| Calendar
Events for October 2002
A. In Tokyo
Oct.1 & 2: Annual Festival of Igusa Hachiman-gu Shrine, Suginami-ku,
features Nodate (open-air Tea Ceremony) from 11 am to 4 pm, a performance
of Kagura (Shinto music & dance) and a demonstration of beating
Oodaiko (Japanese Big Drum), from morning to evening on the 1st.
Also a parade of Mikoshi (portble shrines) and Oodaiko is held around
the town from 9:30 am to evening on the 1st.
Oct.1~31: Aozora Kotto-Ichi , open-air antique fair takes place
around Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park from 9 am to sunset. Around 50 stalls
are set up around the pond.
Oct.1~2: Ya Noh (Open-air Noh Performance), at Hibiya city, Chiyoda-ku,
from 7 am to 9 pm on Oct.1, and from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Oct.2. Admission
tickets are: Yen 3,500 (for a non-reserved seat) and Yen 4,500 (for
a reserved seat). Tickets for students are Yen 2,000 (non-reserved seat).
Advance sales tickets are available at Ticket Pia or at Lawson. All
the seats on Oct.2 are non-reserved.
Oct.2: Shakai Fukushi O-zumo (Clowning Sumo Festival for Charity)
at Kokugikan Hall, in front of JR Ryogoku Station, Sumida-ku. Famous
wrestlers wrestle with children in Sumo fashion, from 12:30 pm (venue
opens at 11:30 am) to around 5:30 pm. Advance tickets (Yen 2,500~Yen
7,000) are available at the Ticket Pia. The day Tickets (Yen 1,000)
are sold at the Kokugikan Hall from around 10:30 am.
Oct.5: Flower Fantasia Parade 2002 is participated by about 900
people from 2:30 pm to around 4:20 pm along the main streets of Shinjuku,
departing from the intersection of Shinjuku-dori & Meiji-dori Avenues,
passing through the Shinjuku-dori street, around the west exit of JR
Shinjuku Station, and disbanding at Shinjuku Chuo Koen (Shinjuku Central
Park) , where Flower Fantasia Festa featuring brass band and baton twirlers
parade is held. The parade includes marching bands and flowers-decorated
fancy cars. Should it rain, it will be postponed until 11:10 am on Oct.6.
Oct.6: Edo Mikoshi Taikai takes place at nearby Sensoji Temple,
Taito-ku with about 20 mikoshi (portable shrines) and more than 5,000
people, from noon to 5 pm.
Oct.6: Egota no Shishimai, Lion Dance with a history and tradition
of 700 years are demonstrated at Hikawa Shrine in Ekoda, Nakano-ku.
Tokyo, from 1 pm to around 11 pm. Open-air stalls are set up in the
precincts of the shrine.
Oct.6: Tokyo Furusato Matsuri Festival, or performance of various
folk dances native to Tama district, is given at Tokyo-to Tama Kyoiku
Center Hall, Tachikawa, from 11 am to evening.
Oct.6: Nihombashi Kyobashi Matsuri Parade featuring brass bands,
baton twirlers and decorated fancy cars moving along the Chuo-dori Avenue
from noon to 3 pm, starting from Nihombashi Muromachi 4-chome, near
Mitsukoshi-mae Station, passing by Nihombashi Station, and disbanding
at Kyobashi 3-chome, near Kyobashi Station. Should it rain, the parade
will be cancelled.
Oct.11~13: O-eshiki Festival at Myohoji Temple, Suginami-ku,
is featured by Chigo Gyoretsu (a parade by children) from 1 pm to 2:30
pm, and a parade of lighted lanterns from 7 pm to 10 pm on the 13th.
Should it heavily
rain, the parade will be cancelled.
Oct.13: Kangen-Sai at Nogi Shrine, Minato-ku. The festival, associated
with the mid-autumn moon, features a performance of Gagaku or ancient
Court Music & Dance, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Admission is free.
