Kanbutsue Festival

Kanbutsue it is held on second Sunday to third Sunday of April at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine It is to celebrate the birthday of Buddha. In many temples small-scaled compartments made of flower for tiny Buddha statues are prepared for the ceremony. People pore sweat tea from a head of the statue set in the compartment, remembering the old saying that when Buddha born nine dragons came from the sky and showered purified water onto baby Buddha. Kanbutsue is also called Hanamatsuri, or showering Buddha ceremony. It came from India through China. However in old days the same day for Kanbutsue was assigned as a day for Ohanami. Thus Kanbutsue became to be called Hanamatsuri, or Flower festival.

Background History

By the 12th Century, Kamakura had developed into a center of Japanese politics and culture equaling Kyoto. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a historic shrine and a symbol of Kamakura. During the Kamakura Matsuri, which is a festival held at this shrine, the entire town of Kamakura is bustling with parades of mikoshi (portable shrines) and musical bands.

The main attractions are the shizuka no mai dance performed in the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine on the second Sunday and yabusame on the third Sunday.