FESTIVALS August 2022
FESTIVALS
June 1-Sept. 20 UKAI (Cormorant Fishing) on the Hiji-kawa (river) Ozu City
This year Ukai in Ozu city will be held as usual after a two-year interval.
In Japan the tradition of fishing with cormorants goes back at least a thousand years. In Ozu it started as a tourist attraction in 1957 and now the Hiji-kawa is one of the three most famous ukai spots in Japan, including Nagara-gawa in Gifu Prefecture and Mikuma-gawa in Oita Prefecture. The fishing is done from a boat called u-bune, which is lit by torches as it sails down the Hiji-kawa, which runs through Ozu. Cormorant fishermen called usho, beat the sides of the boats to encourage trained cormorants to catch fish. Long strings are attached to rings around the birds’ necks, which prevent them from swallowing fish. When a cormorant makes a catch, a fisherman pulls the bird in and has it cough up the fish on the boat. Ukai is viewed by awase-ukai
合わせ鵜飼 in which u-bune and yakata-bune, boats for sightseers, sail down the river side by side. You can order a bento to eat on board or just ride the boat and watch, and some hotels offer a special ukai package. Ukai will be canceled if the weather is bad. Various plans are provided.
You need to make a reservation in advance at Ozu kanko sogo-annaisho (Tel. 0893-57-6655).
https://jp.visitozu.com/archives/feature/132
Transportation: Take a JR express train bound for Uwajima and get off at Ozu (a 40-minute ride). From the station take a taxi or walk for 30 minutes.
Early August-Late August DOGO-ONSEN SUMMER FESTIVAL
Details of the festival have not been announced yet.
August 3 OZU KAWA MATSURI (river festival) 20:00 -21:00
FIREWORK DISPLAY On the noeth side of Hijikawa riverside, Ozu City
(Tel. 0893-24-2664)
In Ozu a summer firework display has been held since the Edo Era (1600-1867). About 2,000 rounds of fireworks are set off each day. Most exciting and beautiful are ‘Niagara Fall ‘ tinting the surface of the river with rainbow colors against the background of Ozu Castle, stretching 200 meters long. You might want to try combining this with the cormorant fishing. There is free parking for 1,900 cars. In case of rain it will be held on the next day.
Transportation: See the Ukai Festival for transportation info. From JR Ozu station it takes about 15 minutes to the north riverside and 20 minutes to the south on foot.
August 6 HIROSHIMA MEMORIAL DAY
August 9 NAGASAKI MEMORIAL DAY
Events to remember these tragedies are held in many places in Japan. People throughout the country observe one minute of silence for the dead at 8:15 a.m. on the 6th and at 11:02 a.m. on the 9th, the moments the A-bombs were dropped over the two cities.
August 6-7 UCHIKO SASA MATSURI (Bamboo Festival)
Honmachi street, Uchiko, Uchko-cho, Iyogun
This festival started more than 50 years ago and it is one of the biggest bamboo festivals in Ehime Prefecture. More than one kilometer of the main street of Uchiko is lined with about 80 colorful papered bamboo decorations (sasa kazari). There are many stalls selling food, drinks and much more. Besides Sasa matsuri, it is worth visiting Yokaichi and Gokoku streets, to see traditional buildings, the Uchiko-za theater and the Kamihaga residence/Mokuro (Japanese wax) Museum. (Tel. 0893-44-2066) Various events on 6th 18:00-
Uchikoza内鼓座 festival on 7th 13:00- Sasa odori dance is canceled.
It will be postponed till August 8 in case of rain.
Transportation: Take the JR express train bound for Uwajima from Matsuyama and get off at Uchiko. From the station it takes about 10 minutes on foot.
August 6 MATSUYAMA MINATO MATSURI (port festival)
MITSUHAMA (三津浜) FIREWORK DISPLAY 20:00-21:20
At Mitsuhama Port, Matsuyama City
This is one of the biggest firework festivals in Ehime. About 10,000 rounds of fireworks are
displayed. In case of rain it will be held on the next day.