October 14: Kusajishi-shiki (Japanese Archery Ritual) at Yasukuni
Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. Conducted at 11 am and 1:30 pm, each lasting
for an hour. A group of archers dressed in ceremonial robes shoot at
the target (figure of a deer), according to traditional Ogasawara-Ryu
rites. Should it heavily rain, it will be cancelled.
October 14: Yabusame (horseback archery) from around 2 pm to
3 pm at Toyama Koen Park, located near Ana-Hachiman-Gu, Shinjuku-ku.
Should it rains, it may be cancelled.
Oct.16~18: O-eshiki Festival of Kishibojin Temple, Toshima-ku,
features a parade of about 50 lighted lanterns every evening. The routes
of the parade: on the 17th leave near Gokokuji Station on subway Yurakucho
Line at 7:30 pm and arrive at Kishibojin Temple around 8 pm; on the
18th leave Ikebukuro Station (East Exit , in front of Seibu Department
Store), at 7 pm and arrive at Kishibojin Temple around 8 pm (for the
top group of the parade) until around 10 to11 pm (for the last group
of the parade). About 400 open-air stalls are set up in the vicinity
of the temple and the precinct.
Oct.17: Annual Autumn Festival of Yakuoin Temple on Mt.Takao,
in Hachioji town. A parade of children in fancy attire, mountain priests,
drum and fife bands can be seen from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. The parade
starts from Jyuichi-chome Jaya (Tea stall) near Sanjo Station on the
lift, or Takaosan
Station on the cable car, and arrives at Yakuoin Temple. Should it rain,
the event will be cancelled.
Oct.17~20: Annual Autumn Festival of Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku.
The major events are: on the 17th, Kijutsu (magician's performance)
from noon; Japanese dance & music from 12:30 pm & 2 pm; on the
18th Japanese dance & music from 11 am & 1 pm; on the 19th,
Kobudo, ancient martial arts from 9:30 am and 3:30 pm; Japanese dance
& music from 11 am & 1:30 pm; Kijutsu (magician's performance)
from 11:30 am; on the 20th Kobudo from 10 am; Ryukyu Dance (traditional
Okinawa Dance) from 1 pm. These events are presented at the Noh Gakudo
stage near the main sanctuary. Many more events are scheduled for 4
days.
Oct.18~20: Tomin-no Hi Kinen-Sai Tokyo Citizen's Festival is
held from October 18 to 20 at Ueno Koen Park near JR Ueno Station. Various
entertainments and performances are planned. Further detail is to be
announced to the public late September.
Oct.18: Kinryu-no Mai (Golden Dragon Dance) is presented in the
compound of Sensoji Temple, Taito-ku. It is performed three times this
year, from around 11:30 am to 2 pm and 3:30 pm. Should it rain, it will
be cancelled.
Oct.19 & 20: Bettara Ichi (Japanese Pickle Fair) to be held
on the streets near Takarada Ebisu Shrine, Chuo-ku, from around 11 am
to 9 pm on both days.
Oct.19: Ginza Accueille Parade consisting of brass bands, Japanese
drum beating and so on, can be seen along the Ginza (or Chuo-)dori Avenue
& Nishi Ginza-dori (or Sotobori-dori) Avenue in Ginza, Chuo-ku,
from 2 pm to 4 pm. Should it heavily rain, the parade will be cancelled.
Oct.20: Koto Citizen's Festival features Kiba-no Kaku-nori or
acrobatic stunts on rolling logs in the river, one of the highlights
of the meeting of folk arts of public entertainments demonstrated at
Kiba Park, Koto-ku from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Also Fukagawa-no Chikara-mochi
in which men demonstrate their great strength by lifting straw bag filled
with rice, from 1 pm to 3:40 pm. Many more folk arts of public entertainments
such as Kiyari , Lion Dance & Toyooka Hachiman Shrine's dances are
scheduled.
