Misakubo, Shizuoka

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Misakubo (水窪町, Misakubo-chō^?) was a town which was located in Iwata District, Shizuoka, Japan. On July 1, 2005 Misakubo merged into the city of Hamamatsu.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,427 and a density of 12.63 persons per km². The total area was 271.28 km².

Misakubo is located on the Iida-sen (Iida train line) which runs from Toyohashi in Shizuoka Prefecture to Iida in Nagano.

[edit] Festivals

[edit] Misakubo Matsuri (水窪まつり)

The most famous festival is the aptly named Misakubo Matsuri (Misakubo Festival) which takes place in mid september. For more than a month prior to the two-day event the local people gather in area-groups and build a float, make costumes and practice skits. During the day of the festival the floats and performers travel round the town performing for the leaders of each area and the best performances are rewarded.

The evenings are a traditional Yatai festival where wooden carved floats are pulled around the town by the revelers.

[edit] Kuni-Tori Tsunahiki (くにとり綱引き)

This is yearly tug-of-war competition between Misakubo, representing Shizuoka Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture. The winning team moves the border of the prefecture by 1 meter, expanding the winning prefecture. In 2006 Misakubo won but is currently 3 meters in the red.