January 2008 events at a glance

So many activities, so little time! Check out what is happening near you.

Note: Event specifics may change between when we post them here and when they actually occur, so we recommend verifying details of any event before going.

Note: In case the monthly events list doesn't get updated on time or at all, we advise you to look at the same month's events list of previous years. Many events have been going on for years now so check them out to get an idea. You can also click on the external link provided above if you can understand Japanese. We wish you a good time in Ibaraki.

Month Date Event Event (Japanese) Place Contact
Jan ‑3 First Visit to the Shrine of the Year: "Making Resolutions" 牛久大仏初詣「修正会」 Ushiku Daibutsu, Ushiku-shi TEL 029‑889‑2931
Jan All month Fukuroda Falls Light-Up 袋田冬の滝ライトアップ Fukuroda Falls, Daigo-machi TEL 02957‑2‑0285
Jan 1‑14 Light Art Gallery KASAMA光のアート・ギャラリー２００７ Kashima Jingū Shrine surroundings, Kashima-shi TEL 0299‑82‑2911
Jan ‑15 Art Tower Mito Starlight Fantasy 2007 スターライトファンタジー2007アートタワーみとスターライトファンタジー Mito Station Nth Exit and Art Tower, Mito-shi TEL 029‑224‑1111
Jan ‑Feb 2 Light Pageant 光のページャントINたかはぎ２００７ Takahagi Station West Exit's Rotary, Takahagi-shi TEL 0293‑22‑2103
Jan ‑Feb 14 Brilliant Ville Ushiku ブリアントヴィルうしく Ushiku Station East and West Exit, Chateau Street, Ushiku-shi TEL 029‑873‑2111
Jan 1 First Visit to the Shrine of the Year 初詣 All Shrines in Ibaraki Prefecture TEL 029‑226‑3800
Jan 1 New Year's Omikoshi 元旦神輿渡御 Takahama Beach, Takahagi-shi TEL 0293‑23‑7316
Jan 1 New Year's Festival 一言主神社元旦祭 Hitokotonushi Shrine, Jōsō-shi TEL 0297‑27‑0659
Jan 1‑3 First Morning of the Year's Great "Goma" Buddhist Ritual (including cedar-stick burning) 元朝大護摩法要 Amabiki-Kannon, Sakuragawa-shi TEL 0296‑58‑5009
Jan 1 New Year's "Shihō-Hai" Ritual 元旦四方拝 Izumo-Taisha, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑74‑3000
Jan 1‑6 8th New Year's Kiln Market 第8回 彩初窯市 Craft Hills, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑70‑1313
Jan 1‑6 New Year's Festival かねみ公園正月まつり Kamine Park, Hitachi-shi TEL 0294‑22‑4737
Jan 2‑6 "Dachō Ōkoku" Kingdom of Ostriches: Chicken Festival ダチョウ王国　ヒヨコ祭り Dachō Ōkoku Kingdom of Ostriches, Ishioka-shi TEL 0299‑23‑2244
Jan 2‑21 Winter Rose Festival 冬バラまつり Ibaraki Flower Park, Ishioka-shi TEL 0299‑42‑4111
Jan 3 "Daruma Goma" Ritual だるま護摩 Anraku Shrine, Mitsukaidō, Jōsō-shi TEL 0297‑24‑1533
Jan 4 Firefighters' New Year's Ceremony 消防団出初式 Inari Shrine, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑73‑0001
Jan 5 Groundbreaking Festival 釿始祭 Inari Shrine, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑73‑0001
Jan 6 "Dezome-shiki" or New Year's Firefighters' Event 出初式 Shopping District, Takigasaki-shi TEL 0297‑64‑1111
Jan 6 New Year's Greetings 年賀祭 Onogo Tenmangu Shrine, Jōsō-shi TEL 0297‑24‑1739
Jan 7 White Horse Festival 白馬際 Kashima Jingū Shrine, Kashima-shi TEL 0299‑82‑1209
Jan 11 Awakening Festival/Driving Out Evil Spirits Festival おめざめ際・追儺際 Oyashiro Shrine, Shimotsuma-shi TEL 0296‑43‑5460
Jan 12‑Feb 14 Winter Peony Tree Festival 冬の牡丹祭り Tsukuba Peony Park, Tsukuba-shi TEL 029‑876‑3660
Jan 13 Bird Catching Festival きららの里鳥追いまつり Oku-Hitachi Kirara-No-Sato, Hitachi-shi TEL 0294‑24‑2424
Jan 14 40st Tone River Kite Flying Festival/38th Tone River New Year's Fire Festival 第40回 とりで利根川たこあげ大会第37回 とりで利根川どんどまつり Ryokuchi Sports Park, Toride-shi TEL 0297‑74‑2141
Jan 14 Sakai-Daruma Market だるま市 Main Street, Chikusei-shi TEL 0296‑20‑1160
Jan 14 Driving off evil with "Hamayumi" (a bow-and-arrow technique worthy of the gods) はねつき神事・破魔弓神事 Hachimangū, Mito-shi TEL 029‑221‑5327
Jan 14 Ushiku Marathon 牛久シティマラソン Sports Park, Ushiku-shi TEL 029‑836‑1111
Jan 15 "Kosatsu Enjō" Festival (prayer-board bonfire) 古札炎上祭 Inari Shrine, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑73‑0001
Jan 20 大寒みそぎ "Daikan-Misogi" Purification Ceremony Kashima Jingū Shrine, Kashima-shi TEL 0299‑82‑1209
Jan 25 Hatsudenjin 初天神 Onogo Tenmangu Shrine, Jōsō-shi TEL 0297‑24‑1739
Jan 26‑Mar 3 Peach banquet/Ceramic doll exhibition 桃宴〜陶の雛展 Ceramic shops, Kasama-shi TEL 0296‑70‑1313
Jan 27 56th Katsuta National Marathon 第55回勝田全国マラソン大会 Hitachinaka-shi TEL 029‑273‑0111
Jan End Kite Flying Festival たこあげ大会 Comprehensive Sports Park, Tsukubamirai-shi TEL 0297‑58‑2111