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March 16, 2024 Hokuriku Shinkansen opens between Kanazawa and Tsuruga! Kanazaki Shrine, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Tsuruga, romantic flower exchange festival
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The Hanakae Festival is a festival that has been passed down at Kanegasaki Shrine in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, and is usually held from late March to early April. We will introduce a romantic festival where men and women who visited Kanazaki Shrine to view the cherry blossoms said to each othe...
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Table of Contents
- Access to Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture
- What is Kanazaki Shrine?
- What is the Flower Exchange Festival?
- How do you change flowers?
- Kanazaki Shrine is the "Shrine of Love"
- 2024 Dates
- How to get to Kanazaki Shrine
- How to enjoy the Flower Change Festival
- Kanazaki Shrine Flower Exchange Festival (Details)
- For an introduction to Tsuruga's recommended gourmet foods, please click here.
- Please click here for an introduction to recommended sightseeing spots in Tsuruga.
Access to Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture
Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, known as a railway and port town, will finally open the Hokuriku Shinkansen in Fukui Prefecture on March 16, 2024. It can be accessed from Tokyo without changing trains. Enjoy romantic festivals and cherry blossom viewing in Tsuruga, which is now more easily accessible.
What is Kanazaki Shrine?
Located in Kanagasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, the deity worshipped here is said to bring good luck and happiness in love, overcome obstacles, and bring about good fortune and wealth.
It is famous as the palace of overcoming obstacles and love.
What is the Flower Exchange Festival?
We will introduce a romantic festival where men and women who came to Kanazaki Shrine to view the cherry blossoms would say to each other, "Let's exchange flowers," and express their feelings by exchanging cherry blossom twigs. It is said that couples who exchange flowers will be blessed with happiness in the future.
During the period, there will also be events such as a flower exchange ceremony with the lucky girls, night cherry blossom illuminations, a raffle with local specialties to win, and a flower exchange ritual (held on weekends).
How do you change flowers?
We will introduce the procedure for the Flower Change Festival.
1⃣ The main character of this ritual is the "cherry blossom twig." On the twig is a paper for the Hana-gaeshi festival, a small votive plaque, and a charm. The artificial flower itself is the charm. To participate in the Hana-gaeshi, you must first receive this artificial flower, the "cherry blossom twig," at the gift shop (located in the shrine office). (First offering fee: 500 yen)
2⃣ Next, pray at the main shrine. (You may receive the cherry blossom branch after praying.)
3⃣ Exchange a cherry blossom twig with the Fuku Musume at the building next to the main shrine. At this time, put your wishes and feelings into the cherry blossom twig and ask the Fuku Musume to exchange it for a new flower . The Fuku Musume acts as a mediator between the gods and worshippers, so exchanging with the Fuku Musume is an exchange with the gods. Before exchanging with the Fuku Musume, entrust your wish for the gods to the cherry blossom twig (wishes don't have to be about love. Put your own wish into it). When the cherry blossom twig is returned to you, it will become a talisman filled with your wishes.
4⃣ After exchanging with a Fukumusume, you can exchange with friends, family, couples, or even strangers. It is said that the more you exchange "sakura twigs," the more happiness you will have.
5⃣ Once you have taken home the cherry blossom twig, please offer it at your front door, on your Shinto altar, or somewhere close to someone you care about.
Kanazaki Shrine is the "Shrine of Love"
It is said that the Hana-gae Festival began in the 1900s. At the time, there were few opportunities for men and women to start dating, so the Hana-gae Festival was the perfect place and opportunity to make connections. Taking the flowers received at the shrine, you would go to the person you wanted to meet and ask, "Let's exchange flowers." If the person you wanted was yours, they would reply, "Let's exchange flowers," and exchange flowers, and thus begin their relationship. If it didn't work out, perhaps they would say, "I'm sorry"...? And before long, Kanazaki Shrine came to be known as the "Shrine of Love." After the war, it changed from a place to match men and women to a shrine where people pray for relationships, but many young people still visit every year.
This "Hana-gae Festival," which is said to bring happiness, is held for about 10 days when the cherry blossoms in the grounds of this shrine are in full bloom. During this period, people exchange cherry blossom branches that are given to them, imbuing them with their thoughts, wishes, and happiness, in order to share and complement each other's happiness and thoughts, and to pray for good fortune regardless of age or gender. The origins of this festival are unclear, but many cherry trees have been planted around the grounds of this shrine since its founding, and as the trees grew, many people probably coined the phrase "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing). It is said that this festival began when the cherry blossoms bloomed, and many visitors, as well as the general public, came to enjoy hanami (cherry blossom viewing).
2024 Dates
The event will be held from Saturday, March 30th to Tuesday, April 9th.
The flower change will take place from 10am to 4pm.
We plan a variety of events, mainly on weekends, such as readings and mock weddings.
For details, please check the official website. *The event contents may be subject to change.
How to get to Kanazaki Shrine
・Take the community bus "Matsubara Line" from JR Tsuruga Station and get off at "Kanazakimiyaguchi". The journey takes about 6 minutes. The fare is 200 yen.
From JR Tsuruga Station, take the Tsuruga sightseeing bus and get off at "Kanazakimiya." The journey takes about 8 minutes and costs 200 yen.
・About 10 minutes by car from Tsuruga IC on the Hokuriku Expressway
How to enjoy the Flower Change Festival
During the cherry blossom season in 2024, the Hokuriku Shinkansen will be extended to Tsuruga Station, so the area is expected to be bustling with visitors.
With the start of a new Tsuruga, the romantic Kanazaki Shrine Flower Exchange Festival will be held with the motto (love word?) "Let's exchange flowers."
Why not try starting a new romance?
Kanazaki Shrine Flower Exchange Festival (Details)
・Dates: Saturday, March 30th to Tuesday, April 9th.
Location: 1-4 Kanagasakicho, Tsuruga City
・Nearest station: JR Tsuruga Station (about 8 minutes by bus)
For an introduction to Tsuruga's recommended gourmet foods, please click here.
Please click here for an introduction to recommended sightseeing spots in Tsuruga.
Written by
Fukui
On March 16, 2024, the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened between Kanazawa Station and Tsuruga Station. Tsuruga Station will be the terminus from both the Tokyo and Kansai areas, and is attracting a lot of attention. Tsuruga is a city of railways and ports, and the Shinkansen opened in the town where the first railway ran on the Sea of Japan side, so it is popular among people other than railway fans. There are many tourist spots scattered around, and after the opening of the mountain-side Japan Heritage Old Hokuriku Line Tunnels Heritage Group, the direct train "Europe-Asia International Express" ran to Tsuruga Port, which developed into one of the leading international ports on the Sea of Japan side. We will continue to offer route buses and tour plans, such as new tourist routes of Japan Heritage on the sea side along the Tsuruga Port Line. Come and go on a trip with exciting experiences beyond your imagination.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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