Latest Events in Kamakura(August Updated)

The annual festival of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the most important festival of the year, and it has been held on August 15th since ancient times. This date is the full moon day of the formerly used lunar calendar (old calendar), and since the deity enshrined was once a sea god and had a deep connection with the fishing industry, it is said that Minamoto no Yoritomo would go to Yuigahama on this day to hold the "Hojokai" ceremony, release a thousand paper cranes, and perform the Yabusame ceremony. According to the records of the Tokyō, the first Yabusame event of Hojo Megumi was held on August 15, 1187, and it is said that this day marked the beginning of the annual festival of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. It has now been changed to the modern solar calendar (new calendar), and this day is celebrated grandly for three days from September 14th to 16th every year.

Hase-dera Temple in Kamakura will host a three-day art, music, and food experience event called "Hase-dera Night Table 2026" from October 2nd to October 4th, 2026. During this period, after regular visits end at 5 PM, visitors can enjoy various activities such as strolling through the illuminated temple grounds (advance reservations required, limited spots available), viewing a "flower bonsai" installation by horticultural artist Kazuyuki Ishihara, a live concert at the Kannon-do Hall, and a dinner featuring unique flavors from the Kamakura and Shonan regions.

This exhibition brings together Buddhist paintings produced in East Asia during the Song, Yuan, and Goryeo dynasties, as well as Kamakura in Japan, during the same period. How did the medieval Kamakura region, which had the closest access to Buddhist culture from across the sea, accept, nurture, and incorporate it into Zen teachings? This exhibition explores the production backgrounds and symphonies surrounding paintings from these three regions.

Suspense and mystery films that captivate audiences are imbued with the skillful directorial techniques and wisdom developed by their predecessors to enhance their effects. Alfred Hitchcock, invited to Hollywood from Britain, released his first American film, *Rebecca*, in 1940. Around this time, the genre name "suspense" became established, appearing alongside "mystery" and "whodunit" in Variety magazine's film section. Hitchcock, who created numerous masterpieces in the 1950s and was hailed as a "master of suspense," gained popularity for depicting "crime" and "suspicion" lurking within people's peaceful daily lives. From the 1960s onward, works focusing on the psychological states of characters were called "psychological thrillers," and various techniques were employed in visual expression dealing with dreams, flashbacks, and vague memories. Suspense films, which evoke the thrill of being suspended in mid-air, and mystery films, which offer the enjoyment of solving puzzles, often overlap. In today's more complex cinema, these two genres play a crucial role, like spices blending into various dishes. This exhibition explores the appeal of both genres, from classics to recent works. Please enjoy the "strange and mysterious world" of suspense and mystery films, which have entertained and captivated us with their thrilling and enigmatic plots. What is a "Strange World"? The word "strange" has four meanings: , all of which represent something inexplicable and mysterious, a mystical, magical, bizarre world. In homage to the many groundbreaking directorial techniques in film history that developed from magic tricks, this exhibition uses the term "strange."

The Kamakura Festival is a major springtime event in Kamakura City, held annually since 1959. A traditional highlight marking the start of the spring tourist season, the festival, centered around Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, takes place on the second and third Sundays of April each year, showcasing the unique and vibrant activities of this historically rich and traditional city. The 68th Kamakura Festival, to be held in April 2026, took place from April 12th (Sunday) to 19th (Sunday), featuring parades, the "Silence Dance," and outdoor tea ceremonies. The opening ceremony, the "parade," runs along Wakamiya-Oji-dori Street, a distance of approximately 1 kilometer, extending from the Shimoba Crossing to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. The parade includes many locally rooted groups, musicians, and shrines, with approximately 1,000 participants.

The fireworks displays held at Yuigahama Beach and Kiza Beach in Kamakura are a summer tradition in Kamakura. This historic fireworks display began in 1948 and has been held 78 times to date. The biggest highlight of the Kamakura Fireworks Festival is the underwater fireworks, which is also its iconic spectacle. Fireworks are launched one after another from boats traveling on the water, blooming in a fan shape on the surface, forming a semi-circular burst of light that sprinkles across the waves—a sight impossible to see at inland festivals and unique to the seaside.