The Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival: tracing the Gion festival music passed down at Banyu’s guardian shrine
Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Sunday near April 10
- Location
- Shimmei Shrine
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Hiratsuka 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.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This local annual festival has been passed down at Shimmei Shrine in Nakado, Hiratsuka. It offers a sense of the shrine’s history and the Gion festival music associated with the former village of Banyu’s guardian shrine.
About Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival
The Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival is the annual festival of Shimmei Shrine in Nakado, Hiratsuka.
Shimmei Shrine is said to have served as the guardian shrine of the former village of Banyu, and enshrines Izanagi-no-Mikoto.
It is also connected with the Gion festival music passed down in the area, and is an event that carries Banyu’s history and faith into the present.
Source: 神明社の石仏 / 神明神社 - 神奈川県神社庁
Festival highlights
One of the highlights is the Gion festival music passed down in this district.
It has been passed down as festival music distinct from that of other areas. It is said that small hand drums and shamisen were once added, and that the repertoire included pieces such as “Shagiri,” “Hikikaeshi,” and “Komori.”
The festival offers a chance to experience Banyu’s distinctive musical culture.
The Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival: tracing the Gion festival music passed down at Banyu’s guardian shrine
What to expect
The annual festival is held on the grounds of Shimmei Shrine, offering a chance to experience local festival traditions and festival music.
The current annual festival is held on a Sunday near April 10.
The festival is said to have once been held on April 3, and the change in its timing offers a glimpse into how local festival traditions have evolved.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Shimmei Shrine (13-3 Nakado, Hiratsuka).
Source: 中堂神明神社。平塚市中堂の神社
Address 13-3 Nakado, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 254-0026, Japan
Dates and season
- Season
Sunday near April 10
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 / Hiratsuka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
三嶋神社
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
Sadori Shrine
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
平塚八幡宮
神奈川県平塚市にある神社
Official information
Information about Shimmei Shrine’s festival and location is available in the shrine information provided by the Kanagawa Prefecture Shrine Association.
Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival at a Glance
The Shimmei Shrine Annual Festival is a local festival at Shimmei Shrine in Nakado, Hiratsuka.
The shrine has a history as the guardian shrine of the former village of Banyu, and the tradition of Gion festival music is a highlight.
例年は4月10日に近い日曜日に行われます。
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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