Hakone Daimyo Procession

About

On November 3, Japan's Culture Day, a feudal lord's procession of more than 170 people fills the hot spring town of Hakone-Yumoto. Spear bearers lead the way, swinging plumed lances and calling 'shita ni, shita ni' to clear the road, along the old Tokaido highway that genuine daimyo processions once used and through the town's streets. Toward the back, porters shouldering storage chests sing kumosuke work songs, bringing back the feel of Edo-era road travel. Yumoto's geisha and the Odawara Hojo musketeers join in, and the hills are usually turning red. In 2026 it opens with a ceremony at the site of the former local products hall, gives its first show on Ajisai Bridge outside Hakone-Yumoto Station, then heads along Taki-dori and Route 1. It was created in 1935 for a tourism exposition, with the spear moves learned from Matsuda.

Sources

• OfficialHakone-Yumoto Tourist Association www.hakoneyumoto.com
• OfficialHakone Town Tourist Association www.hakone.or.jp
• OfficialKanagawa Tourism Association www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.