Pat's Blog

The word ‘monosso’ is dialect for ‘tremendous, fantastic, colossal’ etc. in the Sanuki dialect. ‘Sanuki’ is of course the old name of our Kagawa prefecture, Japan’s smallest and one of the most vibrant prefectures in the country. Now that the 49th Takamatsu Festival is winding down, the spectacular fireworks over, the dancers all back at work and soon school;



I’m posting a few photos to show you just how much vibrancy we have here with our festivals in the hope that you as future tourists to Japan, may come next year and see what we have.



There are still some events running through August & September. The beautiful Tamamo Park right across from Takamatsu Central JR station is open with free admission in the evenings. Why not come and see the illuminated Hiunkaku Garden with its traditional lighting and lanterns? There will be a cool mist spray available.

From: Friday July 18th~Sunday August 31st.

Times: 7:00~9:00 pm



In Yashima near Takamatsu there is the Yashima Yu-Yakei (evening/night view) Festival

Dates: Every Friday and Saturday until September 13th

Times: 6:00 pm~9:00pm

Places: Yashima Summit Reigan-chaya and Momotaro chaya



Also, the Mure-Genpei Ishikari (stone lantern) Road

Period: Sat. August 9th~Sunday September 13th

In the Mure town area approximately 1 kilometer along the old Aji Shimo-kaido. Take the Kotoden train to Yakuri Station. Please refer to my previous blog in summer last year.



The Yashima “Tenku Music Live!

Catch live performances on the summit of Mt.Yashima

Times: 5:30~8:00 pm

Lineup: Sat. Aug. 23rd. Tibichi, Hau’oli’s Masako Aketa Hula Studio performance.

Fri. Sept. 5th Ukulele Heaven

The Shinoue Onsen (hot springs) Festival

Date: Saturday August 30th

Time: 1:00 pm~9:30 pm

Place: Hotaru-to-Bunka-no-Sato

Events include catching fish with bare hands!



Then there’s the Sunport Takamatsu Triathlon 2014

Date: Sunday, September 7th

Time: 7:00am~12:00 noon.

For any enquiries on any of these events in English or Chinese, please contact the Inter-governmental Exchange Office

Tourism and Exchange Section

Takamatsu City Hall

Tel: 839-2197

www.machikadomusic.net

Sunport is just north of the Takamatsu JR Central Station and very easy to find. The tourist information Center is just outside the Takamatsu JR Central Station, so things are easy to find and the friendly staff are multi-lingual to assist overseas travellers.


For more info on Takamatsu:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Takamatsu

http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/

http://tia-takamatsu.jp/

http://www.my-kagawa.jp/eg/

http://www.my-kagawa.jp/special/visitor/kanko/index.htm

http://www.i-pal.or.jp/profile/topics/kagawas-welcome-card.html

Other bloggers in Takamatsu of interest:
http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp
http://ogijima.com

http://ww8.tiki.ne.jp/~tmath/home/
  

The word ‘monosso’ is dialect for ‘tremendous, fantastic, colossal’ etc. in the Sanuki dialect. ‘Sanuki’ is of course the old name for our Kagawa prefecture, Japan’s smallest and one of the most vibrant places in the country.



Running from Wednesday August 12th~Thursday August 14th the 49th Summer Festival will host many events, some of which will coincide with some great summer music in the Sunport area right here in Takamatsu.

www.machikadomusic.net

Sunport is just north of the Takamatsu JR Central Station and very easy to find. The tourist information Center is just outside the station so things are easy to find and the friendly staff are multi-lingual to assist overseas travellers.



I dropped in to take a look at the opening ceremony and took some photos while the light was still good and before the crowds started arriving. Taiko, or Japanese traditional drums and their groups performed through the first part of the activities.



The Takamatsu Summer Festival is now considered one of the 4 major festivals in the island of Shikoku in Japan. Coinciding with the Inland Sea’s 80th anniversary and commemoration as a national park. The Inland Sea is of course, separating three of the four main islands in Japan.



This year’s fireworks festival is tipped to be the largest in Takamatsu’s history. This will be held on August 13th from 8:00~8:50. The theme of this year’s fireworks display will be, ‘Marine Capital of the Seto Inland Sea’


Traffic will be regulated at the Sunport area so it may be best to walk or rent a bicycle from the underground bicycle rental station right in from of the Takamatsu JR central station.



And then the climax of these wonderful summer days will be of course, the Obon dancing in the central street (Chuo Dori) on Thursday night Aug. 14th. So why not join in? It’s perfectly ok to join in the last groups who will be without costumes! If there’s time, you may even be able to register for a quick training session at the I-Pal and get a dancing uniform. This will depend upon bookings so be quick!

http://www.i-pal.or.jp/en/whats-i-pal.html

Drop in and the I-Pal is centrally located and on the corner of the Central Park. Now what could be a better way to authenticate your Japan experience? Nothing … so if you have time, please get involved. I’ll see you all again soon.

Upcoming events in Kagawa!!

Kagawa Waterfront Festival;

July 19-August 8. Will include 15-minute hologram shows on a giant water screen in the sea. Come and enjoy art, dynamic historical storytelling, and entertainment. Shows are at 19:40, 20:30 and 21:20 at Sunport. For more details (in Japanese) see: http://www.pref.kagawa.jp/seto80/event/waterfront.html

Upcoming events in Kagawa!!

Kagawa Waterfront Festival;
July 19-August 8. Will include 15-minute hologram shows on a giant water screen in the sea. Come and enjoy art, dynamic historical storytelling, and entertainment. Shows are at 19:40, 20:30 and 21:20 at Sunport. For more details (in Japanese) see: http://www.pref.kagawa.jp/seto80/event/waterfront.html
Sensory Dining in Tamamo Park;

Gourmet cuisine together with works by top artists here in Kagawa and local craftspeople. This will be a special dining experience. Details are not up yet but last year this special event ran from August 10 through 18. Information will be posted on their website soon: http://www.takumikumo.com/shiro-cafe/

For more info on Takamatsu:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Takamatsu

http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/

http://tia-takamatsu.jp/

http://www.my-kagawa.jp/eg/

http://www.my-kagawa.jp/special/visitor/kanko/index.htm

http://www.i-pal.or.jp/profile/topics/kagawas-welcome-card.html

Other bloggers in Takamatsu of interest:

http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp

http://ogijima.com

http://ww8.tiki.ne.jp/~tmath/home/