Nanohana Navigator

The plaza before the Great Hall of Narita Shinshoji Temple overflows with people 

 

     The Nanohana News staff headed out to Narita on an early Sunday morning on April 15 to see the Narita Taiko Festival. Every year, taiko teams from all over Japan gather in Narita for the annual Narita Taiko Festival.

Over 700 taiko players perform in unison for the Sengan Hana Daiko

 

     This festival, which is typically held on a Saturday and Sunday in April, opens each morning with an event called the “Sengan Hana Daiko.” Not only is the image of 700 drum performers playing all at once an amazing sight, you can also feel the drums resounding through your whole body and even throughout the entire plaza.

 

Visitors crowd the streets as they enjoy both shopping and taiko in Narita

 

     After the “Sengan Hana Daiko” performance, the taiko teams spread out throughout Omotesando Street, which links Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and Narita Station. Here, you can watch taiko performances by the invidual teams all along the street. The entire area was bursting with activity as visitors enjoyed both taiko performances while shopping and trying local gourmet specialties while strolling down the traditional townscape of Omotesando Street.

 

The powerful performance of the Choshi Hanedaiko drummers 

 

     While the Nanohana News staff was walking along the streets, we came upon this group’s performance – the Choshi Hanedaiko Team! Just as the name implies, this form of wadaiko (Japanese drumming) is a tradition from Choshi, located on the northeast tip of Chiba Prefecture. In the Choshi Hanedaiko style, the taiko drum is carried by two drummers. While sandwiching the drums between their necks and ribs to hold the drums firmly in place, drummers leap as they strike the drum; whirl around as they leap; together they float in the air with the drum itself. The most fascinating scene of their performance is the nekase-uchi, where one of the drummers pins his partner down to the ground, all while they both continue to play without missing a beat.

     While you will have to wait another year for this fantastic celebration of drums, you can find out more about the Narita Taiko Festival on the official website: http://nrtm.jp/. (Click on the “English” link to access a brief overview of the event in English.)

 

 

 Wander the maze of flowers in Chikura 

   

     During this time of the year, many visitors come to Minamiboso City’s Chikura district to escape the bleak winter season by enjoying the area’s early spring.

     The area along National Route 410 from Chikura to the border of Tateyama is called the Boso Flower Line. Here, you can find many gorgeous scenic flower spots. Going by car is recommended in order to get the most out of your trip to this area – but be careful! On weekends from January to March, the Flower Line can get busy with flower seeking visitors.

 

The Shiramazu district's flowers in full bloom

 

     The Nanohana News staff visited the open flower fields in Shiramazu area of Chikura at the beginning of February. The vivid blossoms and rich green of the flowers make for an even more splendid view when combined with the sparkling waves of the Pacific Ocean. Here at Shiramazu, you can find a variety of flowers, including snapdragons, nanohana, poppies, marigolds, and stocks. The peak viewing season for the Shiramazu flower fields are from January to March.

Little stores spread out amongst the flower fields 

 

     While visitors are welcome to look around the flowers freely, the flowers found here are goods for sale! These flowers have been carefully cultivated by the flower producers, many of them who have shops like the ones in the photo above set up around these fields. You can buy flowers from these shops. Some stores may allow you to pick your flowers, or you may point out which flowers you like and have the store take them straight from the field for you, so you can bring home some of the fresh cut flowers with you.

 

     Right now is peak season for this area, so there are many events and campaigns currently available for visitors to enjoy the flowers to the fullest. One such event is the Early Spring Flower Field Hiking campaign, which is being held from February 1 to March 31. For more information, please see the event below:

http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kokusai/english/information/residents/news/issues/january2012.html#event0106

 

 

Steps leading up to the Niomon main gate of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

 

     The name “Narita” is world famous thanks to Narita International Airport, but that's not all there is to Narita - located approximately just 10 minutes by train from the airport is Naritasan Shinshoji Temple.

