Private day trip · Day trip from Tokyo
From Tokyo: Hamamatsu Kite Festival Customizable Tour
See the Hamamatsu Matsuri kite battles on 3 to 5 May, when teams fly giant kites by the sea and try to cut each other's strings.
Private · your group only◆12 hours◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
Every year from 3 to 5 May, Hamamatsu in Shizuoka holds the Hamamatsu Matsuri. Its most famous part is the kite battle near the Nakatajima Sand Dunes. Neighbourhood teams fly huge kites by the sea and try to cut the strings of their rivals by rubbing lines together. Trumpets play, teams chant and the sky fills with kites.
This private day trip takes you from Tokyo to the kite field. Watching is free, and you can walk among the teams and see the kites up close. Your guide explains the traditions behind each team's kite.
You also visit Hamamatsu Castle Park, and you can try unagi (grilled eel), the famous local dish, for lunch. The kites carry the crest of each town district, and many are flown to celebrate the birth of a first child in the neighbourhood, a custom that goes back centuries. In the afternoon the field is at its loudest, with teams running across the sand to pull their kites higher.
This is a private tour. Only your group. Your group of 1 to 6 people rides in one van with one English-speaking driver-guide, who also speaks Hindi and Urdu. No other guests ever join.
The tour runs only on 3, 4 and 5 May. It takes about 12 hours, with around 3.5 hours of driving each way. Crowds are large and some roads close, and your guide plans the parking and walking for you.
If the kite battle is cancelled on your date because of weather, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit Hamamatsu Castle and the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, entry included.
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Watch giant kite battles near the Nakatajima Sand Dunes
- See teams try to cut rival kite strings in the sky
- Walk among the teams and see the kites up close
- Visit Hamamatsu Castle Park, Tokugawa Ieyasu's early castle
- Try unagi, Hamamatsu's famous grilled eel
Said plainly
Dates: 3, 4 and 5 May only. Viewing is free, so no ticket is needed The kite field is sandy and windy. Wear good shoes and bring sun protection Expect heavy holiday traffic and crowds. The day is about 12 hours If the kite battle is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit Hamamatsu Castle and the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments, entry included
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Watch giant kite battles near the Nakatajima Sand Dunes
See teams try to cut rival kite strings in the sky
Walk among the teams and see the kites up close
Visit Hamamatsu Castle Park, Tokugawa Ieyasu's early castle
Try unagi, Hamamatsu's famous grilled eel
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Festival viewing (free to watch)
- Hamamatsu Castle entry
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Optional unagi lunch
- Optional festival food and souvenirs
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
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From¥85,000
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