Hamamatsu Festival 2025: Soaring Kites and Glowing Floats in Golden Week
Each spring, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture becomes the vibrant heart of Japan’s Golden Week celebrations, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors for three days of unforgettable cultural spectacle. From May 3 to 5, the 2025 edition of the Hamamatsu Festival promises to be bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking than ever.
By day, over 170 giant kites soar over the coastal dunes in fierce aerial combat. By night, exquisitely carved floats, glowing with lantern light and echoing with traditional music, parade through downtown streets. It’s a wild, joyful ride through centuries of tradition, perfect for travelers chasing Japan’s hidden magic.
🪁 Kite Battles Over the Nakatajima Dunes
The action starts every morning at 10:00 a.m. on the golden dunes of Nakatajima, one of Japan’s three largest sand dune systems. After a loud firework launch, the skies fill with Hatsudako—handmade “first kites” honoring the birth of a town’s firstborn son. This tradition dates back more than 460 years, when a local lord marked the birth of his heir with a kite flight.
But this isn’t just about celebration—it’s aerial warfare. The kites are massive, made of bamboo and washi paper, and equipped with thick hemp strings coated in friction paste. The goal? Cut your rival’s string mid-air using grinding, twisting maneuvers. The sounds of cheers, trumpets, and battle cries ring through the air as town teams clash in dramatic duels.
Festival-goers cheer along, often shouting "Oisho! Oisho!" in rhythm with the kite handlers. If you’re a thrill-seeker with a camera or drone, the kite battlefield is a dream location.
🌙 Night Parade: The City Turns Into a Living Lantern Festival
After the final kites fall, the scene shifts from sand to city. Starting around 6:30 p.m. and continuing late into the night, over 80 lavish floats known as Goten Yatai emerge in the heart of Hamamatsu, especially around Kajimachi Street and ZaZa City, near Hamamatsu Station.
These floats are nothing short of portable art palaces—many over 100 years old and adorned with ornate carvings, lacquer work, and golden trim. Children dressed in traditional yukata sit atop the floats playing flutes, bells, and taiko drums as the floats glide through the streets, pulled by teams of locals.
The energy builds when adults begin the "neri"—a ritual dance involving chanting, circling, and flag-waving with intense passion. The crowd pulses with excitement as neighborhoods compete for the loudest cheers and flashiest performance. Some floats even feature castle-inspired architecture, such as the float from the Hamamatsu Castle district.
Want to catch them all? The 2025 parade routes are again split into three circuits due to the number of floats. We recommend seeing a different route each night—grab a festival guide map at the tourist information desk inside Hamamatsu Station.
🎎 Local Traditions and Global Vibes
Hamamatsu is one of Japan’s most internationally diverse cities, and the festival reflects that beautifully. Residents of all backgrounds join in the celebration, making the 2025 edition a welcoming and inclusive cultural experience.
Another tradition to watch for is the Hatsuneri—a town’s celebratory parade to the house of a newborn boy. Expect drums, lanterns, and heartfelt hospitality, including shared food offerings and local drinks.
🚅 How to Get There
From Tokyo:
- Tokaido Shinkansen: About 100 minutes to Hamamatsu Station.
- Tokaido Main Line: More affordable, but takes over 4 hours.
From Hamamatsu Station to the Kite Venue:
- Festival shuttle buses run directly to Nakatajima Dunes during the event days.
Best Base:
Stay near Hamamatsu Station for easy access to both daytime kite events and the night parades.
🍢 Food, Shopping & More
The streets fill with festival stalls selling Japan’s favorite bites:
- Takoyaki (octopus balls)
- Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers)
- Taiyaki (fish-shaped sweet pastries)
- Plus plenty of cold beer, local sake, and matcha sweets
There are also booths selling handcrafted goods, festival memorabilia, and even tiny kites you can take home as souvenirs. It’s the perfect place to shop, snack, and soak up the electric atmosphere.
📍 Don't Miss in 2025
- The Float Display Plaza: Visit the area between JR Hamamatsu and Shin-Hamamatsu stations during the day to see select floats up close. Some include English explanations, and volunteers will gladly share stories behind the designs.
- Nakatajima Dunes: Aside from the kite duels, it’s a stunning spot for sunrise or a peaceful sunset walk.
- Local Celebrations: Wander through the neighborhoods and you may stumble upon a town’s private neri celebration—a more intimate, authentic experience.
✨ Fly With the Spirit of Japan
In 2025, the Hamamatsu Festival is set to dazzle again with its rare fusion of sky-bound excitement and traditional elegance. Whether you’re an adventure-seeker drawn to the thrill of kite battles, or a cultural explorer enchanted by glowing floats and ceremonial music, this festival offers something unforgettable.
Ready to chase kites and catch festival fever in Japan? Then make sure Hamamatsu is on your 2025 island adventure radar.
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