Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 湯河原温泉 湯かけまつり
• Yugawara Hot Spring Water Sprinkling Festival (Yukake Matsuri)

History

The Yukake Matsuri（湯かけまつり, yukake matsuri）is one of the most well-known symbols of 湯河原温泉（ゆがわらおんせん, Yugawara Onsen）, a historic hot spring resort located in the city of 湯河原町（ゆがわらまち, Yugawara-machi, Kanagawa 神奈川県, Kanagawa-ken）. Its origin is generally linked to the Edo period（江戸時代, Edo jidai）: it reenacts a ritual related to 献湯（けんとう, kentō）, the sending of hot spring water in barrels to daimyō（大名, daimyō）and official residences. At the departure of the mikoshi, hot water was sprinkled for a purification rite（お祓い, oharai）and to pray for safe travels（道中安全, dōchū anzen）.

Over time, this gesture became the hallmark of the festival: the public, gathered along the route, massively sprinkles the mikoshi with hot spring water (温泉の湯, onsen no yu) to express gratitude (感謝, kansha) and protection (無病息災, mubyō soku-sai). The Yukake Matsuri is also closely linked to a fire ritual, the 御箸まつり（みはしまつり, Mihashi Matsuri）, where chopsticks (箸, hashi) are burned in prayer for health and abundance (五穀豊穣, gokoku hōjō). Today, the event is conceived as a participatory festival: “come with a bucket” and get soaked is part of the experience.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: hot spring district of 湯河原温泉（ゆがわらおんせん, Yugawara Onsen）, with a mikoshi parade (神輿パレード, mikoshi parēdo) from start to finish.
• Address:
  Start: 〒259-0314 Kanagawa Prefecture, Ashigarashimo District, Yugawara Town, Miyakami 623-1 (Town Yugawara Art Museum)
  Romanization: 623-1 Miyakami, Yugawara-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 259-0314
  Finish: 〒413-0001 Shizuoka Prefecture, Atami City, Izumi Aza Shiotsubo 72-1 and surroundings (Izumi Park)
  Romanization: 72-1 Aza Shiotsubo, Izumi, Atami-shi, Shizuoka 413-0001
• Access: from JR 湯河原駅（ゆがわらえき, Yugawara-eki）, bus to 奥湯河原（おくゆがわら, Oku-Yugawara）or 不動滝（ふどうだき, Fudōdaki）; get off at 美術館前（びじゅつかんまえ, Bijutsukan-mae）for the start. For the finish, stops nearby depending on the line (e.g., 道中（どうちゅう, Dōchū）area) then a short walk.
• Date: late May, generally the 4th Saturday of May（5月第4土曜, gogatsu dai-yon doyō）in the evening. Recent example: May 24, 2025.
  

Schedule

The Yukake Matsuri mainly takes place over one evening, in a very “onsen-gai” (温泉街, onsen-gai) atmosphere. The goal is not just to watch: people come to participate, encourage the carriers (担ぎ手, katsugite) and symbolically “offer” the hot spring water to the mikoshi for protection and luck.

At the opening, there is the 御箸まつり（みはしまつり, Mihashi Matsuri）ritual and its lighting ceremony（火入れ式, hiire-shiki）, a very photogenic moment that anchors the festival in a dimension of prayer (無病息災, mubyō soku-sai; 五穀豊穣, gokoku hōjō). Then starts the mikoshi procession (神輿パレード, mikoshi parēdo): departing from the 町立湯河原美術館（ちょうりつゆがわらびじゅつかん, Chōritsu Yugawara Bijutsukan）, the mikoshi move through the district, pass through the 万葉公園（まんようこうえん, Manyō Kōen) area and finish at 泉公園（いずみこうえん, Izumi Kōen）.

The “highlight” of the festival is the extravagance of the water sprinkling: along the route, barrels (樽, taru) and buckets (桶, oke) are used to throw hot spring water onto the mikoshi. Dedicated zones, such as the お湯かぶりエリア（おゆかぶりエリア, oyu-kaburi eria）, literally turn the street into a shower of hot water. Result: carriers and spectators end up soaked, and this is precisely what makes the Yukake Matsuri famous.

Practical Tips

Photos

This is a night festival with splashing: favor a fast setting (high shutter speed) and raise the ISO without hesitation. Protect your equipment with a rain cover (or a simple well-secured plastic bag), and consider a lens hood to limit drops on the lens. The best moments: the passages in the お湯かぶりエリア（oyu-kaburi eria）and the arrival at 泉公園（Izumi Kōen）.

Weather

Late May in Yugawara: often mild, but the air can be cool after 8 p.m., especially in the valley bottom. Since you will get wet, opt for quick-drying clothes and a light warm layer for afterwards (thin jacket). Also be mindful of the feeling: humid + wet = you cool down quickly.

Transport

Buses from Yugawara-eki（湯河原駅, Yugawara-eki）are the simplest solution. Expect traffic controls and sometimes traffic restrictions (交通規制, kōtsū kisei) during the parade. If possible, arrive a bit early to scout the passing points and your return route.

Visitor Tips

If you want to participate, find out where to get/hold a bucket (桶, oke) and position yourself near the “active” zones. To stay comfortable, aim for the edges of the crowd rather than the most crowded points, and keep your belongings (phone, papers) in a waterproof pouch. A simple word for the atmosphere: がんばって！（ganbatte）to the carriers always works.

What to Bring

Poncho or waterproof jacket, towel (タオル, taoru), waterproof phone cover, change of clothes, sandals or shoes that don’t mind water, and a small bag with closure. Bonus: a large plastic bag to isolate wet items on the way back.

Sources & References

• 湯河原温泉 Official Tourism Site: 2025/5/24 (Sat) Yukake Matsuri

  Official page: date 2025, origin (献湯神輿, お祓い), description (barrels, buckets, amount of hot water) and photos.

• Kanagawa Prefecture Official Tourism: May 24, 2025 (Sat) Yugawara Onsen Yukake Matsuri

  Event sheet: rule “usually 4th Saturday of May”, access (bus from 湯河原駅), start/finish points.