Event Info

9th Ginza Willow Festival

The Ginza Willow Festival has been held on May 5th (Children’s Day) every year since 2006 to commemorate the completion of Nishi-Ginza Dori, planted with an orderly display of willow trees when it was designated as a symbolic road of Tokyo.
This year, we are putting on a parade and various events based on a theme of “connection,” so that everyone coming to Ginza to enjoy the Ginza Willow Festival can also experience the hospitality and communication that is distinctive of this district.
We hope that many people will come for the Ginza Willow Festival and leisurely enjoy this event that marks the start of early summer in Ginza.

EVENT INFORMATION

9th Ginza Willow Festival
Time & Date: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2015 (holiday) *Some events will be canceled in the event of rain
Location: Nishi-Ginza Dori, Sukiyabashi Park (2 locations)
Organizers: Ginza Association, Nishi Ginza Dori Association, 9th Ginza Willow Festival Planning Committee
Partners: Ginza Street Association, Tokyo Band Association
Auspices: Chuo City

Traffic regulations during the 9th Ginza Willow Festival
Traffic Regulation Map for the event　　Traffic Regulations Map for the parade

For members of the press
Information for media coverage on the day of the event

DETAILS ABOUT EVENTS

Traffic Safety Ginza Golden Parade　12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

Grand parade by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Band Association.
See the phenomenal performance of the brass band and the baton twirling team based on themes of traffic safety and connection.
Hello Kitty and Peko-chan will also make appearances on rickshaws. All are welcome for this grand parade that will let you see, feel, and experience the charms of Ginza.
*An opening ceremony will be held in front of the Marronnier gate starting at noon.

Scheduled participating organizations:
Hachiojigakuen Hachioji High School Wind Band, Kokushikan University Brass Band, Senshu University Wind Orchestra, Nihon University Symphonic Band, Joint Adachi City Junior High School Brass Band, Seiryo Symphonic & Marching Band, Nihon University Tsurugaoka Senior High School Brass Band & Color Guard, Shutoku High School Brass Band, Senshu Co. Senshu Wind Orchestra, Kokugakuin University Wind Orchestra, Soka Shining Spirits, Aoyama Gakuin University Student Union Wind Orchestra & Baton Twirling Club, Chuo City Municipal Nihonbashi Junior High School Brass Band, Musashino Junior Hgh School & Senior High School Marching Band, Joint Nerima City Junior/Senior High School Brass Band, Tokai University Philharmonic Wind Orchestra, Katsushika Symphonic Wind Orchestra & Marching Band Blazing Ranks, Rissho University Wind Orchestra, Soka Renaissance Vanguard Junior, Nihon University Sakuragaoka High School Brass and Marching Band, Nihon University Buzan High School Brass Band, Komazawa University High School Brass Band, Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin Brass Band & Baton Twirling Club (arbitrary order)
Location:
Nishi-Ginza Dori 1- to 8-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Concert Forest　11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Performance by about 15 top bands from the Tokyo Band Association at the 5-Chome Sukiyabashi Park. Enjoy a powerful performance up close.

Scheduled participating organizations:
Juntoku Girls’ High School Brass Band, Itabashi City Municipal Shimura Dai-yon Junior High School Brass Band, Itabashi City Municipal Akatsuka Dai-san Junior High School Brass Band, Adachi City Municipal Dai-ju-yon Junior High School Brass Band, Koshu City Shioyama Junior High School Brass Band, Ohnishi Junior and Senior High School Brass Band, Soka Gloria Wind Orchestra, Joint Tokyo Workplace Band Association Band, Daito University Wind Orchestra, Kokushikan University Brass Band, Senshu University Wind Orchestra, Nihon University Symphonic Band, Hachiojigakuen Hachioji High School Wind Band (arbitrary order)

Location:
5-Chome Sukiyabashi Park

Traditional Play Space 　11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A space for the whole family from kids to adults to enjoy together. There will be traditional toys like spinning tops and “kendama” ball and cups and an open air Go class offering experiences that are rare for modern children. There will also be appearances by Hello Kitty and Peko-chan who are loved by all.
Hello Kitty apperance: 2:30 and 4:00 p.m.
Peko-chan apperance: 3:00 and 4:30 p.m.

Location:
4-Chome Sukiyabashi Park

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Traditional Dance Space　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Powerful performance of traditional local dance. The Yosakoi performance that is a speacial feature every year is a major highlight.

