Funaoroshi at Sakanoshita Beach (坂ノ下海岸 船おろし)

What Is the Funaoroshi at Sakanoshita Beach?

The Funaoroshi (船おろし) is the local fishermen’s first work day of the year, held every January 2 at Sakanoshita Beach (坂ノ下海岸) in Kamakura (鎌倉). Before taking their boats out to sea for the first time in the new year, the fishermen line up their boats on the beach, decorated with tairyo-bata (大漁旗), the colorful flags that fishing boats fly to celebrate a big catch. They pray to Funadama (船霊), the guardian deity of boats, for a good catch and safety at sea throughout the year. Sakanoshita Beach continues west from Yuigahama Beach (由比ヶ浜). There is no harbor here, so the fishermen pull their boats up onto the sand and launch them straight from the beach. On the same day, January 2, a Funaoroshi is also held at Zaimokuza Beach (材木座海岸).

Date and Time

The Funaoroshi takes place every January 2 and usually begins around 10:00 AM and is over in about 15 minutes. It is held on the stretch of Sakanoshita Beach where the fishing boats sit on the sand.

Highlights

Fishing boats line the beach with their big-catch flags fluttering, and the boat owners stand on board wearing hanten (半纏), short traditional work coats. The owners toss mandarin oranges and sweets from their boats. The mandarins carry a wish tied to their golden color: that a year of fishing will bring gold back to the fishermen.

The boats take turns, one after another, and spectators move from boat to boat to catch the flying mandarins and sweets. Coins are sometimes mixed in, and dagashi (駄菓子), cheap traditional Japanese snacks, are sometimes handed out too. Most spectators are locals from the neighborhood and around Kamakura, and few tourists come. The beach fills with cheers, giving you a taste of a local New Year celebration.

Watching the Event

Spectators gather on the sand beside the fishing boats to watch. The tossing continues boat by boat from around 10:00 AM and is over in about 15 minutes, so arrive at the beach before it begins. On January 11, the Shio Matsuri (汐まつり), a ritual praying for a good catch and safety at sea, is also held at Sakanoshita Beach.

Access | Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

Sakanoshita Beach is about a 5-minute walk toward the sea from Enoden (江ノ電) Hase Station (長谷駅). It is just a short walk from Toshi’s Place. The event lasts only about 15 minutes, but if you are staying over the New Year, join the locals and take part.

At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with fully equipped kitchens and room-only stays, you can head out to New Year morning events at your own pace.

Summary

The Funaoroshi at Sakanoshita Beach is the fishermen’s first work day of the year. Every January 2, boat owners toss mandarin oranges and sweets from boats decorated with big-catch flags and pray for a good catch and safety at sea. For Yuigahama’s highlights throughout the year, see Yuigahama Beach.

Basic Information

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