During the consecutive holidays of early May, I paid a visit to Odawara Hojo Godai Festival on Saturday, May 3rd.

Odawara Hojo Godai Festival is an annual festival hold in May each year in order to remember the five generations of Hojo Tribe which was a Daimyo tribe during Japan’s Sengoku period. The five generations were Hojo Souun (the 1st generation), Hojo Ujitsuna (the 2nd generation), Hojo Ujiyasu (the 3rd generation), Hojo Ujimasa (the 4th generation) and Hojo Ujinao (the 5th generation), the five generations together lasted for about 100 years.

The main event of the festival was a parade consisted of 1,700 people in total, including members of orchestra, musical bands, disguised Musha pioneer corps of Hojo Tribe, etc. The whole parade was a one-hour walk stretching for about 3km within the town.

In order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival, there was a main event featuring the characters of five generations of Hojo Tribe disguised by entertainers who have close relationship with Odawara City. Many other performances and shows were also held during the festival such as cheerleader performance, baton performance and marching band performed by the local middle and junior school students, white motorcycle march by the prefectural police members, music band from Kawasaki Fire Department as well as Boy Scout. The Ninja march performed by Girl Scouts, armor unit wearing local handmade armors, Odawara Bayashi performance by local children, Jinja Mikoshi, and so on. These performances were fantastic and all conducted by the local residents who have deep affections with their city.

There were many other events held during the festival. Please refer to the following event schedule for details.

Event schedule of the festival

■ Kickoff Ceremony, etc.
[Part 1] Opening special live (Japanese drum performance)
From 0:00 p.m.
Specially installed stage at Akaganemon-hiroba of Odawara Castle
[Part 2] Opening Ceremony
From 0:50 p.m.
Specially installed stage at Akaganemon-hiroba of Odawara Castle
[Part 3] Kickoff ceremony by the Musha corps
From 1:05 p.m.
Specially installed stage at Akaganemon-hiroba of Odawara Castle

■ Parade

◇ Wind-instrument music course
From 1:40 p.m. to 2:13 p.m.
Daikumachi Intersection > Daikumachi Street > Ginza Street > Nisiki Street > Ohoribata Street (Approx. 1.2km)

◇ Musha Corps Course
From 1:30 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.
Daikancho Street > Takanashicho Street > Aomonocho Street > Kokusai Street > Daikumachi Street > Ginza Street > Nisiki Street > Ohoribata Street (approx. 2.7km)

■ Information

◇ Hojo-Rokusai-Ichi of Odawara Castle
From Sunday, April 27 to Holiday, May 5.
From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ninomaru open space of Odawara Castle

◇ Access from the station
“Hojo Five Generation – A happy festival atmosphere pervaded the whole town -“
From Saturday, April 26 to Tuesday, May 6, Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11.
From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (* Departures at any time)
Meeting place: In front of Tourist Information Center of Odawara Station

◇ World Ninja Championship
(running competition) Holiday, May 3
From 0:40 p.m.
Umadashi-mon Gate of Odawara Castle > In front of Manabibashi Bridge

◇ Stamp rally
Holiday, May 3
From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Whole venue of the festival

◇ Market of Specialty of Odawara-jo Castle
Holiday, May 3 and 4.
From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ninomaru open space of Odawara Castle

◇ Hojo Jazz Festa
Holiday, May 4 and 5
From 0:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m.
Akaganemon-hiroba of Odawara Castle

For those who visited the festival before noon, touring different shops at Ninomaru-hiroba (open space) of Odawara Castle must be very enjoyable.

There were already many vending stands and shops opened at Ninomaru-hiroba of Odawara Castle from morning. Many were typical stands of the Japanese festival day, including food stands of spit roasted Japanese beef, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki (octopus dumplings), Japanese-style fried noodles, croquette sandwich, roasted squid, Agenan, Kebab, Kakigōri, Yokosuka Navy Curry, potato with butter, draft beer as well as used-cloth shops, T-shirt shops, cartoon character mask, and accessory shops.

For those who wish to learn more about the history, you can visit Odawara Castle History Museum, learn about Odawawra as well as human relations of Hojo Tribe and historical background through pictures, videos library and picture-story shows displayed in the museum. The museum opens from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. everyday through out the whole year. Admission fee is 300 yen for adult and 100 yen for children.

There was a long line of people who wish to enter Tenshuka of Odawara Castle in the morning. Because I had toured the castle several days ago, so I didn’t enter Tenshukaku this time.

At the Honmaru-hiroba (open space) in front of Tenshukaku, there were short plays by performers wearing Ninja costume, Japanese matchlock gun live performance by Teppoutai as well as armor and Kimono disguising service (from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 300 yen for adult and 200 yen for children.)

The area became more and more crowded once the main event start from noon.

The whole event start from an opening special Japanese drum live performance at Akaganemon-hiroba of Odawara Castle, followed by the main event of the parade and various other events.

The next festival is scheduled on May next year, hope you can come and enjoy it.

Basic Information

* Please make sure the info you see is the latest in advance.