Nice to meet you! We are the Yamato City Event and Tourism Association in Kanagawa Prefecture. Yamato City in Kanagawa Prefecture sits in the center of Kanagawa and had a population of 243,412 as of December 2023. It is designated as a Special City, a status for areas with populations over 200,000. In this first post, we introduce the many attractions and event information unique to Yamato City! ■■ Tourist information for Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture ■■ ◇ Izumi no Mori Centered on the Yamato water source, this vast park covers about 42 hectares—roughly nine Tokyo Domes. Protected through Kanagawa’s trust movement for nature conservation, it is designated as Kanagawa Trust Green Area and preserves rich natural environments. The park includes a Wetland Botanical Garden, Yamato City Folk House Garden, Fureai Campground (day-camp area), and the Yamato City Nature Observation Center "Shirakashi-no-Ie." At the Fureai Campground, you can even rent cooking and barbecue equipment for day camps free of charge. ◇ Jōhō-ji Temple Located near Izumi no Mori, this temple is one of the Busō Udoshi Kannon Pilgrimage sites, a Kannon pilgrimage centered on the South Tama area of Tokyo Metropolis and Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture. The quiet, soothing temple grounds bloom with cherry blossoms in spring and offer autumn foliage in fall. ◇ Fureai Forest Facing Izumi no Mori across the Tomei Expressway, Fureai Forest stretches as a woodland themed around water, greenery, and flowers. The park features a Herb Garden, Rose Garden, an Orchard at Higashikari green area, and Fureai Hiroba, offering seasonal delights throughout the year. ◇ Kakurinji Temple Founded in 1569 during the Sengoku period, Kakurinji is a Jōdo sect temple. A wide precinct beyond stone steps is one of its charms, and seasonal sights such as cherry blossoms and azaleas draw visitors. Every January, the temple hosts a traditional Daruma fair. ◇ Naval Air Facility Atsugi Naval Air Facility Atsugi, also known as Atsugi Naval Airfield, straddles Yamato City and Ayase City and covers about 507 square meters as a military airfield. Every April, the base opens to the public for the Japan–U.S. Friendship Spring Festival, featuring impressive aircraft displays, American food, live concerts, and more. ◇ Yamato Yutorinomori Park A beloved local park for sports and recreation, Yutorinomori divides into zones: Picnic Plaza with recreational facilities, a landscaped zone centered on lawns, and the Light Sports Plaza with tennis courts. Near the tennis courts, a barbecue area lets visitors enjoy casual barbecues (reservation required). Within the Picnic Plaza, Wanpaku Plaza features large multi-section playground equipment by age group and is popular with children. ◇ Yamato City Cultural Creation Base Sirius Opened on November 3, 2016, east of Yamato Station, Sirius is a new cultural hub. It houses an arts and culture hall, a well-equipped children’s reading room, music rehearsal studios, and a regional materials corner with exhibitions, offering many attractions. ■■ Event information for Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture ■■ ◇ Yamato Citizen's Festival Held every May, this popular festival attracts many visitors from inside and outside the city. The program includes stage performances and participatory, hands-on events, offering plenty to see and do. About 200 diverse stalls line the venue, and a parade runs for roughly 1.2 kilometers. In 2023, the festival returned after a four-year hiatus, attracting about 90,000 visitors over two days. ◇ Kanagawa Yamato Awa Odori One of the three major Awa Odori dances in the Kanto region, Kanagawa Yamato Awa Odori began over 40 years ago as a local shopping street event. Groups from across the country gather in colorful costumes to perform over two days, presenting an overwhelming spectacle. A summer highlight for Yamato City, the July 29–30, 2023 edition drew around 300,000 attendees. The official website of the Yamato City Event and Tourism Association publishes the Yamato Guide Map. Please check it out! (If you prefer a printed guide map, please visit the Yamato City Event and Tourism Association on the second floor of Yamato City Cultural Creation Base Sirius.) We will continue to bring you the charms of Yamato City in Kanagawa Prefecture, where nature and history coexist. We hope this information helps with your sightseeing. Thank you for your continued support.