Events in Kanagawa Prefecture (Hayama, Zushi)

This is a museum with ocean views, built right above Isshiki Beach. Special exhibitions change every few months, and collection exhibitions can also be viewed at the same time.

It's a good place to recommend for a rainy day or winter destination. After seeing the exhibition, you can go straight down to Isshiki Beach. The museum is closed during exhibition changes, so please check the official schedule before you go.

This is Zushi's art festival, held every autumn since 2013. 2026 is a special year held once every three years, with participating artists from Japan and abroad, including Zushi-based photographer Daido Moriyama. The former Honda Residence, a registered tangible cultural property, will be the main venue, and the streets of Zushi and the alleys of the Numa area will become the stage for exhibitions.

Instead of a museum, it's a format where you encounter artworks while walking through the town, in historical buildings and within the town itself. Admission is generally free, with only some exhibitions, live performances, and workshops being charged. With a long period 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 grassy park.

Since it's not a tourist event, it truly reflects the atmosphere of the people living in this town. It's a suitable place to spend a day with children.

This is an outdoor music festival held annually in autumn at Ikego no Mori in Zushi. With the slogan "Dance, Eat, Lie Down," you can spread out a leisure sheet and relax all day.

It's a festival where even families with children can have a good time. Please check the official website for tickets and performers.

This is a windsurfing World Cup where top professionals from around the world compete for speed in the waters of the Miura Peninsula. You can watch the races up close from the beach.

The venue also features a market and food stalls from various regions, so you can enjoy it even if you're not familiar with the sport. The first day, October 31, will also have Halloween decorations. The competition schedule may change depending on wind and waves, so please check the announcements on the day.

This Halloween event is held at Riviera Zushi Marina, lined with palm trees. There's a parade of costumed children and a market, so you can enjoy the whole day.

On the same day, there's also a Halloween market at the neighboring Kotsubo Fishing Port, so if you're with children, it's recommended to go in costume.

This is a museum with ocean views, built right above Isshiki Beach. Special exhibitions change every few months, and collection exhibitions can also be viewed simultaneously.

It's an easy place to recommend for rainy days or winter destinations.After seeing the exhibition, you can go straight down to Isshiki Beach. The museum is closed during exhibition changes, so please check the official schedule before visiting.

This is one of Japan's leading citizen marathons, with approximately 26,000 runners. The course runs along the coast from Seisho Bypass to 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 who are not running, please inform them that Route 134 will be congested due to traffic regulations on the day of the event.

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

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

This is a fire ritual held on Koshogatsu (Little New Year) where New Year's decorations and amulets are burned on Morito Beach. Flames rise on the clear winter beach, and people pray 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 close to the beach, and you can stop by during a morning stroll.

One of Japan's earliest cherry blossom viewing spots.Kawazu-zakura, with their deep pink color, bloom in February, more than a month earlier than Somei Yoshino. This is the only time of year you can see the cherry trees lining the railway tracks and the yellow rape blossoms simultaneously.

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

This is a museum with ocean views, built directly above Isshiki Beach. Special exhibitions change every few months, and collection exhibitions can be viewed simultaneously.

It's a recommended destination forrainy days or winter. After viewing the exhibition, you can descend directly to Isshiki Beach. The museum is closed during exhibition changes, so please check the official exhibition schedule before visiting.

Azaleas are the town flower of Hayama. Approximately 15,000 azalea bushes are planted in Hananoki Park, next to the town hall, and the entire hillside turns vibrant with color from mid to late April.

Admission is free, and you can enter in the morning or evening. While there are festivals in some years, it is essentially a place to "quietly enjoy the flowers." The timing of the bloom varies each year, so please check the Hayama Town bloom status page before visiting.

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

There are also music and food stalls, and the main attraction is the "time spent on the beach" rather than the movie itself. It gets chilly after sunset, so bring something to wear and a mat.Screenings depend on the weather,so it's best to check the official announcement on the day before heading out.

A town-wide art festival that has continued for over 30 years. Instead of museums,private homes, studios, shops, and gardens become the venuesas they are.

Walk through the town with a map, enter open houses to see 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 dedicated, and a ritual where arrows are shot in four directions is also performed. There is a simple folk belief that picking up a shot arrow brings happiness for a year.

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

This is a major fireworks display in Shonan, concentrating approximately 7,000 fireworks into just under an hour.A distinctive feature is that it's held in late May,not 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 become very congested, so public transportation or early travel is recommended.

Hayama's beaches areopen from early July to late 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 Swimming Beaches." Its location next to the Imperial Villa makes it quiet. Morito Beach is the widest in Hayama, has well-equipped beach houses, and in the evening, you can see Mt. Fuji beyond the red torii gate and Yujiro Lighthouse.

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

This is the guardian festival of Zushi. The Edo-period portable shrine, with its karahafu gable and lacquered finish, dedicated in 1937, 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's the best in this area.

A summer tradition in Hayama. 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 split into different daysfor the launches.

The beauty of this town's fireworks is being able to look up at them from the beach, very close to where they are launched over the sea. Since the launch time is short, it's 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.

