Seasons and Annual Events

Seasons and Annual Events
季節と
季節と歳時記
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Four Seasons
四季
Japan is an island country, and since it is located in the center of a temperate zone, the climate is mostly
mild. However, since the Japanese islands extend over a long north-south distance, the weather is different
at opposite ends of the country. The changes in the four seasons are very clear, with the south-east seasonal
winds of the summer (June, July and August) bringing humidity, and the north-west seasonal winds of the
winter (December, January and February) creating a chilly season. Humidity rises during the rainy season
(June and July), making it easy for mildew to grow in rooms. To prevent mildew, ventilate your home well
on sunny days.
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National Holidays
祝日
There are 15 national holidays in Japan. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day becomes a
holiday. In addition to national holidays, mid-August is Obon season (a Buddhist event), and many
companies and shops are closed during this time, with many Japanese people visiting the graves of their
ancestors and taking their own summer vacations. In addition, the New Year is perhaps the most celebrated
period, with banks, companies and stores closed for the yearend/New Year holidays, especially from
January 1 to 3.
National Holidays
January 1
Ganjitsu
2nd Monday in January
Seijin-no-Hi (Coming-of-Age Day)
February 11
Kenkoku Kinen-no-Hi (National Foundation Day)
March 21
Shunbun-no-Hi (Vernal Equinox Day) (date might be one or two days
off depending on the year)
April 29
Midori-no-Hi (Greenery Day)
May 3
Kenpo Kinenbi (Constitution Day)
May 4
Kokumin-no-Kyujitsu (National Holiday)
May 5
Kodomo-no-Hi (Children’s Day)
3rd Monday in July
Umi-no-Hi (Ocean Day)
3rd Monday in September
Keiro-no-Hi (Respect for the Elderly Day)
September 23
Shubun-no-Hi (Autumnal Equinox Day)
2nd Monday in October
Taiiku-no-Hi (Sports Day)
November 3
Bunka-no-Hi (Culture Day)
November 23
Kinro Kansha-no-Hi (Labor-Thanksgiving Day)
December 23
Tenno Tanjobi (Emperor’s Birthday)
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Annual Events
歳時記
Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri)
桜まつり
Inquiries: Commerce and Industry Division; Tel: 7167-1141
Kashiwa City Sightseeing Association; Tel: 7162-3315
There are 500 cherry trees at Akebonoyama Park near Fuse
Benten. Every year, many people come to the park to see the
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flowers in full bloom.
Kashiwa Festival (Kashiwa Matsuri)
柏まつり
Inquiries: Community Support Division; Tel: 7167-1126
Kashiwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Tel: 7162-3315
This festival is held in the area around Kashiwa Station, and all
residents are welcome to participate. Beginning with parade and a
Kashiwa dance contest, various fun programs are organized.
(Saturday and Sunday in late July)
Teganuma Fireworks Display
手賀沼花火大会
Inquiries: Commerce and Industry Promotion Division; Tel: 7167-1141
Kashiwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Tel: 7162-3311
This fireworks display is jointly sponsored by Kashiwa City and
Abiko City. The many fireworks have grown to be a favorite event
of residents, like a refreshing night’s symphony.
Teganuma Eco-Marathon
手賀沼エコマラソン
手賀沼エコマラソン
Inquiries: Sports Division; Tel: 7191-7399
Many participants come from all parts of Japan to participate in
this half-marathon (21 .0975km). The course circles around part of
Teganuma Lake. (Late October)
Soccer Games
サッカー観戦
サッカー観戦
Home games of the Kashiwa Reysol soccer team, affiliated with
the J-League professional soccer association, are held at Hitachi
Kashiwa Soccer Field, Prefectural Kashiwanoha Koen
Comprehensive Athletic Stadium or other locations.
For information concerning the team’s schedule and tickets, please
visit the Kashiwa Reysol’s public homepage
(http://www.reysol.co.jp/).
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9-4
Strolling in the City
市内散策
Akebonoyama Agricultural Park (Akebonoyama Nogyo Koen)
あけぼの山農業公園
あけぼの山農業公園
2005-2 Fuse; Tel: 7133-8877
The park has a museum, a room for crafts and other
activities, barbecue garden, athletic course and more.
