Events in Kanagawa Prefecture (Hayama / Zushi)

This is the oldest shrine festival in Hayama, said to have over 1250 years of history. A portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried, and night stalls line the shrine grounds.

It's not an event created for tourists, but a festival for the local people. That's precisely why you can see the everyday face of this town. The shrine grounds are narrow, so hold hands with small children.

A once-a-year market where Hayama's shops gather all at once. From food and drink to bread, miscellaneous goods, and crafts, the town's "best" are lined up on the shrine grounds.

You can visit individual shops that are usually scattered throughout the town all at once, so if you're only going out once during your stay, this is the place. Items sell out quickly, so go in the morning.

This is a triennial art festival featuring domestic and international artists, including photographer Daido Moriyama, who resides in Zushi. The registered tangible cultural property "Former Honda Residence" serves as the main venue, with the streets of Zushi and the alleys of the Numama area becoming exhibition stages.

Instead of a museum, it's an experience of encountering artworks in historical buildings and throughout the town while walking. Admission is generally free, with only some exhibitions, live performances, and workshops requiring a fee. With a long duration of three weeks, it can be easily combined with other plans.

This is an autumn festival where citizens are the main attraction. Stalls and stages from local organizations line the spacious grassy park.

Since it's not a tourist event, the atmosphere of the people living in this town comes through directly. It's a suitable place for families with children to spend a day.

This is one of Japan's leading citizen marathons, with approximately 26,000 runners. The course runs along the coast from the Seisho Bypass to Route 134.

While it's an event for runners,the entire Shonan area is an option for participants looking for accommodation the night before.For guests who are not running, please inform them that Route 134 will be congested due to traffic regulations on the day.

This is a New Year's event at the fishing port. Fishermen throw mandarins from their boats, and people gathered below catch them.

It's a festival that needs no words, so visitors from abroad can enjoy it as it is.If you're not ready to catch it, you'll get hit.It's a port, so just be careful of your footing and the direction you're throwing.

On Koshogatsu (Little New Year), New Year's decorations and amulets are burned on Morito Beach in a fire ritual. Flames rise on the clear winter beach, wishing for good health throughout the year.

In winter, there are fewer events around the accommodation, but this is a traditional morning event on January 14th. It's a good match for the Morito accommodation, which is very close to the beach, and you can stop by during a morning stroll.

Japan's earliest cherry blossom viewingOne of them. More than a month earlier than Somei Yoshino, deep pink Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom in February. The rows of trees along the railway line and the yellow of the rape blossoms can only be seen together at this time of year.

It's a reason to come to Hayama during the coldest and quietest season. The best viewing period may shift depending on the blooming status, so please check the official page before heading out.

Azaleas are the town flower of Hayama. Approximately 15,000 bushes are planted in Hananoki Park next to the town hall, and the entire slope turns colorful from mid to late April.

Admission is free, and you can enter in the morning or evening. There are years when a festival is held, but basically, it's a place to "quietly view flowers." The timing of the bloom varies each year, so please check Hayama Town's blooming status page before visiting.

A giant screen is set up on the sandy beach, and movies are shown from dusk. Zushi Beach becomes an outdoor cinema for two weeks during Golden Week.

There are also music and food stalls, and the main focus is "time spent on the beach" rather than the movie itself. It gets chilly after sunset, so bring something to wear and a mat.Screenings depend on the weatherSo, it's best to check the official announcement on the day before heading out.

A town-wide art festival that has continued for over 30 years. Not an art museum, butprivate homes, ateliers, shops, and gardens become the venuesas they are.

Walk around town with a map, enter open houses to see artworks, and talk with the creators. These three weeks offer the best glimpse into the essence of Hayama. Venues may be open or closed depending on the day, so please check the official website's program for opening days before visiting.

This is a small spring annual festival of Kumano Shrine, an auxiliary shrine outside Morito Daimyojin. A Yudate Kagura (hot water ritual dance) is performed, and a ritual where arrows are shot in four directions also takes place. There is a simple saying that picking up a shot arrow brings happiness for a year.

It's not a large festival for tourists, but an event that is part of the local life in Hayama. It's held on a fixed date, May 15th.

This is one of the largest fireworks festivals in Shonan, with approximately 7,000 fireworks concentrated in less than an hour.It's characteristic that it's held inlate May, not summer.

The grand finale, perfectly synchronized with music, is a highlight. Zushi Beach is about 10-15 minutes by car from Hayama. On the day of the event, surrounding roads will be very congested, so public transport or early travel is recommended.

Hayama's beaches areopen from early July to late August.During this period, lifeguards are on duty and beach houses are open.

Isshiki Beach was selected as one of CNN's "World's 65 Best Beaches" and is also included in the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Best Swimming Beaches." Its location next to the Imperial Villa makes it quiet. Morito Beach is the widest in Hayama, with well-equipped beach houses, and in the evening, you can see Mt. Fuji beyond the red torii gate and Yujiro Lighthouse.

