"Kanagawa West - Traditional Culture of Japan" Festival Special (Yugawara Edition)

About the Yugawara Onsen Yukake Festival

--What kind of festival is the Yukake Festival?

Yugawara Onsen town is located vertically along the Chitose River, which flows along the border between Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures, and the Fujiki River upstream. A portable shrine is paraded from Fudo Falls along the river to Izumi Park, chanting "Dokkoi, dokkoi," and spectators from the 2km roadside vigorously pour hot water from Yugawara Onsen onto the shrine. 1,000 barrels (about 60 tons) of hot water are prepared, so rather than just enjoying watching, it is a participatory festival where people get soaked by pouring hot water over the shrine. In particular, the main venues, the square in front of the Yugawara Tourist Hall and Izumi Park, are filled with hot water as the portable shrine is paraded around the venue.

--What was the trigger for this?

During the Edo period, it is said that the hot spring water here was so effective that it was bottled in barrels and presented to feudal lords and their imperial villas. This event originated from a ritual at the time in which hot water was poured over people to pray for safe travels and to purify them, and this year marks the 34th time it has been held. Nowadays, the hot water is poured over a portable shrine to express gratitude.

--Who is carrying the mikoshi?

This year, there are four mikoshi, three of which will be carried by local mikoshi associations, and one by a participant of the "Yukake Festival Experience Tour" organized by our association. Although it is limited to women, we are still looking for participants for the experience tour, so please contact us if you are interested (first 100 people, all participants will receive an original handen (traditional Japanese coat) as a gift, participation fee 3000 yen).

About "Yugawara Onsen"

--What kind of benefits does Yugawara Onsen have?

Yugawara Onsen has been known as a famous hot spring since ancient times, and the spring quality is weakly alkaline and colorless and transparent. It is said to have a wide range of effects, including being effective for cuts and bruises, as well as neuralgia and gynecological diseases.

Yugawara Onsen is famous for being a hot spring that was discovered by a raccoon dog, and this festival allows people to enjoy the hot spring to their heart's content.

--What can we do to make the Yu-kake Festival even more enjoyable?

The Yukakeri Festival is enjoyable for both the carriers and the spectators. We hope you enjoy it to the fullest as you get soaked. On the day of the festival, the Mihashi Festival, a Shinto ritual in which tens of thousands of disposable chopsticks collected from the inns of Yugawara Onsen are burned to pray for good health and a good harvest, will be held at the same time in the square in front of the Yugawara Tourist Hall. There will also be food stalls in the square, and during the day there is a foot bath facility called Doppo no Yu, so you can enjoy the festival all day long.

Participants wear haori over their swimsuits and carry the mikoshi.

Enjoy Yugawara Onsen "even more"

--Are there any other events you can enjoy in Yugawara?

From June 1st to 11th, Manyo Park will host the "Firefly Banquet," where visitors can enjoy the native Genji fireflies, and the "Iris Exhibition," where pots of irises are lined up, will be held at the Yugawara Tourist Hall. The timing of firefly emergence varies depending on the water temperature of the river and the air, but visitors will be able to enjoy the leisurely and graceful light of the wild fireflies.

--What are some of the popular things and spots in Yugawara town these days?

It seems that bakeries and ramen shops are especially popular in Yugawara right now. They are often featured on TV, and I've heard that some stores limit the number of people allowed in and some have lines of people waiting for hours to get in. Yugawara has also been said to be a place where sacred energy has been at work since ancient times, and the "Triple Power Spot Tour" that visits Gosho Shrine, Joganji Temple, and Makuyama has been attracting attention, especially among young women. If you visit these three places and upload a photo to social media, you will receive a gift of prayer goods that will allow you to acquire the power of sacred trees, so be sure to give it a try.

--Finally, what do you like about Yugawara?

Mr. Kunogi, Planning Section Chief, Yugawara Onsen Tourism Association

The climate is warm, there is plenty of nature, and the people in the city are calm and laid back. It's not too far from the city center, so it's easy to get to and a nice place to live. Since ancient times, Natsume Soseki and other famous writers have visited Yugawara to recuperate, but recently it seems that the number of young artists visiting has been increasing. I would love for everyone to come to Yugawara.

From the Magcal editorial department
Right next to the square in front of the Yugawara Tourist Hall, the main festival venue, is Manyo Park, which has a foot bath. There is also a teahouse in the park, where you can enjoy matcha tea while listening to the murmuring of the river and the chirping of birds. Both the Yukake Festival and the Firefly Banquet are held in the evening, so after enjoying them, I felt like staying overnight and relaxing in Yugawara Onsen.