Hamamatsu pairs daytime kite events at Nakatajima with decorated goten-yatai floats in the city at night. These are separate sites, so seeing both means planning transport between them.
Hamamatsu Festival dates
Usually May 3–5
Usual annual timing
Dates and times use JST. Usual timing is not a confirmed next-edition schedule. Read the organiser’s programme for start times, tickets, postponements and cancellations.
Where to watch
Hamamatsu · 浜松
Enshunada coastal park at Nakatajima and central streets north of Hamamatsu Station
中田島凧揚げ会場・市中心部
Kites fly at the Nakatajima field in Enshunada Seaside Park. Night floats use streets north of Hamamatsu Station, including Kajimachi-dori and Hirokoji-dori.
The directions below use one representative location, not every venue entrance or the complete procession route. Use the official venue map for your ticket or programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Nagoya to Hamamatsu. The city float area is near the station; use the edition’s bus or shuttle instructions for Nakatajima.
Planning your visit
Treat the coast and city as two stops, with a transfer between the kite programme and evening floats.
This is an editorial travel suggestion, not a claim of a personal visit or a guarantee of the programme. When travelling from Canada, use your Japan arrival date to select the festival day.
What to look for
- Coastal kite flying
- Decorated night floats
- Neighborhood celebrations
History and traditions
A story traces the tradition to kite flying for a lord's first son's birth about 450 years ago. It remains linked to celebrating first children.
Photo: sakuzayama · Public domain. Original or supplied reduced image; no additional edits. See the original file for its date and context.
Nearby places to consider
Hamamatsu Castle · 浜松城
A reconstructed keep and park associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Visit on a separate daytime slot, allowing for slopes before the evening float events.
The description and suggested visit refer to the first attraction listed. Other links are separate nearby options; festival traffic and opening hours may affect your plans.
Hamamatsu Festival questions
When is Hamamatsu Festival?
Usually May 3–5. Usual annual timing is not confirmation of the next edition.
How do I reach Hamamatsu Festival by public transport?
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Nagoya to Hamamatsu. The city float area is near the station; use the edition’s bus or shuttle instructions for Nakatajima.
Are the kites and floats at the same venue?
No. The kite events are at Nakatajima, while the evening float procession is in central Hamamatsu. Check festival bus or shuttle times to connect them.
Official programme and sources
- Official reference · hamamatsu-daisuki.net ↗
- Official reference · www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp ↗
- Official reference · hamamatsu-daisuki.net ↗
- Official reference · www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp ↗
Shared source records reviewed October 3, 2026. Some official pages are in Japanese. JapanLiveNow’s English guide is independently edited; the organiser’s latest announcement takes precedence.