Manazuru’s Famous Festival Boats!
Between the major city of Odawara and the resort area of Atami is the scenic small town of Manazuru. For two days every summer, you can see Manazuru’s Kibune Festival, registered as an important intangible folk cultural asset and considered one of Japan’s three major boat festivals.
Beginning from Kibune Jinja Shrine, portable shrines called mikoshi are brought around the town, then sent to the pier and floated along to the other side, while all around are lavishly decorated boats letting off fireworks, which can be enjoyed along with delicious fresh fish and other stalls with traditional festival foods. Finally, the mikoshi makes its way back to Kibune Jinja Shrine, and the festival is concluded with a final dance performance.