A traditional event featuring flower floats, mikoshi, and children’s hayashi music parading through Yamakita
Yamakita Dosojin Festival
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Lunar New Year in January each year / Held annually
- Location
- Yamakita District, Yamakita Town
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Yamakita Town(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
- 2026/11/12
The Yamakita Dosojin Festival is a traditional event in which flower floats and parade through Yamakita District, while children perform Kawamura inside the floats.
About Yamakita Dosojin Festival
The Yamakita Dosojin Festival is a traditional event held each year during the lunar New Year in January in Yamakita District, Yamakita Town.
Flower floats decorated in bright colors and mikoshi make their way through the town, and children play a central role in the festival.
Its traditional form has been preserved, making it a rare festival in the western part of the prefecture.
Festival highlights
A highlight is seeing the brightly decorated flower floats and mikoshi make their way through Yamakita District.
Inside the flower floats, children perform Kawamura hayashi on and flutes.
On the night of the first day, Kawamura hayashi is performed in the hut where the flower floats are stored. It is described as an event distinct from the daytime procession.
A traditional event featuring flower floats, mikoshi, and children’s hayashi music parading through Yamakita
What to expect
The festival unfolds over several days.
On the night of the first day, Kawamura hayashi is performed in the hut where the flower floats are stored. On the morning of the second day, the floats visit individual homes.
Around midday, the flower floats from all the homes and the mikoshi gather at Yamakita Gymnasium, then parade through town.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yamakita District, Yamakita Town, Kanagawa Prefecture
Address Yamakita Town, Kanagawa Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Lunar New Year in January each year
- Frequency
Held annually
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 / Yamakita Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Yamakita Dosojin Festival
Available sources do not state when the Yamakita Dosojin Festival began or when it was established.
At the same time, the festival is said to continue in its traditional form and is considered a rare event in the western part of the prefecture.
The festival’s traditional elements include the procession of flower floats and mikoshi, as well as performances of Kawamura hayashi.
Yamakita Dosojin Festival at a Glance
The Yamakita Dosojin Festival is a traditional event held in Yamakita District during the lunar New Year in January each year, preserving its traditional form.
On the night of the first day, Kawamura hayashi is performed in a hut. On the second day, after visiting individual homes, the flower floats and mikoshi gather at Yamakita Gymnasium before parading through town.
Children play taiko and flutes on the flower floats.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/12
