December 2005

Tsutomu Matsushita
The 7th Wakayama Two Day March
December 3 ～ 4 Info: 073 - 662 - 5198
Would you like to take a walk in a place full of poetic sentiment, historical romanticism and natural beauty? Many people from all over Japan will gather in Wakayama to take part in either a 10 km or 20 km course. A 10 km course and a 20 km course will take place on each day and all of them will begin at Wakayama Castle Nishi-no-maru Square. The 20 km course on December 3 will go through Saikazaki and will end at Wakanoura Katanoami. The 10 km course on that day will end at Akibasan Park. On December 4, the 20 km course will go to Kinokawa and Kohun-no-oka. The 10 km course will end at Kinokawa Dam. The participation fee is 2,000 yen.

Kinosato Marathon in Ryujin
December 4 Info: 0739 - 78 - 2222
Ryjin in famous for its Bijin-no-yu, meaning “Hot Spring of Beauty.” It is situated in the mountains about 60 minutes by car from the Kibi Interchange of the Kainan-Yuasa toll road through route 424.
Place: Ryujin Village in Tanabe City

Promenade of White Sand
November 15 ～ February 28, 2006 Info: 073 - 422 - 4631
Shirahama Beach will glitter like a starlit sky with light from 100,000 bulbs each night from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. There are many hotels in the area, along with the hot spring in Shirahama.
Place: Near Shirahama Bus stop from JR Shirahama Station

Marina City Christmas Events
November 26 ～ December 25 Info: 073 - 448 - 0341
Marina City will have special events, decorations and longer hours for the Christmas Season. Don’t miss the large fireworks display on Christmas Eve arranged by a Portuguese fireworks designer. The Christmas Eve display will begin at 8:00 p.m. and will last for 20 minutes.

Kashinosaki Narcissus Festival
December 23 ～ 25 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Info: 0735 - 62 - 0555
The Kashinosaki lighthouse in Kushimoto Town is the oldest stone-built lighthouse in Japan. The narcissus flowers that are blooming in the garden around the lighthouse were brought by the garden’s British designer Dr. Henry Brunton in 1868. Visitors can walk along the stone-paved road from the parking lot to the lighthouse while enjoying the beautiful ocean view. Kashinosaki is in Ooshima, along with the Turkish Memorial Hall and the Japan-America Friendship Memorial. To get there, take a bus from JR Kushimoto Station.
Marina City New Year Countdown Fireworks
December 31 12:00 p.m. ～ Info: 0739 - 42 - 4686
Many celebrators will gather in Marina City to countdown the New Year with a fireworks display. A live concert will also be held.












Countdown Fireworks in Shirahama
December 31 12:00 p.m. Info: 0739 - 42 - 4686
Fireworks will start at midnight at Shirahama Beach in Shirahama.













Night Watch Bell (Joya-no-kane)
Every temple rings their night watch bell 108 times at midnight on the last day of the year (Omisoka). In Buddhism, it is said that we have 108 worldly passions. The bell ringing at midnight is intended to clear these passions.

Joya-no-Kane TsukiDecember 31 　　　　　　　　　　　 Info: 073 - 445 - 9628
You can ring in the New Year by actually ringing the bell at Jisho-do bell house located next to the prefectural museum. The site rests atop a hill and faces Wakayama castle on the east side of the museum within a five minute walk of the Wakayama Prefectural Office (Kencho).
Joya-no-Kane is a traditional Japanese custom held every New Year’s Eve. However, Jisho-do does not belong to any particular temple. Jisho-do was built in 1712 and had tolled the time of day to the people up until 1921. Since then, it has been rung only for significant events and on New Year’s Eve.
As for those of you who would like to volunteer and help out with preparations, please come at either 1 p.m. or 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The organizer, Mr. Saika, would be glad to greet you at the bell house. If all you would like to do is ring the bell, please come between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Toshikoshi Soba Noodle
Toshikoshi soba is a bowl of hot buckwheat noodle served in broth that is customarily eaten on New Year’s Eve. The custom of eating toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve was established about 300 years ago in the middle of Edo era. What follows are four theories as to why soba is eaten on the last day of the year. The first theory says that, just a soba noodles are long, you will live a long life. Since soba noodles are easy to cut, the second theory states that eating them will cut down on the hardships and disasters throughout the year. The buckwheat flour that is the main ingredient in soba can be used to make thin gold foil, so it is said that eating soba will extend your wealth. The fourth theory is that, since the buckwheat plant is very hardy and can quickly recover from being fallen by wind or rain, eating soba on New Year’s Eve is a wish to be as strong as the plant that is used to make them.

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