Oct.21: Takigi Noh, or open-air torch-light Noh performance is
held at Shinjuku Gyoen Garden (Shibafu Hiroba or lawn area in the garden),
Shinjuku-ku, from 5:45 pm to 8:45 pm (venue opens at 4:30 pm). Admission
is Yen 4,800. Four thousand advance tickets on a first-come first-served
basis are sold at Shinjuku Tourist Association, ticket offices at department
stores and Kinokuniya Bookstore in Shinjuku. For further information,
call Shinjuku Tourist Association at 3209-1111 ext.3272 Ms.Onda) Should
it rain, the event will be cancelled.
Oct.27, Nov.1~ Nov.3: Annual Meiji Shrine Autumn Festival, Shibuya-ku.
Major events are: on Oct.27 Bugaku (ancient Court Dance with music)
at 11 am; on Nov.1 Noh Play or classical stage drama, and Kyogen or
a comic mime play from 11:45 am, Sankyoku (traditional Japanese musical
instruments - 3 kinds i.e. Koto, Shamisen and Shakuhachi) at 3:30 pm;
on Nov.2, Hogaku & Hobu at 11:45 am; on Nov.3 Kyudo Taikai (Japanese
archery ritual) at 9 am, Aikido (martial art of weaponless self-defense)
at 9 am; Kobudo (Japanese martial art) at 10 am, Momote-shiki (Japanese
archery ritual) at 11 am, and Yabusame (horseback archery) at 1 pm.
The events scheduled for Oct.27, Nov.1 & 2 are held on a makeshift
stage in front of the main sanctuary; those for Nov.3 are held at and
around Nishisando in the Shrine's compound and can be easily reached
from Sangubashi Station.
Oct.28: Kansho Matsuri (Sweet Potato Fair) is held at Meguro
Fudoson Temple, Meguro-ku. Snacks made of sweet potatoes and hot steamy
sweet potatoes are sold at 250 open-air stalls set up in a long line
on both sides of the approach to the temple, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Oct.30~Nov.4: Furuhon Matsuri or sale of old and used books is
held at Jimbocho second-hand bookshop quarter, Chiyoda-ku. Open daily
from 10 am to 6 pm. Should it rain, it will be cancelled.
Chrysanthemum Exhibitions in Tokyo
Oct.15~Nov.15: Sensoji
Temple, Taito-ku. Open daily 10 am~4 pm,
Admission: free.
Oct.16~Nov.5: Yasukuni Jinja Kikka-Ten, Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-
Ku. Open daily around 6 am ~ 7 pm (in Oct.) or 6 pm
(in Nov.).
Admission: free.
Oct.20~Nov.22: Kameido Tenjin Kikka-Ten at Kameido Tenjin Shrine,
Koto-ku. Open daily, 9 am~around 4 pm.
Oct.22~Nov.24: Jindai Shokubutsu Koen Kikka-Ten at Jindai Bota-
nical Garden, Chofu town, 9:30 am~5 pm (enter by 4 pm). Closed on Mondays.
Admission Fee: 500 Yen.
Oct.25~Nov.23: Meiji Shrine, Shibuya-ku. Open daily, 9 am~4:40 pm
(Oct.), 9 am ~ 4:10 pm (Nov.).
Admission: Free.
B. Kanto RegionEGION
Sep.29 & Oct.1: Kokkei-Setsu (The anniversary of the Founding
of the People's Republic of China), is celebrated at Chinatown in Yokohama,
Kanagawa Prefecture. Chinese-style exotic Dragon Dance parades through
the streets of Chinatown, from 4 pm to 8 pm on Oct.1. On Sep.29, Chinese
entertainments are staged at Yamashita-cho Koen Park from 11 am to 5
pm. Should it rain, it might be cancelled.