You need to buy an audience ticket in advance. (All seats reserved) \3,000 (day ticket \3,500)
Transportation: Take the Iyotetsu train bound for Takahama and get off at Mitsuhama station. It is a 15-minute walk from the station. (Tel. 089-951-7705)
August 7 ONMAKU FIREWORK DISPLAY 20:00-21:00
At Imabari Port seawall, Imabari City (Tel. 0898-23-3939)
This is another of the biggest firework festivals in Ehime. About 10,000 rounds of colorful fireworks are displayed. The theme of this year is ‘Hiraku 開く(open)”.
You can get an audience ticket in advance. (All seats reserved. Lawson ticket)
Fare: 2,000 yen – 7,000 yen
Transportation: It is a 15-minute walk from JR Imabari station.
August 11 YAMA NO HI (Mountain Day) National Holiday
Mid August MATSUYAMA SUMMER FESTIVAL
Details of the festival have not been announced yet except the following events.
August 12-13 The 57th Matsuyama Yakyuken-odori
Yakyuken odori (dance) is based on movements and gestures characteristic of baseball, and Yakyu samba is danced to a samba rhythm, by people wearing colorful costumes.
12th 18:30-20-30 Okaido and Chifunemachi street
19:00-21:00 Castle park Horinouchi
13th 17:30-20:30 Okaido and Chifunemachi streeet
18:00-21:30 Castle park Horinouchi
http://www.m-festa.jp/info/odori/
-August 15 LIGHT-UP EVENT Matsuyama Castle Hikari-no-omotenashi: 18:30-21:30
From Shinonome-guchi tozando (the approach from the Rope-way street to the castle) 東雲口登山道to Matsuyama castle Honmaru (main tower) square, the approach and stone wall are lit up with colorful illuminations. The chair lift and gondola services are open on weekends, and obon days (11th -14th ) till 21:30.)
13th -14th Matsuyama castle Main tower is open till 21:00.
14th 18:00-19:30 Matsuyama castle bon-odori At Main tower square
Performances of wadaiko (Japanese drum), shakuhachi, and shamisen / Yakyuken odori
August 13-16 O-BON It is said that during o-bon ancestral spirits return to their former homes in this world. Welcome and farewell fires are burned near the entrance of the homes. People visit the family graves, burn incense, and offer water and flowers. These are also offered at the family altars.
August 15 MEMORIAL OF THE END OF WWII
Ceremonies are held to mourn those who died in the war.
Late August YOKOGAWARA KANGETSUSAI (Moon Viewing Festival)
At Yokogawara Park on the west side of Shigenobu riverside, Yokogawara, Toon City
Details of the festival have not been announced yet.
Sep. 1 BOSAI-NO-HI (Disaster Prevention Day) 防災の日
Disaster Prevention Day was established in 1960 for us Japanese to recognize more deeply the disaster caused by typhoons, tidal waves, earthquakes, tsunami etc., and prepare ourselves for how to cope with them. The week from August 30 to Sept. 5 is called Disaster Prevention Week, during which disaster fairs and drills are held in many districts. It is also a time to make sure we have emergency supplies in our homes and that we know where the closest evacuation center is.
July 14-Dec. 2 THE 25th NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF KAMABOKO-ITA -NO-E
9:00-17:00 (closed on Tuesday) at GALLERY SHIROKAWA
Shirokawa-cho, Seiyo City 西予市城川町
The national exhibition of paintings on kamaboko (fish-paste) boards started about twenty years ago. This year 6,148 paintings were sent from all over the country and abroad. The painting which won the first prize this year is the one titled “Ochinai kimi （unfallen you 落ちない君)”. It was painted by Kubo Teruaki from Miyazaki prefecture to represent a beetle resting on a broken wood wall on a summer day. (Tel. 0894-82-1001)
NOTES: Events might be canceled or postponed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Please check the latest information.
