Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Hamamatsu city is bustling with activity during the Hamamatsu Festival.

The Hamamatsu Festival was held for three days on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. I encountered this festival at Hamazu Station on May 4th. At first, I didn't know what the festival was, but I followed the crowd and found a line of people heading to the bus stop for the kite-flying venue. The Hamamatsu Festival is... "It's a celebration of the birth of the first child, and everyone in the community celebrates together, praying for the healthy growth of children." It's a "citizen's festival" that has nothing to do with the festivals of shrines and temples. The kite-flying is the main event during the day, with the participation of over 170 towns, and at night, the "Pulling of the Palace Float" takes place. During the day, I was able to see the Palace Float displayed in front of Hamamatsu Station. It's a festival that attracts over 1 million tourists, but this was the first time I was able to learn more about it. This year, in collaboration with the historical drama, a large-scale procession of Ieyasu's horse-mounted warriors was held, attracting 2,555,000 people over the three days! #Shizuoka #Hamamatsu #Festival #HamamatsuFestival #ShizuokaTourism #ShizuokaTrip #KiteFlying #DomesticTrip