Outside of the opening period, there are no lifeguards at the sea. If you plan to swim, do so during the open season.

This is the guardian festival of Zushi. The Karahafu-style, black lacquered Edo-mikoshi, dedicated in 1937, parades through the city with flutes and drums.

If Hayama's festival is a "beach festival," this is a "town festival." In terms of the splendor of the mikoshi itself, it's the best in this area.

A summer tradition in Hayama. Fireworks are launched intensely for 10 minutes at two venues: Isshiki Beach and Morito Beach.

The long-running "Hayama Coast Fireworks Festival" was suspended, and since 2025, it has been held as "Hayama Coast HANABI." Previously, both venues were on the same day, but to avoid congestion,they are now launched on separate days.The beauty of this town's fireworks is that you can look up at them from the sandy beach, very close to where they are launched over the sea. Since the launch time is short, it's recommended to be on the beach 30 minutes before the start time.

The beauty of this town's fireworks is that you can look up at them from the sandy beach, very close to where they are launched over the sea. Since the launch time is short, it's recommended to be on the beach 30 minutes before the start time.

This is a neighborhood association's Bon Odori. A yagura (scaffold) is set up in the elementary school grounds, food stalls appear, and locals dance in a circle.

It's not a tourist event, so information is only in Japanese. Nevertheless,you can join the dance by imitating others, so we actually recommend it to international guests. The purpose of this place is the experience itself of "joining a local summer festival".

This is a large summer fireworks display held at Miura Kaigan, in the south of the Miura Peninsula. Approximately 2,000 fireworks are launched, with the "underwater fireworks" that open in a fan shape from under the water being a specialty, attracting about 100,000 visitors every year.

Since it's on a different day from the Hayama/Zushi fireworks (Hayama Kaigan HANABI / Zushi Kaigan Fireworks Display), you can have multiple chances to see fireworks during your stay. It takes 30-40 minutes by car to the venue. The schedule is usually early August, but please check with the Miura City Tourist Association closer to the date.

The Hayama Marina Harbor Yard, usually only accessible to authorized personnel, is open to the public on this day. It's a summer day with hula and music live performances on a special stage, and food and drink stalls.

The unique experience here is spending time with the harbor lined with yachts and the sea as a backdrop. The atmosphere is welcoming for families.

This is a Bon Odori held on the sandy beach. A yagura is set up with the sunset over the sea and Mt. Fuji in the background.

One of the most picturesque nights of Hayama's summer. It's not as crowded as fireworks, so it's a comfortable size even for families with small children.

This is the festival of the guardian deity of the terraced rice field village. It enshrines the gods of bountiful harvests and food, and is a shrine you visit during the Wataya terraced rice field walk.

It's a quiet festival on the mountain side, completely different from the lively festivals on the seaside. Coming here, you realize that Hayama is not just a "sea town".

At the end of Obon, lanterns are floated out to sea from Morito Beach to send off ancestors. After sunset, the lights gradually drift away from the shore.

This is not a flashy event. It is meant to be watched quietly. Please watch from the beach without entering the sea or touching the lanterns.

This is a local festival in Shimoyamaguchi. Although it's a small festival, a portable shrine parades through the area, and in the evening, stalls line the streets.

It's a time to see Hayama at the end of summer from a non-touristy perspective.

For two days once a year, Hikage Chaya, a long-established Hayama restaurant, opens its storefront for a festival. This year marks its 58th anniversary.

There are stalls for the famous mochi pounding, takoyaki, yakitori, and shaved ice. There are also night stalls like yo-yo fishing, target shooting, ring toss, and rock-paper-scissors candy, as well as demonstrations of amezaiku (candy art) and Edo-moji calligraphy, and performances by the Shrine Ohayashi Preservation Society and Japanese taiko drums. On the La Maree side, seafood such as grilled scallops and turban shells, and tuna skewers are available.

This is not a festival created for tourists, but an event that locals look forward to every year. From 4 PM to 9 PM. After spending the day at Morito Beach, it's within walking distance.

This is a beach festival at Zushi Beach that concludes the summer vacation. Stalls for yakitori, shaved ice, super ball scooping, goldfish scooping, ring toss, and masks. All the typical Japanese summer festival stalls line the sandy beach.

It's a short festival, only an hour and a half in the evening, so you can drop by before dinner.Postponed in case of rain (reserve day August 30)Therefore, please be sure to check the organizer's announcement before going.

This is a "crying sumo" event to pray for the healthy growth of babies. It's a heartwarming Shinto ritual where the winner is decided by the crying of the babies in the sumo ring.

For families with small children. You can take memorable photos at Morito Daimyojin by the sea. The event is usually held in late September, but participation often requires advance application, so please check the official website.

This is a market held in front of the fisheries cooperative only on Sunday mornings. Vegetables, fish, bread, cakes, and Hayama specialties are lined up.

It ends in two hours, and good items sell out quickly.We can also recommend it as a place for guests checking out on Sunday morning to stop by on their way home.