Hamamatsu Kite Festival 2024

The Hamamatsu Festival (Hamamatsu Matsuri) is an annual event held in Hamamatsu City during the Golden Week period, typically spanning from May 3rd to May 5th. It is commonly known as “Tako” (凧), which means “kite” in Japanese. The festival is also referred to as the Kite Festival (Tako Matsuri). The event lasts for three days, and approximately two million participants visit each year.

Overview: The festival takes place annually over three days, specifically on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Some districts may hold a pre-festival on May 2nd.

The Hamamatsu Festival is rooted in the celebration of the “Uihai” ceremony. The Uihai ceremony originated from the celebration of the birth of the heir (firstborn son) to the “Odaisama” (a term in the local dialect referring to a house with a distinguished residence). Over time, the tradition expanded, and celebrations now include the birth of any heir, regardless of birth order or gender. The festivities include a daytime kite battle and evening processions of ornate floats known as “Goten Yatai.”

While the festival bears the name “matsuri” (festival), it is not specifically associated with a particular Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple. However, local shrines are visited for safety prayers, and rituals, such as attaching sacred paper to the lanterns carried by the procession and decorating the Goten Yatai floats, are performed. In the past, the Hamamatsu Festival held the record for the highest attendance among events during the Golden Week period, but in recent years, it has been surpassed by the Hakata Dontaku Festival. The number of attendees during the festival period fluctuates between 1 to 1.5 million people annually. In 2023, the attendance reached 2,555,500 people.

 

 

 

 

Event Summary

Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

May 3~5, 2024

Official Web：Click Here