Since it's not a tourist event, information is only in Japanese. Nevertheless,you can join the dancing by imitating others,so it's 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 in 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. Around 100,000 people visit each year.

Since the dates are different from the Hayama/Zushi fireworks (Hayama Kaigan HANABI / Zushi Kaigan Fireworks Festival), you can have multiple chances to see fireworks during your stay. The venue is about 30-40 minutes by car. The date is usually in early August, but please check with the Miura City Tourism 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 music live performances on a special stage, and food and drink stalls.

Spending time with the harbor full of yachts and the sea in the background is unique to this place. The atmosphere is welcoming for families.

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

One of the most picturesque nights of Hayama's summer. There's no crowding like at fireworks, so it's a manageable size even for families with small children.

This is a festival for the local deity of the terraced rice field village. It enshrines the gods of bountiful harvests and food, and it's a shrine you'll visit on the Wataya terraced rice field walk.

It's a quiet festival on the mountain side, completely different from the flashy festivals on the seaside. Coming here, you'll realize that Hayama isn't just a "sea town."

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

It's not a flashy event. It's something to watch quietly. Please watch from the beach without entering the water or touching the lanterns.

This is a local festival in Shimoyamaguchi. Although it's a small festival, a portable shrine parades through the area, and evening stalls line the streets.

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

Once a year, Hayama's long-established Hikage Chaya opens its doors for a two-day festival. This year marks its 58th anniversary.

There's the famous mochi-pounding, food stalls with takoyaki, yakitori, and shaved ice. Night stalls line up with yo-yo fishing, target shooting, ring toss, and rock-paper-scissors candy. There are also demonstrations of candy craft and Edo characters, and performances by the Shrine Ohayashi Preservation Society and Japanese taiko drums. On the La Mare side, there are grilled scallops and turban shells, grilled tuna skewers, and other seafood.

This is not a festival created for tourists, but an event that local residents look forward to every year. It runs from 4 PM to 9 PM. It's within walking distance after spending the day at Morito Beach.

This is a beach festival at Zushi Beach that marks the end of summer vacation. Food stalls with yakitori and shaved ice, super ball scooping, goldfish scooping, ring toss, and 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 30)**, so please be sure to check the organizer's announcement before going.

This is the annual grand festival of Goryo Shrine, the tutelary deity of Nagae, Hayama. Mikoshi (portable shrines) and dashi (floats) parade through the town.

This is not an event for tourists, but a festival that local residents continue to hold every year. Please check the shrine's announcements for dates.

This is the annual grand festival of Morito Daimyojin, said to have been founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo. It's the most exciting two days in Hayama.

The highlight is the mikoshi (portable shrines). Mikoshi from all over town gather at Morito Beach, and the **"Hamaori" (entering the sea while carrying the mikoshi)** takes place (it is unclear from sources whether this is on the eve festival or the main festival day). This is a unique sight for a seaside town, and it's worth coming just to see it.

The beach will be crowded. Wear shoes that can get wet.

This is the most important festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, with a history of over 800 years. Of the three days,the Yabusame ritual on the final dayis spectacular.

Ogasawara-ryu archers shoot arrows at targets from horseback while galloping. The power of the performance is conveyed even without understanding the language, so it's recommended for international guests. General viewing is free, but restrictions will be in place within the shrine grounds, so please follow the instructions on the day. If you want a good viewing spot, arrive early.

This is the most important festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, with a history spanning over 800 years. Of the three days,the Yabusame ritual on the final dayis a highlight.

Archers of the Ogasawara school shoot arrows at targets from horseback while riding. The power of the performance is conveyed even without understanding the language, so it is highly recommended for international guests. While general viewing is free, regulations will be in place within the shrine grounds, so please follow the instructions on the day. If you want a good viewing spot, arrive early.

This is a "crying sumo" ritual to pray for the healthy growth of babies. The winner is decided by the loudest cry of the baby in the sumo ring, making it a heartwarming ritual to watch.

For families with small children. At Morito Daimyojin by the sea, you can take a memorable photo. The event is usually held in late September, but participation often requires advance application, so please check the official website.

This is the festival of Hayama's oldest shrine, said to have a history of over 1250 years. A portable shrine is carried, and stalls line the shrine grounds at night.

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

A once-a-year market where Hayama's shops gather. From food and drink to bread, miscellaneous goods, and crafts, the best of the town lines 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 Zushi's art festival, held every autumn since 2013. In 2026, it will be a special triennial event, with participating artists from Japan and abroad, including Zushi-based photographer Daido Moriyama. The former Honda Residence, a registered tangible cultural property, will be the main venue, with exhibitions also taking place throughout Zushi town and in the alleys of the Numama area.

Instead of a museum, you encounter artworks in historical buildings and throughout the town while walking. Admission is generally free, with only some exhibitions, live performances, and workshops requiring a fee. With a long duration of three weeks, it can be easily incorporated into other plans.

This is a market held every Sunday morning in front of the fisheries cooperative. Vegetables, fish, bread, cakes, and Hayama's specialty products are available.

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