March 2002

March is the month of the Hina Doll Festival. This is a girl's festival on March 3. Parents decorate graceful dolls in costumes of the Emperor and Empress and noble court people from the Heian Era (794～1192) at home, and pray for their daughters' everlasting health and happiness.

Floating Hina Dolls to the Sea (Hina-nagashi) Festival
This festival is held on March 3 every year. Unwanted hina dolls are put into small boats and set adrift into the sea or the river. This is to honour girls' purity and to pray for protection from evil and diseases, as well as for the girls to live a happy life.

Hina-nagashi at Awashima Shrine in Wakayama City
Mar. 3 (Sun.)
The Hina Dolls which are collected from all over the country are cast away to the sea in small boats. Spring in this district is ushered in by this festival. The shrine is 5 minutes' walk from Kada Sta. on the Nankai Kada-sen.
For further info: 073-459-0043

Fire Festival in Koyasan
Mar. 3 (Sun.)
Koyasan is one of the oldest holy places in Japan. This is an annual fire festival for the mountain to be open to climbers in spring. You can enjoy special exhibitions of its treasures and the opening ceremony of the mountain. Take the JR Wakayama-sen train to Hashimoto Sta., and change to the Nankai Line for Koyasan.
For further info: 0736-56-2434

Buddhist Service for Buddha (Nirvana) at Ryohoji Temple in Wakayama City
Mar. 15 (Fri.)
This service is an annual event which is held one month later than the anniversary of Buddha's death (Feb. 15). They will exhibit a Buddha's image treasured in the temple. There is also a gardening market. The temple is within 5 minutes' walking distance of Higashisakata Bus Stop from Wakayama-shi Sta. on the Nankai Line.
For further info: 073-471-1376

Kumano Marathon Meets in Nakaheji-cho
Mar. 21 (Thu.)
You can enjoy running along the old mountain track with lots of young and old participants. Take the JR bus to Chikatsuyu from Tanabe Sta. on the JR Kinokuni Line.
For further info: 0739-65-0003

Kannon, or the Goddess of Mercy, Festival in Kokawa-cho
Mar. 27 (Wed.)
Nagata Temple is famous for driving away evil spirits from our body. The festival will be very alive with lots of stalls and so on. The temple is 2 minutes' walk from Kii-nagata Sta. on the JR Wakayama-sen.
For further info: 0736-73-3566

Cherry Blossom Festival in Tanabe City
From the end of March through to early April, there is a fine view of the blossoms of about 700 cherry trees. During the season, there will be lots of street stalls which are very crowded on Saturdays. 15 minutes' walk from Onishibashi Bus Stop on the bus line from Tanabe Sta. on the JR Kinokuni Line.
For further info: 0739-22-5300

Cherry Blossom Season
Starting from the warmer regions, such as Okinawa and Kyushu, cherry blossoms carry cheer in a wave, sweeping north across the country from the end of March to mid April. This is the time for cherry blossom viewing, or Hanami, when many gather to drink, eat and enjoy the ephemeral beauty of this delicate pink harbinger of spring.

Minoru Hara

Posted on March 2002 in the following categories: Things to do in... | TrackBack(634)