Scheduled participating organizations:
Kochi Prefecture (Yosakoi)

Location:
2-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Hands-on Workshop Space　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Space for experiencing hometown culture with all five senses. Travel to Hachiojima Island, the Ogasawara Islands, and other islands without leaving Ginza and see and touch specialties of Kasama City of Ibaraki Prefecture, surrounding yourself with an atmosphere that is different from everyday Ginza.

Scheduled participating organizations:
Kasama City (Ibaraki), Tourism PR offices for the islands in Tokyo

Location:
3-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Hometown Tourism PR Campaign Tourism Quiz Space 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Visitors who complete a quiz about different prefectures will receive a special gift. Tourist booths promoting places around Japan will line Nishi-Ginza Dori. Do not miss the appearance of local mascots at the publicity booths.

Scheduled participating organizations:
Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Kyoto City, Ibaraki Prefecture Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture Itako City, Gunma Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture

Location:
5-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Tokyo Smart Driver PR Campaign　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Tokyo Smart Driver aims to reduce car accidents on the Tokyo Expressway. This year’s campaign will again feature programs that both entertain visitors and promote road safety.

Location:
3-Chome vehicle-free promenade

2015 Safe Cycling TOKYO Campaign & Traffic Safety Campaign　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Visitors can receive tips on bicycle safety checks and the proper way to ride.
The Traffic Safety Campaign will raise awareness about traffic safety by acting out an actual accident in an intense performance.
From 2:00 p.m.: Scared Straight (re-enactment of a traffic accident by a stunt man)
From 3:00 p.m.: Traffic Safety Class

Location:
4-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Shinbashi Geisha Azuma Odori 2:00 to– 4:00 p.m.

Shimbashi geisha culture performance in Ginza. Experience the Edo Japan way of life and beauty of Japan in a dance by a geisha group that cannot usually be seen.

Performance schedule (dance and PR)
From 2:15 / 2:45 / 3:15

Location:
6-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Rickshaw rides　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Take a round trip ride between 6- and 8-Chome on Nishi-Ginza Dori in rickshaws that were a lively part of the parade. Enjoy the Ginza scenery from a rickshaw.

Location:
6- to 8-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Ginza Honeybee Festival　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Participants in the Ginza Honey Bee Project to raise honeybees on the rooftops of buildings in Ginza will promote their “Ginza Honey.” Honey collected by Ginza honeybees has been praised for its unique flavor.

Location:
4-Chome Nishi-Ginza Event Space

“Kodomo Airanda” Kids Road Art Project in Ginza　2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The “Kodomo Airanda” Kids Road Art Project event was a big hit last year. Enjoy novel and moving art by children.

*For children of elementary school age or younger.
*As supplies are limited, not all participation requests may be accommodated.

Location:
7-Chome vehicle-free promenade

Heaven Artists in Ginza　2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Tokyo’s Heaven Artists are back again this year. Tokyo’s official performers liven up spectators on the street.

Schedules participating artists:
Princess Odette, Fukusei Kado, Yumi Kawashima, Goldens, Senmaru, Team NAGA, Chugoku Zatsugi, Geijutsudan, Masato Moja, Marin Balloon, Mr. Kazuki, Tomohiro Morita, Yaraicho, Broadway Boys

Location:
6- to 8-Chome vehicle-free promenade (fixed point, walking acts)

Yokoso Ginza　2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Yokoso Ginza will be held for the first time this year.
Performers will welcome visitors to Ginza with Ginza-related song and dance, such as “Ginza Koji” (Hiroko Matsumae) and “Ginza Ondo” (Sakuragawa-ryu Edo-gei Kappore).

Performance schedule
From 2:15 p.m.: Ginza Ondo (dance)
From 3:00 p.m.: Ginza Koji (song event)
From 3:30 p.m.: Ginza Ondo (dance)

Location:
8-Chome vehicle-free promenade

*Photo is only illustrative.

Presents of Ginza willow seedlings 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Receive a gift of a seedling of Ginza’s iconic willow tree. These are genuine Ginza willow seedlings directly trimmed from actual willow trees lining Nishi-Ginza Dori and raised in a nursery. There will also be a display panel showing how to raise willow trees and the history of willow trees in Ginza.
*Only 2000 willow tree seedlings will be given away.

Location:
8-Chome vehicle-free promenade