A serious contest between tiny spiders, passed down in Yokohama
Honchi (spider fighting)
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Honchi can be seen from early spring through May. / Tournaments continue to be held.
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Yokohama City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Honchi (spider fighting) is an intangible folk cultural property passed down in Yokohama, in which male Japanese jumping spiders are raised and pitted against each other. Through contests of strength by these tiny creatures, you can experience a distinctive pastime passed down in the community.
About Honchi (spider fighting)
Honchi (spider fighting) is a traditional Yokohama pastime in which male Japanese jumping spiders are raised and pitted against each other.
It is passed down as a pastime that makes use of their breeding-season behavior, and is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Yokohama City.
A distinctive culture of watching the movements and matches of tiny spiders has been passed down in the community.
Source: ホンチ（くも合戦） 文化遺産オンライン
Festival highlights
The highlight is the serious contest as tiny honchi face off and grapple using their front legs.
Some matches are decided right away, while others become a test of strength in which neither spider moves for several minutes.
Enjoy the unfolding action of each match, from finals between large honchi to strong performances by competitors who advanced from the kids’ division.
Source: 横浜ホンチ保存会ブログ
A serious contest between tiny spiders, passed down in Yokohama
What to expect
In honchi play, Japanese jumping spiders found from early spring are raised in rearing boxes and observed while being fed.
For a match, two spiders are placed facing each other on a small board, and their contest is watched until one of them runs away.
Tournaments have kids’ and open divisions, with matches progressing from preliminary rounds to the semifinals and final.
How to take part
The 2026 tournament brought together not only preservation society members, but also people hoping to watch, junior members, and families.
The tournament had junior and open divisions, with participants ranging from children to adults.
The article also introduces the fun of raising honchi spiders and entering them in the tournament, not just watching.
Location and access
- Address
Yokohama City
Host municipality 神奈川県横浜市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
An article dated September 1 reports that “this year’s tournament also ended safely.”
The article introduces the results of the 41st tournament final and scenes from the junior and open divisions.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kanagawa Prefecture / Yokohama City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
よこはまコスモワールド
横浜市の遊園地
よこはま動物園ズーラシア
神奈川県横浜市にある動物園
コスモクロック21
神奈川県横浜市にある観覧車
三溪園
神奈川県横浜市中区にある庭園
安藤百福発明記念館横浜
横浜市にある博物館
山下公園
横浜市にある公園
新横浜ラーメン博物館
神奈川県横浜市港北区にあるフードテーマパーク
横浜みなと博物館
横浜港をテーマにした海事博物館
横浜マリンタワー
横浜港にあるタワー
横浜・八景島シーパラダイス
神奈川県横浜市金沢区にあるテーマパーク
横浜市歴史博物館
神奈川県横浜市都筑区にある歴史博物館
横浜美術館
神奈川県横浜市にある美術館
Origins and History of Honchi (spider fighting)
Honchi play became widespread, especially in southern Yokohama, around Showa 30.
Children caught male Japanese jumping spiders, raised them in rearing boxes, and then pitted them against each other.
The Yokohama Honchi Preservation Society was founded in 1983 to pass down the honchi tradition of Yokohama.
Official information
The Yokohama Honchi Preservation Society’s blog features tournament results, match reports, and the society’s activities.
Articles from 2026 cover the progress of tournaments, including the kids’ and open divisions, and the final results.
An overview of its status as a cultural property is also available on the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Heritage Online.
Honchi (spider fighting) at a Glance
Honchi (spider fighting) is a traditional pastime unique to Yokohama, in which male Japanese jumping spiders are raised and pitted against each other.
Highlights include the tiny spiders grappling with their front legs and the changing course of each match.
It has been enjoyed in southern Yokohama since around Showa 30, and tournaments and efforts to pass it down are now continued by the preservation society.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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