Tōkasan

Hiroshima really comes alive over the three nights of Tōkasan - a festival that really does feel "festive".

Join the 300,000 people who will be donning their yukata for the first time this year who take over Chuo-dori and environs to promenade, play festival games like fish scooping, buy strange inflatable novelties and stuff their faces with equally strange stuff on sticks.

People line up at the Enryuji Temple (more commonly know and tōkasan, a mixed Buddhist and Shinto temple/shrine, which is adorned with red lanterns (near the Peace Blvd end of Chuō-dori) to pray for good luck by throwing a money offering into the shrine's coin box and clapping their hands. Tōkasan speciality yakuyoke uchiwa fans to ward off evil can be bought at the temple.

As well as parades and summer bon dancing, there will be taiko drumming and other performances on stages dotted around the center of town. See below for the schedule of main events.

Yukata can cost a lot of money, but reasonably priced ones can be had at stores like Uniqlo, Mujirushi and in Sun Mall. Of course, once you've got one you have to put the thing on. Luckily there will be skilled hands available from the Hiroshima branch of the Osaka Kimono Dressing School available free of charge at the following locations; and times:

• Hiroshima Kokusai Hotel June 4 & 5 13:00-20:00, June 6 13:00-18:00
  
• Fukuromachi Park June 4, 5 & 6 13:00-20:00
  
• Shareo June 4, 5 & 6 13:00-20:00
  

Yukata de kinsai main events

Friday June 4

• Get your hair and make up done as well as getting your obi straightened at Shareo for free 13:00-17:00

• Hon-dori parade 18:00-18:30
  Yukata parade down the shopping arcade with a giant lantern

• Chuo-dori 19:30-21:15 Yukata de odorinsai
  Japanese dances from around the prefecture and a chance for everyone to get involved (register between 17:00 and 18:00 in Fukuromachi Park).

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.

• Try out a Segway in Fukuromachi Park 13:00-17:00
  3 min ride ¥500 (¥300 with a flyer)

• Fukuromachi-koen 16:00-16:40
  Family friendly yukata fashion contest

• Have a go at making maccha green tea in Shareo 14:00-18:00.

• Chuo-dori 19:30-21:15 Yukata de odorinsai
  Japanese dances from around the prefecture and a chance for everyone to get involved (register between 17:00 and 18:00 in Fukuromachi Park).

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.

• Try out a Segway in Fukuromachi Park 13:00-17:00
  3 min ride ¥500 (¥300 with a flyer)

• Shintenchi-koen 19:00-21:30
  The classic japanese songs crackling out of the PA on the central tower and street stalls in Shintenchi-koen make this feel much more like a local festival of days gone by than the maddness just a few meters away on Chuo-dori. The local groups dancing welcome anyone to join in. Great fun and our recommendation if you are heading down to the festival with kids.
  

Address:
Enryuji Temple and environs
Heiwa O-dori end of Chuo-dori

Dates/Times:
03 June - 05 June

For more information:
URL:	www.toukasan.net
Tel:	082-247-6738 (Tourist Information)