 

     One of the most famous temples in the Kanto Region, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple was originally founded in 940 and is dedicated to Fudo Myo’o, the god of fire. A number of the temple’s structures have been dedicated as National Important Cultural Properties, including the Niomon main gate, pictured above, as well as the Komyodo and Shakado Halls. Narita Shinshoji Temple attracts over ten million visitors a year.

 

  Throngs of people come to join in the festivities of the Setsubun Ceremony

 

     Many of the temple’s visitors come to attend the fantastic festivals and events held here throughout the year. Coming up is the Setsubun Ceremony on Friday, February 3, 2012.

 

Straining to catch the lucky beans thrown by celebrity guests 

 

     While Setsubun is a tradition commonly celebrated throughout Japan, the Setsubun Ceremony at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is a particularly grand occasion. Each year, actors, sumo wrestlers, and other famous figures join in the mamemaki (“bean throwing”) ritual at Shinshoji Temple. Actors Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Hiroshi Tamaki, Naoto Fujiki, Kyoko Fukada, and Yasuko Matsuyama, as well as sumo wrestlers Hakuho, Baruto, Kisenosato, and Okinoumi are scheduled to participate in this year’s mamemaki ritual.

     More details about the Setsubun Ceremony at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple can be found here: http://www.naritasan.or.jp/( External link ) (Japanese).

 

Plum blossoms of Naritasan Park in bloom

 

     Another such event is the Narita Plum Festival, where visitors can come enjoy the sight of the delicate white and red plum blossoms at Naritasan Park. This year the festival will be held from February 11 to March 11. More information about the Narita Plum Festival can be found here: http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kokusai/english/information/residents/ news/issues/january2012.html  

          

    Also, another popular spring event is the Narita Taiko Festival, scheduled for April 14-15. Don’t forget to mark it on your calendars! You can find out more about the Narita Taiko Festival on the official website: http://nrtm.jp/. (Click on the “English” link to access a brief overview of the event in English.)

  

 

  

  Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line with Kisarazu and the coast of Chiba Prefecture in the distance

  

     The Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, which opened in December 1997, is a highway road that stretches a total length of about 15km across the center of Tokyo Bay. The Aqua-Line cuts traveling time from Kisarazu City (Chiba Prefecture) to Kawasaki City (Kanagawa Prefecture) down to just 15 minutes. A 4.4km bridge reaches out from Kisarazu to connect to the 9.5km long tunnel extending from Kawasaki to make up the Aqua-Line. The artificial island, Umihotaru, is located at the junction of this bridge and tunnel.

 

Restaurant and observation deck on the top floor of Umihotaru PA

 

     Umihotaru also serves as a rest area for travelers passing through the Aqua-Line. Umihotaru PA (Parking Area) is equipped with a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops featuring specialties of the southern Chiba area. Here, you can also enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view of the Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba areas whether it is night or day. On a clear day, you can also see wonderful views of Mount Fuji and Tokyo Sky Tree.

     Don’t forget to visit the technology museum “Umimegane,” also located within Umihotaru, where you can learn about the shield construction method and other technology that went into making the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line.

 

Mount Fuji at sunset seen from Umihotaru PA

 

     Next year will be an exciting year for the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. The first is the opening of the outlet park scheduled for spring 2012. The outlets will be located in Kisarazu’s Kaneda District, just about 15-20 minutes by car from the Aqua-Line exit. The second is the Chiba Aqua-Line Marathon, which will be held on October 21, 2012. The marathon’s course circles around Kisarazu City and the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line all the way up to Umihotaru PA. Both of these events are sure to attract a lot of attention next year, so please stay tuned for more information!

 

Below you can find a couple of the many exciting, upcoming events made closer by the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line:

http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kokusai/english/information/residents/news/issues/december2011.html

 

For more information about the Chiba Aqua-Line Marathon, please see the official website:

http://www.chiba-aqua-run.com/2012/( External link ) (Japanese only)