murmurOdawara Hojo Godai Festival
Odawara City · Odawara Castle Park and central Odawara
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Odawara Tourist Association · Last checked: Oct 11, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Sun, May 3, 2026 （Ended） Opening ceremony from 11:00; samurai parade about 12:20–14:10 (held in light rain, cancelled in stormy weather)
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually early May
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Dates are announced each year
- Venue
- Odawara Castle Park and central Odawara
- City
- Odawara City, Kanagawa
About
Odawara's largest tourist event sends a procession of 1,600 people through the city center in honor of the five generations of the Hojo clan, who ruled the Kanto region from Odawara Castle in the Warring States period. Warriors portraying the Hojo lords lead the way, followed by school brass bands, music corps and portable shrines. First comes a departure ceremony at Odawara Castle Park, with Hojo taiko drumming, an opening ceremony and a call to arms acted out with galloping horses, conch shells and matchlock guns. Performances also pop up around the park and along the route. Its 62nd festival in 2026 included events marking 10 years of sister-city ties between Odawara, Hachioji and Yorii, home castles of the three Hojo brothers. It gets very crowded, and there is no paid seating.
Sources
- OfficialOdawara Tourist Association www.odawara-kankou.com
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.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.