Oct.10: Sojusetsu (the anniversary of the Founding of the Republic
of China) is celebrated at Chinatown, Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Chinese entertainments are demonstrated in the school ground of Chuka
Gakuin from noon to 2:30 pm. A parade, including a Chinese-style dragon
dance and brass bands can be seen in Chinatown from 2.55 pm to 4:05
pm. There will be another dragon dance parade in Yamashita-cho (town),
from 4:30 pm to 8 pm.
Oct.11~13: Sawara-no Taisai Aki Matsuri, Sawara city, Chiba Prefecture,
is highlighted by a parade of 24 beautiful floats going through the
city's streets from 10 am to 10 pm from October 11th to 13th. Main venues
are Omaztsuri Hiroba square behind the JR Sawara Station, and Nigiwai
Hiroba, or parking lot of Sawara Shinyo Kinko Bank. This year's festival
is going to be held at larger scale.
Oct.12~14: Kasamayaki Fair (Pottery Fair) features an exhibition
of potteries at Kasama Kogei-no Oka & Toki-ichi (Pottery Fair) at
Kasama Geijutsu-no mori Koen (Park) from 10 am to 5 pm.
Oct.12 & 13: Kanuma Aki Matsuri is a gorgeous autumn festival
in Kanuma city, Tochigi Prefecture, featuring 23 magnificently sculptured
floats which are pulled into & displayed in the precinct of Imamiya
Shrine from 1 pm to 3:30 pm, and depart for the downtown from 6 pm to
9 pm on Oct. 12th .On Oct.13th, 23 floats parade through the streets
from around 1 pm to 6 pm, stopping by at several points where various
Ohayashi (festive music originated in each local town) are competitively
played on those floats. This is called Buttsuke , designated as an intangible
cultural assets by Tochigi
Prefecture. On Oct.13, Mikoshi (portable Shrines) parade around the
town from 9 am to noon. Many more events are also scheduled at 2 venues
in the city for both days.
Oct.17: Grand Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine, Nikko city,
Tochigi Prefecture. A gala procession of sacred portable shrines, escorted
by about 600 warrior's armor-clad people starts at 11 am from Toshogu
Shrine and parade a distance of 1 km along Omote-Sando street, as far
as Otabisho or temporary rest place where the end of the parade is reached
around 11:45 am. The Procession will leave Otabisho at 1 pm and return
to the shrine at 1:40 pm.
Oct.19 & 20: Kawagoe Matsuri Festival is held in Kawagoe
city, Saitama Prefecture. Parade of Mikoshi (portable shrines) is held
from 10 am to noon On Oct.19th, and a parade of 29 floats along the
city's main streets from 10 am to 10 pm is held on Oct.19th and 20th.
To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the foundation of Kawagoe city,
the festival of this year is especially large in scale.
Oct.19~Nov.24: Kiku Matsuri, features exhibitions of potted chrysanthemum
from Oct.19 through to Nov.24; Chrysanthemum Dolls Show from Oct.25
to Nov. 17 in the precincts, and Sumie (Paintings by Indian Ink) works
produced by Sesson, a famous artist in the early years of the 14th century,
at Kasama Inari Shrine Museum, from October 25 to November 30, at Kasama
Inari Shrine, Kasama city, Ibaraki Prefecture. Admission charge is Yen
500 for the exhibition of Chrysanthemum Dolls; Yen 300 for the museum,
and Yen 700 for both. On November 3, Yabusame (horseback archery) takes
place at the Shrine from 10 am and 2 pm.
Oct.26 & 27: Kikusui
Matsuri Festival, at Futarasan Shrine, Utsunomiya city, Tochigi
Prefecture. Yabusame (horseback archery) takes place on the
Street in front of the Shrine from 9:15 am & 3:30 pm both days.
A parade of state carriages can be also enjoyed from 9:30 am to 4 pm
on both days.
Nov.3: Air Show at
Iruma Air Base in Iruma town, Saitama Prefecture. A thrilling acrobatic
flying Show by aircrafts can be enjoyed from 9 am to 3 pm.
|