Smoking Ban in Kanagawa

It seems that the governor of Kanagawa is proposing a prefecture wide ban on smoking in public and state facilities and requiring separate smoking areas in restaurants and hotels. His original proposal was even more severe, completely banning smoking in public facilities and other places, including stores, restaurants, bars and pachinko parlors but I he gave up on that because of objections from local businesses. The Japan Times posted that the ordinance may not be approved because some members of the the assembly are taking a cautious stance on the health hazards presented by passive smoking. (Maybe they have relatives working for Japan Tobacco. Wink, wink.) Anyway. it’s good news for us Yokohama residents because even if it doesn’t go through this time the proposal is out there and it will surely make a comeback.

Source: Japan Times

Sagami Odako Matsuri

The Sagami Giant Kite Festival is held in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture during golden week. It is usually held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 5th and 6th. O-Dako loosely translates as large kite. There are many kite festivals held throughout Japan but this is one of the more spectacular ones.

You will be able to see five or six kites measuring up to and over 14 metres squared and weighing almost a ton take flight by the banks of the Sagami river. Its quite an amazing sight and it takes many men to control them. The kites are all handmade in the traditional style using bamboo for the framework and some pretty sturdy japanese paper as material. At the end of the festival the largest of the kites is set afire.

This festival has been held since 1830 and while there are many such festivals around Japan this one is famous for the sheer size of the kites.

How to get there
From Yokohama Station, take the Sotetsu Line to Ebina Station and then change to the JR Sagami Line to Sobudaishita Station. It should take less than 60 minutes including transfer. From Sobudaishita you can either take the shuttle bus or walk for about 20 minutes. Just follow the crowd.
Train timetables.