Noborito Challenge Street on Sunday, Nov 8: tug-of-war, a portable shrine, food trucks and a flea market on the Noborito Route 2 road

A one-day event on a street closed to cars

This one-day event turns Noborito Route 2, a road that is normally used by cars, into a place to watch and try things. The road runs from near Mukogaoka-yuen Station toward Noborito Station. The event area is bigger than last year.

• Tug-of-war (11 a.m.–3 p.m.): five contests: a one-on-one "strongest individual" match, 3-on-3 teams of coworkers, 5-on-5 teams of family or friends, five adults against 10 or more children, and a big "Noborito vs. Mukogaoka-yuen" match. Prizes include rice, ¥5,000 worth of tickets and snack sets.
• Mikoshi (3–4 p.m.): everyone carries the adult portable shrine of the local Higashi-honcho neighborhood association. Adults pay ¥500 (rental of a happi coat and insurance).
• Food: 15 local vendors, including food trucks.
• Flea market and workshops: a flea market, a "kids’ flea market" where children sell items, and workshops such as accessory making.
• Open-air open mic: anyone can sing, play music or read on stage. You can join on the day.

On the same day, there are also events at nearby Noborito Tsukurito Park (park golf) and at "Kawanoba" on the Tama River (big SUP boards and a campfire). A stamp rally links the three sites and local shops.

Hosted by the Noborito–Mukogaoka-Yuen area platform

The "Noborito-Mukogaoka-yuen Area Platform," a group of neighborhood associations, shopping streets, local companies, a town development company, Kawasaki City and others, holds the event. Its "Noborito Challenge Street Executive Committee" planned it by gathering what local people want to try.

The aim is to test, together with local people, how this road could be used in the future. The city is considering designating Noborito Route 2 under "Hokomichi," a national system for roads where people on foot can relax. Ideas from visitors, such as "it would be fun to use the road like this," will be used in future town planning.

Walkable from Noborito and Mukogaoka-Yuen

The venue address is 2540-3 Noborito and nearby, Tama Ward. According to the organizer, from Noborito Station go out the ticket gate and head toward Noborito Ekimae Post Office. From Mukogaoka-yuen Station, leave the North Exit ticket gate and go right around the bus rotary. Both are a 3-minute walk.

Part of the road is closed to traffic that day, so take care if you drive nearby. The organizer decides at the venue on the day whether the event goes ahead or is canceled.

Contacts

Contact the Noborito Land Readjustment Office, Urban Development Bureau, Kawasaki City (phone 044-933-8580). Event details are also on the Area Platform’s event page.