Introduction

“The Yassa Festival,” in which both adults and children dance and parade with a portable shrine along the streets, shouting “Yassa, mossa!” enthusiastically, is the biggest event in Yugawara Onsen.

“The Yassa Festival” is said to be derived from the “Sanehira Dance” started by Sanehira Jiro Doi, the lord of Doi-go (now Yugawara) long ago, for his people’s personal security. Sanehira is known for acting as the major driving force for the revival of the Minamoto clan.
After the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, Sanehira, held in high regard for his abilities, was dispatched to Aki Province (Hiroshima Prefecture) to ensure the security of the Seto Inland Sea, and made numerous achievements there. After his death, the people of his domain created what is now the “Mihara Yassa,” in memory of his outstanding virtue.
Yugawara’s “Sanehira Dance” faded from use long ago, but the townspeople’s love and respect for Sanehira endured, and prompted this “Mihara Yassa” to be adopted and revived as the “Yugawara Yassa.”

 

Date August 2nd(Fri) and 3rd(Sat), 2024
Time Yassa Parade: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Yassa Festival route Yugawara Elementary School (departure at 6:00 p.m.) - Sakuragi Park (arrival at around 9:00 p.m.)
Inquiries Yugawara Town Tourism Division Phone: 0465-63-2111
google map

Yassa Festival Part 1

Date  Friday, August 2nd, 2024
Time  6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
 Rain date  Sunday, August 4th
Course Yugawara Elementary School – Sakuragi Park
 Contents Girl Scouts of Kanagawa, 9th Group
Yugawara Junior High School Brass Band Club
Yassa Dance Traditional Tune Hour (a contest where the dance is performed by many different groups of children and adults)
Floats

Yassa Festival Part 2

Date  Saturday, August 3rd, 2024
Time  18:00  – 19:30
Rain date  Tuesday, August 6th
Course  Along Makuyama Park Street
 Contents  Girl Scouts of Kanagawa, 9th Group
Yugawara Junior High School Brass Band Club
Yassa Dance Traditional Tune Hour (a dance contest)
Floats

Yugawara Onsen Seaside Fireworks Display

Dates Saturday, August 3rd (rain date: Tuesday, August 6th)
Time  20:00  – 20:20
 Venue   the Yugawara Kaihin Park
 Scheduled number of fireworks  About 2,000