Kakegawa Festival

The fall festival in Kakegawa (掛川祭) is famous for its performances, “yatai” floats, and lion dance. The Grand Festival takes place only once every three years, the next being in 2012, with performers from each town dancing in procession. The Kakegawa Matsuri “yatai” are two-wheeled floats, the fronts of which contain a stage for Japanese orchestra or taiko performances. The “yatai” are most famous for the “Tegiawase” and “Tekka”, when rows of “yatai” pass by each other while the “Hyoshigi” wooden clappers and the music beat the tempo. The lion dance is also famous. These large lions require many tens of people to operate, and even the smallest can easily fill up the road.