Spring is right around the corner, and what better way to usher in the season of life than to admire the cherry blossom trees?

While it is still early into the blooming season with only a third of the blossoms in bloom at the start, the cherry blossom light up at Matsugasaki Park has begun for all visitors to check out!

Feel free to stop by and have a look!

Light Up Period

7th April 2023 (Friday) ~ early-May

Time

6:00 pm ~ 9:00 pm

Location

The eastern and southern sides of the moat by the Matsugasaki Park (74 lights used in total)

Contact

City Planning Division of Yonezawa City Hall
TEL: 0238-22-5111
 

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다음 주부터、요네자와에서도 벚꽃이 피고 아름다운 풍경이 펼쳐집니다！4월10일 전후에 피어서、그 5～6일 후、만개될 예정입니다。우에스기 진자 신사의 마쓰가사키 공원에 200그루의 벚꽃을 밤에 라이트업 하니까、꼭 가보십시오 ！

라이트업：

　기간：벚꽃의 개화 상황에 따라 4월 중순～5월 중순 예정

　언제：18：00～21：00

　어디：마쓰가사키 공원・우에스기 진자 신사（요네자와시 마루노우치 １쵸메４−１３）

　자세한 정보・사진：https://yonezawa.info/log/?l=231953　（요네자와 관광 컨벤션 협회）

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下周，米泽市将迎来樱花季节。开花预想时间是4月10日前后，大概在4月15日到4月16日左右，樱花将会满开。上杉神社的松岬公园内有200棵樱花树木将迎来美丽的樱花季节。在此期间，还可以一起欣赏被美丽的灯光点缀的夜樱。一定不要错过啊！

灯光点缀时期：

　期间：将根据樱花开花状况，灯光点缀预计在4月中旬～5月中旬

　时间：18：00～21：00

　地点：松岬公園・上杉神社（米沢市丸之内１丁目４−１３）

　详细信息・照片欣赏：https://yonezawa.info/log/?l=231953　（米沢観光协议会）

The key castle ruins in the various municipalities of Date Masamune’s birthplace, Okitama, are known together as the 48 Date Castles of Okitama. Take a walk along the castles while also basking in the sight of Okitama’s flowers with the upcoming Flower and Date Castle Walk from May to July!

The tours will be led by local guides, so feel free to join even if you have never been to these sites! The castles will also distribute gojoin stamps only to participants. These stamps are something like a proof of visit obtained at castles in Japan and they are very much like the goshuin stamps received at shrines.

Discover a piece of Okitama’s past with this campaign!

Castle Tour in Yonezawa

Peek over at Yonezawa from the Date clan’s Tateyama Castle ruins and Mount Onariyama!

Tateyama Castle was an important mountain castle to the Date clan. Have a look at the sprawling earthworks on the compound along with the stone walls encircling it. You can also enjoy the sight of Yonezawa which Date Masamune himself had also seen!

* Please be dressed in clothing suitable for trekking, as you will be ascending two mountains during this tour.

Date: 10th June 2023 (Saturday)

Meeting Location: JR Nishi Yonezawa Station

Meeting Time: 10:40 am

Duration: about 4 hours 30 minutes

Maximum participants: 20

Deadline for Signups: 3rd June 2023 (Saturday)

Key destinations: Tateyama Castle Ruins, Mt. Onariyama Park (Lunch spot)

* Please pack your own lunch.

Contact

Please contact the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau at 0238-21-6226 (Japanese) to sign up for the tours or to make an inquiry.

Please also refer to the flyer for other tour routes.
 

The Battle of Kawanakajima is the highlight of the Uesugi Festival which draws crowds from all over the country to watch the warriors fight it out right before their very eyes. For those who wish to have a clear and comfortable view of the battle scene, this is your chance to get ahold of reserved seating at the venue! Spend your morning doing some sightseeing instead of scrambling for the best vantage points ahead of time.

Bear witness to an open view of the duel between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, the feared matchlocks of the Uesugi clan, and the clash between 800 warriors!

Date: 3rd May 2023 (Wednesday, national holiday)
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: Matsukawa Riverbed, Yonezawa City (Battle of Kawanakajima venue)

How to Purchase

Price: 2,000 yen per pax (tax inclusive)
※ A souvenir and drink is included in the ticket price.

Advance sales tickets for the Battle of Kawanakajima will be sold via Rakuten Ticket (Japanese) this year!

Please note that you require a Rakuten ID to purchase tickets on Rakuten Ticket.

-    Young children may watch the battle for free if they are seated on their caregiver’s lap. However, a ticket will be required if the child obstructs the view for neighbouring spectators.
-    Seats are divided by area. When purchasing tickets, you may only select the area in which your seats will be located.
-    Please collect your tickets personally at the convenience store and bring them with you on the day of the event.
※　Please understand that we are unable to reissue tickets or assist with unclaimed tickets.

Sale period: 1st April 2023 (Saturday) 9:00 am ~ 2nd May 2023 (Tuesday) 11:59 pm

Tickets will also be sold on-site from 10:00 am on 3rd May 2023, at the reserved seating admission area (Matsukawa Riverbed, Yonezawa City)

※    Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
※    Ticket sales will end once they are sold out.

