Kanagawa Yugawara Onsen", Yugawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Video introducing festivals and other events

This video, titled "Yugawara Onsen, SIghtseeing PR Video," was made by "yugawaraonsenkanko" to introduce events at Yugawara Onsen Kanagawa, in Japan's Kanto region.
Yugawara Onsen in Yugawara machi, Kanagawa, takes about 60 minutes to get to from Yokohama. It has gained popularity as an Onsen resort among tourists in the Kanto region.

Yugawara Onsen is a scenic tourist resort overlooking Sagami Bay and surrounded on three sides by the Hakone Outer Rim Mountains, Izu, and Atami.
Yugawara Onsen is also known as the "City of Four Seasons," with its beautiful seasonal scenery, and many events are held throughout the year.

It’s especially popular among women because of its easy access by train.
Here we introduce recommended sightseeing locations and events where you can experience Japanese culture to your heart’s content.

The video introduces a lot of events and festivals.
While it's of course an attractive sightseeing spot year round thanks to its hot springs and natural scenery, but in this article we'll mainly be focusing on events shown in the video. Without further ado, let's take a look at what Yugawara has to offer!

Yugawara's historical sightseeing event "Samurai Procession

The video from the beginning shows the "Minamoto no Yoritomo Flag-raising Samurai Procession". Usually held on the first Sunday of April, the 2024 event was held on Sunday, April 7.

About 200 warriors parade through the town from Gosho Shrine to Sakuragi Park, imitating the flag raising of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Dohi Sanpei. The Dohi Festival is also held on the same day at Joganji Temple.

Yukake Matsuri, a festival unique to hot spring resorts

The "Yukake Matsuri" is a festival unique to the hot spring resort where people pour hot spring water over each other while carrying portable shrines. You can watch it from 0:27 of the video.

Barrels and pails filled with hot water are set up along the streets of the hot spring resort, and spectators pour hot water over the portable shrine and its bearers with great vigor. The festival is said to be a reenactment of the ritual of pouring hot water on the portable shrine to pray for its safety during the Edo period (1603-1868).

The "Yugake Matsuri" is usually held on the fourth Saturday in May, and in 2024 it was held on Saturday, May 25.

Firefly Festival "Firefly Party" in Yugawara

The Firefly Festival "Firefly Party" is usually held at Manyo Park from late May to mid-June. Fireflies are nurtured in firefly huts and released by local elementary school students, creating a fantastic sight as they cast their beautiful light along the water's edge in the park.

Don't miss the heroic Tezutsu Fireworks! Fireworks Display in Yugawara Onsen

In summer in Yugawara, visitors can enjoy the powerful and heroic Tezutsu Hanabi (handheld fireworks) and Uchiage Hanabi (fireworks launched by hand).
The Enshu Tezutsu Fireworks number about 100, and the sight of them shooting high into the air supported by the hands of the pyrotechnicians is sure to impress! The fireworks launched from the park are so close that they are said to be the closest fireworks display in Japan.

Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024
Time: Tezutsu fireworks 20:20-20:40
　　　Fireworks 20：40～21：00

Before the fireworks begin, visitors can watch a taiko drum performance.

Yassa Festival, a summer festival in Yugawara Onsen

Photo：Yugawara station

Yugawara Onsen, overlooking Sagami Bay and surrounded on three sides by Hakone's outer rim, Izu, and Atami, is a scenic, nature-rich tourist destination.
Yugawara Onsen, with its beautiful seasonal scenery, hosts many events and flourishes year round.

The summer festival of Yugawara Onsen is the Yugawara Yassa Festival in early August.During the festival, a dashi (festival car) and dancers wearing yukata (informal cotton kimono) walk around in an Ohayashi (Japanese orchestra) among the refreshing sea breeze in the night of Yugawara. It's truly an awesome sight.
This can be seen at 3:04 in the video.
Be sure to watch the video to see the summer festival, a long held tradition in Japan.

The 2023 event was held on August 2 and 3, 2023; information on the 2024 event has not been announced at this time, so please check the official Yugawara Onsen tourist website.

Seasonal Views at Yugawara Onsen, Kanagawa

Photo：Yugawara Plum Garden

There are many places where you can feel the changing of the seasons in Japan.
Nearly 4,000 plum trees bloom in early spring at the Yugawara Plum Garden in Makuyama Park.
You can see fireflies around Oku Yugawara during the summer solstice as well.
In autumn, you can enjoy the beauty of the crimson foliage at sightseeing locations, such as Manyou Park and Gojo shine.
There are a lot of Instagrammable spots in Yugawara Onsen area as well, thanks to the rich in natural scenery.

Apollo sou in Yugawara Onsen has a mandarin bath, and you can also enjoy taking a foot bath in Manyou Park. Create unforgettable memories by visiting these hidden gems in Yugawara.
Yugawara is also home to some of the delicious ramen in the country, so if you're looking to grab a bite to eat, definitely consider adding some noodles to your trip.

Summary of Yugawara Onsen, Kanagawa

Yugawara Onsen is an attractive tourist spot where you can enjoy a taste of good old Japanese culture. One of the charms of the Yugawara Onsen area is that you can stay at a hotel or Japanese inn or even visit it on a day trip from the Kanto region.
Come sightseeing in Yugawara Onsen, and see with your own eyes the picturesque scenery and spectacular festivals introduced in the video.
In the past, a samba parade was also held, parading through the hot spring resort area at night with spectacular dancing. When you visit Yugawara Onsen in Kanagawa Prefecture for sightseeing, why not check the official Yugawara Onsen tourist website for the schedule of events and festivals to be held, and make your own plans?
There's a million different ways to enjoy your trip to Yugawara Onsen!

【Official Website】Kanagawa Prefecture, Yugawara Town Hall Official Website
http://www.town.yugawara.kanagawa.jp.e.td.hp.transer.com/

【Official Website】Yugawara Hot Spring Resort
http://yugawara-resort.com/