama, has many beach houses, and in the evening, you can see Mt. Fuji over the red torii gate and Yujiro Lighthouse.

Outside of the open period, there are no lifeguards. If you plan to swim, do so during the open period.

This is the guardian festival of Zushi. The Edo-period portable shrine, donated in 1937, with its karahafu (undulating gable) and urushi lacquer finish, parades through the city accompanied by flutes and drums.

If Hayama's festival is a "beach festival," this is a "town festival." In terms of the splendor of the portable shrine itself, it is the best in this area.

Hayama's summer tradition. Fireworks are launched intensively for 10 minutes at two venues, Isshiki Beach and Morito Beach.

The long-running "Hayama Coast Fireworks Festival" has been suspended, and since 2025, it has been held as "Hayama Coast HANABI." Previously, both venues were on the same day, but to avoid congestion,they are now held on separate days.The fireworks are launched from the sea, and the great thing about this town's fireworks is that you can look up at them from a very close distance on the sandy beach. Since the launch time is short, it is recommended to be on the beach 30 minutes before the start time.

The great thing about this town's fireworks is that you can look up at them from a very close distance on the sandy beach. Since the launch time is short, it is recommended to be on the beach 30 minutes before the start time.

This is a local community Bon Odori. A yagura (scaffolding) is set up in the elementary school grounds, food stalls appear, and locals dance in a circle.

It's not a tourist event, so information is only in Japanese. Nevertheless,you can join the dance by imitating others,so it is actually recommended for international guests. The purpose of this place is the experience itself of "joining a local summer festival."

This is a large summer fireworks display held at Miura Kaigan, in the south of the Miura Peninsula. Approximately 2,000 fireworks are launched, with the "underwater fireworks" that open in a fan shape from underwater being a specialty, attracting about 100,000 visitors every year.

Since it's on a different date from the Hayama/Zushi fireworks (Hayama Coast HANABI, Zushi Coast Fireworks Festival), you can create opportunities to see multiple fireworks during your stay. The venue is 30-40 minutes by car. The dates are usually in early August, but please check with the Miura City Tourist Association closer to the time.

The Hayama Marina Harbor Yard, usually only accessible to authorized personnel, is open to the public on this day. It's a summer day with hula and live music on a special stage, and food and drink stalls.

The unique experience here is spending time with the harbor and sea as a backdrop, lined with yachts. The atmosphere is welcoming for families.

This is a Bon Odori dance held on the beach. A yagura (scaffold) is set up with the sunset over the ocean and Mt. Fuji in the background.

One of the most picturesque nights of Hayama's summer. It's not as crowded as fireworks, so it's a manageable size even for those with small children.

This is the festival of the local deity of the terraced rice paddy village. It enshrines the gods of bountiful harvests and food, and is a shrine you can visit during the Wataya terraced rice paddy walk.

A quiet festival on the mountain side, completely different from the lively festivals on the seaside. Coming here makes you realize that Hayama is not just a 'sea town'.

At the end of Obon, lanterns are floated out to sea from Morito Beach to send off ancestors. After sunset, the lights gradually drift away offshore.

This is not a flashy event. It is something to be watched quietly. Please watch from the beach without entering the sea or touching the lanterns.

This is a local festival in Shimonoguchi. It's a small festival, but a portable shrine parades through the area, and in the evening, street stalls line up.

It's a time to see Hayama at the end of summer from a non-tourist perspective.

Hayama's long-established Hikage Chaya opens its storefront for a festival for two days once a year. This year marks its 58th time.

There are stalls for the famous mochi pounding, takoyaki, yakitori, and shaved ice. Night stalls include yo-yo fishing, shooting games, ring toss, and rock-paper-scissors candy. There are also demonstrations of candy artistry and Edo calligraphy, as well as performances by the Shrine Festival Music Preservation Society and Japanese drums. On the adjacent La Mare side, seafood such as grilled scallops and turban shells, and tuna skewers are served.

This is not a festival created for tourists, but an event that local people look forward to every year. It runs from 16:00 to 21:00. After spending the day at Morito Beach, it's within walking distance to stop by.

This is the beach festival at Zushi Beach that marks the end of summer vacation. Yakitori and shaved ice stalls, super ball scooping, goldfish scooping, ring toss, masks. All the typical Japanese summer festival stalls line the sandy beach.

It's a short festival, only an hour and a half in the evening, so you can drop by before dinner.Postponed in case of rain (reserve day August 30th)Therefore, please be sure to check the organizer's announcement before going.

This market is held only on Sunday mornings in front of the fisheries cooperative. Vegetables, fish, bread, cakes, and Hayama specialties are available.

It ends in 2 hours, and good items sell out quickly.Guests checking out on Sunday morning can be directed here as a place to stop by on their way home.