Notes

-    Please have your ticket verified by the staff by 1:00 pm
-    Tickets will be taken in exchange for the souvenir and drink.
-    The event will proceed as usual in the event of rain, but it will be cancelled under severe weather conditions.
-    We are unable to provide refunds if the event is cancelled due to poor weather conditions, natural disasters or for ticket cancellations. However, the souvenir will be delivered to all ticket holders via post.

Contact

Please contact the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau at 0238-21-6226 (Japanese).
 

The Uesugi Festival is looking for participants to join the ranks of Uesugi Kenshin’s army procession and to reenact the Battle of Kawanakajima!

The very highlight of the festival itself, the battle is an unforgettable experience you’d definitely not want to miss!

Registration Details

As a participant, you will don samurai armor and participate in the Uesugi army procession and the reenactment of the Battle of Kawanakajima.

Event Date: 3rd May 2023 (Wednesday, national holiday)
Event Duration: 8:00 am ~ 4:00 pm
Participation fee: 5,000 yen (Inclusive of clothing, accessories, lunch, insurance, souvenir, etc.)

Participation Requirements:
1.    You must be at least 18 years old and have confidence in your physical ability. (Gender does not matter)
2.    Participants must be healthy and fit.
※    Participants who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fatigue, headache, runny nose, etc.) on the event day are advised to stay at home.

Number of Participants: 50 (If the number of signups outnumber the number of spaces available, participants will be determined by ballot.)

Responsibilities: 4 participants will act as vice-captains, and the remaining participants will act as foot soldiers. Roles are determined by ballot on the day itself.

Please note that the activity may be postponed or cancelled based on the events leading up to day it is held.

How to Register

Registration Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

Please read through the recruitment details carefully, and fill in the registration form (PDF). Mail it to the address below. If you will be bringing your own set of armor, please enclose pictures of it with your form.

※    Submissions that were mailed out before the registration deadline (22nd March 2023) will be accepted even if they arrive after the deadline.
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052
Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 
TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  
Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp

Contact

Uesugi Festival’s Uesugi Army Procession and Battle of Kawanakajima Armored Warriors Representative
Yonezawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TEL：0238-21-5111
 

Relive the experience of an armored warrior preparing for battle on 2nd May 2023!

Uesugi Kenshin engaged in the buteishiki rituals for the purpose of praying to the gods for victory and protection for his army. The buteishiki preservation society endeavors to ensure that the reenactment is faithful to its historical counterpart, and to preserve the integrity of the rites handed down to each subsequent generation.

Take a leap through time back to the Sengoku era with over an hour of showcases including the Uesugi taiko drum performance, Uesugi gunmen firing display, and the sacred Gotensui morale-boosting ritual.

What better way to understand history than to immerse yourself in it?

Recruitment Details

As a participant, you will put on samurai armor and participate in the buteishiki and buteishiki procession.

Reenactment Date: 2nd May 2023 (Tuesday)

Participation Duration: 12:00 pm ~ 8:30 pm

Schedule

12:00 pm – Gather at the changing area
1:00 pm ~ 3:00 pm – Rehearsal (Snacks will be distributed after the rehearsal concludes)
4:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm – Buteishiki procession
6:30 pm ~ 7:30 pm – Buteishiki (Change out of the armor after the ritual is complete at about 8:00 pm)
※    Please have your lunch before meeting at 12:00 pm.

Participation Fee: Free (Clothing, accessories, snacks, and insurance are provided)

Participation Requirements:

1.    You must be at least 18 years old and have confidence in your physical ability. (Gender does not matter)
2.    Participants must be healthy and fit.
※    Participants who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fatigue, headache, runny nose, etc.) on the event day are advised to stay at home.
※    Participants can also sign up to be armored warriors for the Battle of Kawanakajima reenactment on 3rd May 2023.

Number of Participants: 24 (Signups will close once this number is met)

Responsibilities: You will act as soldier with the role of flagbearer or torchbearer. Roles will be assigned by the Uesugi Festival Organisation Committee.

Notes

1.    Registered participants will be contacted with further details at a later date.
2.    Participants involved in the procession are strongly advised to bring their own jika-tabi footwear if possible.
3.    The activity may be postponed or cancelled based on the events leading up to day it is held.

Registration/Contact

Registration Period: 1st March 2023 (Wednesday) ~ 22nd March 2023 (Wednesday)

How to Register:

Registration is done on a first-come-first-served basis. Once the target number of participants is met, registration will be closed.

Please read through the recruitment details carefully, and fill in the registration form (PDF). Fax, mail, or email your form to:
※    The form can also be downloaded from the Uesugi Festival website.

1-4-13 Marunouchi, Yonezawa-shi 〒992-0052
Yonezawa Shiki no Matsuri Committee (part of the Yonezawa Tourism & Convention Bureau) 
TEL：0238-22-9607　FAX： 0238-22-2042  
Email：sikinomaturi@yahoo.co.jp