October 2005

Yoshimune 300th Festival
November 3 Info:073　-　492　-　1030
It is 300 years since Yoshimune Tokugawa, the 8th Tokugawa Shogunate, became the Lord of Kishu, Wakayama. A Buddhist memorial service of Yoshimune and a children’s procession will be held at Chohoji Temple, whose main building is more than 1,000 years old and a national treasure. There are the graves of successive Kishu Tokugawa Lords in its precinct. Chohoji Temple is a 10-minute drive from JR Shimotsu Station.

Kumano Ancient Road Heian Parade
November 3 10:00 ～ 12:30p.m. Info:0739　-　64　-　1470

This event lets people walk in Heian-period clothing for 2 km along Kumano Ancient Road of Takahara in Nakahechi-cho, Tanabe City.Those interested in joining the parade need to apply in advance.
A 30-minute walk from Kodogaoka bus stop from Kii-Tanabe Station.

Taiji Whale Festival
November 6 10:00 a.m. ～ 3:00 p.m. Info:0735　-　59　-　2335
A well-known whale dance and other local entertainments will be performed. You can buy whale meat there. There will also be a booth of Hakuba Village of Nagano Prefecture which is a sister city of Taiji Town. Place: Taiji Fishing Port, a 10-minute bus ride from JR Taiji Station.

Kishu Lacquer Festival
November 12,13 10:00 a.m. ～ 4:00 p.m. Info:073 -　482　–　0322
This is a very popular lacquer ware festival where you can learn about Kishu’s traditional lacquer industry. Many vendors sell lacquer ware, other general goods and food line on both sides of Kawabata Street, Kainan City. You can buy many kinds of lacquer ware like trays, miso soup bowls, chopsticks rice bowls and others at discounted prices. You can also walk and enjoy the historical beautiful streets around Kuroe Area. You can take a shuttle bus from JR Kainan Station.

Shigo Persimmon Festival
November 23 9:00 a.m. ～ 3:00 p.m. Info:0736　-　25　-　0114

Shigo, Katsuragi Town, is famous for its kushigaki, dried persimmon. Main Festival events will be at Shigo Elementary School which is 5 km north of JR Wakayama Line Kaseda Station.

Wakayama Food Festival
November 23 10:00 a.m. ～ Info:073　-　435　-　1234
You can enjoy Wakayama’s local food and dish at Wakayama Castle Sunanomaru Square.

Negoro Kakuban Festival
November 26 9:30 a.m. ～ 3:30 p.m. Info:0736　-　62　-　7101
It is a festival named after Priest Kakuban, the founder of Negoro Temple. Its wooden steeple is the oldest in Japan and a national treasure. There will be Noh and Negoro gun squad’s performing. The seated figure of Priest Kakuban which is a secret Buddhist statue of Negoro Temple will be shown to the public from October 1 to November 6. To get there, take a bus from Iwade Station on the JR Wakayama Line to Negoro bus stop.

Posted on October 2005 in the following categories: Things to do in...