Kanagawa/Yokohama DC Special Event: Yugawara 'Yukake Matsuri' Experiential Pre-Event 'You got water Fes!!' to be Held on Saturday, April 18, 2026!

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, ahead of Yugawara's traditional 'Yukake Matsuri' (Hot Water Splashing Festival), we will hold a hands-on pre-event called 'You got water Fes!! (Yugawara Fes)'.

This event is a participatory program themed around 'hot water' and 'hot spring culture,' which are symbols of Yugawara Onsen. It aims to allow both domestic and international visitors, including inbound tourists, to experience Japanese festival culture.

1. Background Yugawara, a historic hot spring resort mentioned in the Manyoshu, has flourished with its hot spring cure culture since ancient times and has been loved by travelers from home and abroad. The 'Yukake Matsuri,' held in conjunction with the Gosho Shrine Regular Festival, is a brave and unique event characteristic of hot spring resorts, where participants parade while splashing hot spring water on portable shrines (mikoshi). In recent years, with the growing interest in participating in local cultures and festivals, especially among foreign tourists visiting Japan, we planned this pre-event to offer the charms of the Yukake Matsuri in a safer, easier-to-understand, and multilingual manner. By carefully explaining the cultural background and manners, the event is designed to be enjoyable not only for Japanese participants but also for overseas visitors experiencing a Japanese festival for the first time.

2. Event Outline - Name: You got water Fes!! (Yugawara Fes) - Date & Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, from approx. 18:30 to 20:00 - Venue: Yugawara Onsen Soyu, Manyo Park / Entrance Terrace Front Plaza (details on the official DC site) - Organizer: Yugawara Onsen Tourism Association - Planning & PR: JR East View Tourism & Sales Co., Ltd. (Contractor for the Kanagawa-Yokohama Destination Promotion Council) - Participation Fee: 4,000 yen (tax included) * Payable at the reception on the day * Includes experience fee / hot bathing facility usage fee / insurance fee * Participants will receive an original towel featuring the 'Yukake Matsuri' and DC logos as a gift!

3. Clothing & Belongings (Important Notes) - Please bring tabi (Japanese socks) or marine shoes. * Regular sneakers are prone to coming off and may cause falls or injuries, so participation may be refused. - Please participate in clothes that you don't mind getting wet and that are not see-through. * You may get wet as it is a festival using hot spring water. * The ground may be slippery. - Please follow the instructions of the staff on the day to ensure safety.

4. Experience Program Details (60-90 minutes) - Historical explanation of the Yugawara Yukake Matsuri - Lecture on how to wear a happi coat - Instruction on how to carry a mikoshi (portable shrine) - Actual mikoshi carrying experience - After the experience...