Hamamatsu Matsuri

Overview

On the Nakatajima dunes, great kites from 170 districts cut one another's lines.

About this place

Hamamatsu Kite Festival (浜松まつり) is a Japanese festival in Hamamatsu. It is generally known to have multiple kites, along with a lot of kite battles through the days it is held. The festival also displays examples of Japanese culture through food, and general items available for purchase in merchant booths at the festival. The Hamamatsu Festival is held every year on May 3-5 in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This is citizen festival. Also, this is one of the largest festivals in Japan, attracting approximately 2 million visitors each year. During the festival, spectacular kite-flying battles take place on the Nakatajima sand dunes, and at night the festival moves into the downtown area, where floats parade through the city. It is said that this kite flying festival began more than 460 years ago when the Lord of Hikuma Castle, who ruled Hamamatsu and the surrounding area. He flew a kite to celebrate the birth of his first son. However, there is little literary evidence to support this legend. The climate in this area is suitable for kite flying because of the strong and wild winds known as the "Enshu Karakaze”. The climate is suitable for kite flying. Therefore, the custom of flying kites is to celebrate the birth of a child. This tradition is deeply rooted in the region.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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