Top 5 Must-see popular event guide for Kanagawa prefecture, December 2017 (w/Photos)
In this article, we would like to introduce events held in Kanagawa prefecture. You can enjoy not only sports but also events that highlight nature such as enjoying the autumn leaves, the sea, and the mountains. There are also events in which you can view city lights at night. Kanagawa prefecture includes Yokohana and Kamakura; each city has lots of historical places you will enjoy.
Sport event
1. The 12th Shonan International Marathon: December 3rd, 2017
Source: @nifty
The Shonan International Marathon will be in it’s 12th year, as of 2017, and 19,000 participants will run in the full-marathon section. Local communities, including Hiratsuka city, Ooiso town, Ninomiya town, Chigasaki city, and Fujisawa city, work together to support this marathon. The marathon course includes the beautiful scenery of the Shonan beaches and coastal line that will make your run enjoyable. The Oiso Prince Hotel will be the base of this marathon tournament; the hotel provides a great view and comfortable stay due to a recent renovation completed in July 2017. Katase-Enoshima station will be the third gate of the marathon; after watching the marathon, you can enjoy walking around the famous sightseeing spot, Enoshima.
Schedule
December 3rd, 2017
Access and address
・Oiso Prince Hotel
・Starting/ goal point: 5 minutes from JR Tokaido-honsen Ninomiya station
・Map
Fee and reservation
12,500 JPY for full-marathon
Website
http://www.shonan-kokusai.jp/12th/index.html
Contemporary Art Event
2．Yokohama Yamate Seiyoukan: Light Fantasy Illumination & Candle Garden from November 24th to December 31st, 2017 (tentative)
Lots of historical western style buildings are located in the Yamate district in Yokohama city because it was once a foreign settlement. Entrances and plants surrounding these buildings will be lit with elegant illuminations during the Christmas season. There are 8 buildings illuminated, and each of them has different characteristics and warmth. Some of the buildings have a café; Café the Rose at Yamate No.111 building serves rose flavored tea which is popular, and the Shoyu Café at the Ehrismann Residence serves cupcakes. The Ehrismann Residence also hosts an exhibit called “Worlds’ Christmas 2017” from December 1st to 25th.
Schedule
・From November 24th to December 31st, 2017
・Illumination will stay lit from Sunset until 11pm. (Starting Light up at 6pm only on November 24th)
Worlds’ Christmas (exhibit) at Ehrismann Residence
From December 1st to 25th, 2017
Access & Address
・Yamate-Seiyoukan
・From JR Yokohama station: take the Minato-Mirai Line and get off the train at Motomachi-Chinatown Station. 7 minute walk
・Takes about 30 minutes from JR Yokohama station to Minato-Mirai line Motomachi-Chinatown station
・Adress: Yamate, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi
・Map
Fee & Reservation
Free to enter, no reservation needed.
Website
http://www.hama-midorinokyokai.or.jp/yamate-seiyoukan/yamate111/
3. Shonan’s Houseki (Jewel): November 25th, 2017 to February 18th, 2018
source:flickr
Enoshima located in the Shonan region shines like a jewel when illuminated. After crossing the bridge from the coast, beautiful lights makes you feel like you are entering another world. The night sky and wide-open ocean will also enhance this dazzling illumination. This light event will be in its 18th year, and this all started with “the lighting of the Enoshima Observatory lighthouse” in 1999. In 1999, the people of Enoshima came together to prepare 3800 light bulbs; today, 170,000 chandeliers are placed in a lighthouse called the Enoshima Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden. Swarovski crystals are used for this illumination, so they are impressively bright and dazzling. Flowers are planted in the garden, so you can enjoy winter tulips and the beautiful lights together.
Schedule
・November 25th, 2017 to January 19th, 2018: start at 5pm
・January 20th, 2018 to February 18th: start at 5:30pm
Access & Address
Enoshima
10-15 minute walk from Odakyu Enoshima line, Katase-Enoshima station, or Enoden Enoshima station
From Tokyo station, take JR Tokaido honsen for 80 minutes
Address: 2-3 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa 251-0036
・Map
Fee and Reservation
Enoshima 1 day Passport: 1000JPY
Website
https://enoshima-seacandle.com/event/2017/shonannohouseki/
Events that enjoy nature
4. Autumn leaves at Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine: late November to early December, 2017
Kamakura city was a flourishing city governed by the Minamoto clan before Japan was modernized. And Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine is know as Yoritomo Minamoto’s shrine who started the Kamakura shogunate around 1190. Lots of people visit the shrine to enjoy nature; cherry blossoms in spring, wisteria in early summer, lotus in summer, and in the fall, you can enjoy red and yellow colored autumn leaves there. The place where autumn leaves are especially beautiful in Tsuruoka hachimangu is often found on the path leading to the Kamakura kokuhoukan Museum which stores valuable data of Kamakura city. As you climb the 61 stone steps you get to the main hall of the Tsuruoka Hachimangu with its great view. After visiting Tsuruoka Hachimangu, you can enjoy sweets and souvenir shopping along Komachi Street on the way to back to Kamakura Station.
Schedule
Best time for autumn leaves: Late November to late December
Access and Address
Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine:
10 minutes walk from JR Kamakura station
70 minutes from Tokyo station
2-1-31 Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa
Map
Fee and Reservation
Free to enter; no reservation needed.
Website
5. Hasedera Temple autumn leaves illumination: November 25th to December 10th, 2017
Hasedera Temple is famous for its hydrangea. Lots of hydrangea line the walkway of the temple, and these beautiful flowers are usually blooming during the rainy season. However, Hasedera is not only known for its hydrangea. During the autumn the temple remains open one hour longer than usual so you can view the trees illuminated by lights. Hasedera is located on a hill, and you can enjoy yellow ginkgoes in November and red tinted colored maples which are illuminated to enhance its beauty. You can also enjoy autumn flowers, such as Belgian mums, Saffron, Camellia, Sarcandra glabra, and Ardisia crenata. You can view the townscape of Kamakura and the Yuigahama coastal line from the viewing walkway and observation deck at the top of Hasedera. In addition, the temple offers sutra transcribing to experience spiritual unity and the Buddhist culture.
Schedule
November 25th to December 10th, 2017
Light up start from sunset to 6pm.
Access and Address
Hasedera temple
5minutes walk from Enoden Hase station
From Tokyo: take JR Tokaido-Honsen line to JR Kamakura station, then transfer to Enoden to Hase station
Address: 3-1-1 Hase, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa
・Map
Fee and Reservation
Admission fee: 300 JPY, No reservation needed.
Website
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