Visitors will be delighted with the lovely flowers
planted near the Dutch windmill – such as tulips,
nanohana blossoms, sunflowers and cosmos – which
come into bloom with the changing seasons.
Admission: Free of charge
Closed: Mondays (the following day if Monday is a
national holiday)
How to Get There:
From the North Exit of Abiko Station, board a bus
headed for Akebonoyama Koen and get off at
“Akebonoyama Koen Iriguchi” bus stop. It’s a 7minute walk from there.
From the No. 4 bus terminal at the West Exit of Kashiwa Station, board a bus headed for Fuse and get off
at the “Fuse Benten” bus stop (the last stop). It’s a 5-minute walk from there. Or take the bus headed for
Mitsui Danchi and get off at “Tsuchiyatsu Iriguchi” bus stop. It’s an 8-minute walk from there.
Fuse Benten
布施弁天
This temple of the Shingonshu Buddhist sect is said to have been built in the 807. Along with Ueno
Shinobazu (in Tokyo) and Enoshima (in Kanagawa Prefecture), this temple is one of the three Kanto San
Benten. It is said that during the Edo Period, many people from around the Kanto area made pilgrimages
here. Even today, many people crowd to the temple on pilgrimages to toll the night bell on New Year’s Eve
and for the first visit of the New Year in January.
Location: Same as Akebonoyama Agricultural Park
Prefectural Kashiwanoha Park
県立柏の
県立柏の葉公園
4-1 Kashiwanoha; Inquiries: Park Center Tel: 7134-2015
This park has various facilities, such as a pond for
boating, a gymnasium, botanical garden, a Japanese
garden, an adventure plaza (boken-no-hiroba), and
more.
Admission: Free
Closed: The Park Center is open year-round. The
gymnasium, tea room and other facilities are closed on
Mondays.
How to Get There:
① A 15-minute walk from the TX Kashiwanoha
Campus Station
② From the No. 2 bus terminal at West Exit of
Kashiwa Station, board a bus headed toward either
Kokuritsu Gan Center or Kashiwanoha Campus-Eki Nishi-guchi and get off at “Kashiwanoha Koen Chuo”
or “Mitsui Jutaku-mae” bus stop. It is about a 20-minute ride.
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Former Yoshida Family’
Family’s House Historical Park
974-1 Hananoi
Inquiries: Park Green Administration Division
Tel: 7167-1309
At the historical Former Yoshida Family’s House, you can
see how life would have been for a wealthy farmer in days
gone by. The house was originally built between the end of
the Edo Period and the beginning of the Meiji Period, and it
is an important national cultural asset. Entering the house
through the 25-meter long Nagaya gate, you will find the
massive structured main building with a thatched roof, the
elegant-looking Shoin-style study and a garden and scrub
brush, covered with moss and filled with atmosphere. You
can then feel a great feeling of peace and tranquility,
timeless and separated from the noise of the outside world.
This is a park with spacious lawns where you can leisurely
enjoy culture and nature.
Park Entrance Fee and Parking: Free
Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a holiday, it will be closed on the following weekday) and from December 29 to
January 3 of the new year.
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
※During special events, etc., tours may be closed to the public.
Access: ①From the West Exit of Kashiwa Station, take the Tobu Bus bound for “Kashiwa Shi-Ritsu Koukou”
(Kashiwa Municipal High School) (except the bus which goes via Route 16), “Tokyu Village” and “Kashiwa
Tanaka”. Get off at the “Hananoi Jinja” stop. The house is a 5-minute walk from there.
②From the North Exit of Kita-Kashiwa Station, at the Kita-Kashiwa Entrance bus stop, Take the bus
bound for “Kashiwa Shi-Ritsu Koukou” (Kashiwa Municipal High School), Tokyu Village” and “Kashiwa
Tanaka”. Get off at the “Hananoi Jinja” stop. The house is a 5-minute walk from there.
③ From the TX Kashiwa Tanaka Station, take the Tobu Bus bound for “Kashiwa Eki Nishi Guchi”
(Kashiwa Station West Exit) or “Kita-Kashiwa Eki” (Kita-Kashiwa Station), and get off at the “Hananoi Jinja”
stop. The house is a 5-minute walk from there.
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