"Morioka Sansa Odori" (Sansa Japanese Drum Festival) is one of the Tohoku Five Great Summer Festivals, along with "Aomori Nebuta Festival", "Akita Kanto Festival", "Yamagata Hanagasa Festival", and "Sendai Tanabata Festival". "Morioka Sansa Odori" will be held first among them. It is held every year from August 1st to 4th. Previously it was held until the 3rd, but since the … [Read more...] about Morioka Sansa Odori (Japanese Drum Festival), Iwate
Festival
Tenjin Matsuri Festival, Osaka
At the Tenjin Festival in Osaka, various events such as sinto rituals are held for about a month from late June to July 25 every year. July 24th and 25th show the greatest excitement. The votive fireworks display held on the 25th of the last day attracts about 1.3 million visitors every year. Tenjin Festival is a general term for festivals held at the Tenman-gu Shrine … [Read more...] about Tenjin Matsuri Festival, Osaka
Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival (Horse Festival), Iwate
There are many festivals all over Japan where you can experience the history by watching traditional events up close and enjoying beautiful costumes. The “Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival” held in Iwate Prefecture in June is one of those festivals that feel such a tradition. It is a festival where many horses wear beautiful and wonderful costumes! “Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival” is a … [Read more...] about Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival (Horse Festival), Iwate
Kanda Myojin (Kanda Shrine), Tokyo
Kanda Myojin is a shrine in Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku near Yushima. The official name is Kanda Shrine, and serves as the total guardian of 108 neighborhoods in Tokyo, including Kanda, Nihonbashi, and Akihabara. It has been loved by the nickname “Myojin-san” since the Edo period, and is famous as a shrine where the Kanda Festival, one of the three largest festivals in Japan, takes … [Read more...] about Kanda Myojin (Kanda Shrine), Tokyo
Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri (Fan Festival), Saitama
Kumagaya Fan Festival is an annual festival of Yasaka Shrine held in Kumagaya, Saitama. This festival has a history of over 400 years and has been loved by locals since ancient times. Before about 1900, each store was dedicated to "sekihan" (steamed rice with red beans) at the festival, so it was famous as "Sekihan dedication of Kumagaya". Around 1890, the owner of a … [Read more...] about Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri (Fan Festival), Saitama
Nebuta Matsuri Festival, Aomori
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is a representative summer festival in Japan that attracts more than 2.5 million visitors from around the world. During the Aomori Nebuta Festival, a gorgeously colored lantern "Nebuta" walks around the city with the shout of "Lasselar !, Lasselar!" The biggest feature of the Aomori Nebuta Festival is the “large Nebuta”. The large nebuta is 9 meters … [Read more...] about Nebuta Matsuri Festival, Aomori
Shogawa Kanko-sai (Shogawa Tourist Festival), Toyama
In Tonami and Nanto regions, there is a custom called “Yasundoko” (to get some rest), meaning to take a rest when rice planting is finished in early June. Along with this period, various fields such as rice field festivals are being held to request huge harvest. In the Shogawa area, people from Kanaya and Aoshima districts imitated Fukuno Yotaka Andon (a lamp with a paper … [Read more...] about Shogawa Kanko-sai (Shogawa Tourist Festival), Toyama
Chichibu Yomatsuri (The Night Festival of Chichibu), Saitama
"Chichibu Yomatsuri" (The Night Festival of Chichibu) is held every year on December 2 and 3 as "Rei-taisai" (regular rites and festivals) of "Chichibu Shrine" in the city. The first thing you see when you arrive at Seibu Chichibu Station is the scenery of “Mt. Bukou”. In mythology, this mountain has Ryujin (God of Dragon), which is the god of men. And the goddess named … [Read more...] about Chichibu Yomatsuri (The Night Festival of Chichibu), Saitama
Sendai Star Festival (Tanabata Matsuri), Miyagi
"Sendai Star Festival" (Tanabata Matsuri) is Japan's largest Tanabata Festival held every year from August 6th to 8th in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. This is a traditional festival that has been going on for more than 400 years since the time of Sendai great founder Masamune Date, and is said to be the originator of the Tanabata festival held all over the country. During the … [Read more...] about Sendai Star Festival (Tanabata Matsuri), Miyagi
Kurama Fire Festival, Kyoto
The Kurama Fire Festival is held on October 22 of the year. The place is in Yuki Shrine and the surrounding area, but honestly, there is not enough space to see. On top of that, it may be held on Sundays and it can be quite crowded, so be careful. The festival itself is held in the morning, but the torture with the torches that are the highlight of the festival is from 18:00, … [Read more...] about Kurama Fire Festival, Kyoto