Asakusa Samba Carnival in Tokyo
Jul 26, 2019 By Ray Proper
If you are looking for a lively and colorful way to draw your summer to a close there is no better option than the annual Asakusa Samba Carnival. This carnival is the largest Samba dance-related event in Japan, and it draws crowds of over 500,000 to view the spectacle of...[ Click to read more ]
Sansa Odori : THE Summer Festival of Morioka
Jul 16, 2019 By Jade Brischke
Mention the name, ‘Sansa,’ and many people will inevitably think of the character Sansa Stark from, ‘Game of Thrones.’ The word, ‘Sansa,’ in Morioka, however, is all about dancing and the annual festival. The Morioka Sansa Odori Festival is held every summer in August from 1-4 and is one of the...[ Click to read more ]
Gero’s Ryujin Fire Festival in Gifu
Jul 15, 2019 By Bert Wishart
While sitting in your air-conditioned room, sheltering from the humidity outside, perhaps the last thing that you would be thinking of doing is sinking into a nice hot bath. It seems somewhat counterproductive, doesn't it? However, here in Japan, there is a train of thought that says that it the...[ Click to read more ]
Climbing Mount Fuji
Jul 14, 2019 By Ray Proper
Fuji season is upon us again! The official climbing season for Fujisan, as it is known locally, is in July and August. While it is possible to climb during other months, it is a much riskier proposition that should be attempted only by experienced, physically fit, and well prepared climbers. ...[ Click to read more ]
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden’s annual Night Zoo & Garden
Jul 10, 2019 By Ray Proper
Ever wonder what a polar bear does at night? Want to find out? This weekend is your last chance to take in the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden’s annual Night Zoo & Garden event for 2010. For this annual event, the zoo extends its hours to 8:30 p.m. and the...[ Click to read more ]
Understanding Japan: The Tanabata “Star Festival”
Jul 08, 2019 By Bert Wishart
Tanabata, also known as the 'Star Festival', is a popular summer event celebrated all over Japan. As the festival's name suggests (literally 'Evening of the Seventh'), it is held on the seventh day of the seventh month, and depending on where in the country you are, this can follow either...[ Click to read more ]
Great Japan Beer Festival Nagoya
Jul 03, 2019 By Admin
When I first arrived in Japan, I was somewhat disappointed by the perceived paucity of decent beer selections. It seemed that no matter where I went I could find nothing more on draft than the near-identical brews of the ‘big 3’: Sapporo, Kirin, and Asahi. While these can be refreshing...[ Click to read more ]
See the Best of Kansai’s Fireworks Displays
Jun 17, 2019 By Justin Hanus
One of the most exciting aspects of Japanese summers is the multitude of dazzling fireworks displays to enjoy. Originally, fireworks (花火, ‘Hanabi’) were thought to help ward off evil spirits, but the tradition is still going strong today among tourists and locals alike as a coveted summer pastime. With hundreds...[ Click to read more ]
Fireworks Festivals in Tokyo
By Jason Gatewood
Fireworks and summer festivals are arguably the best part of summertime in Japan, with days spent wearing yukata and jinbei traditional clothing while munching street food and nights spent outside watching literally hours of explosions and enjoying the atmosphere of the festival, and the crowds. Summer festivals are a rare...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya Summer Fireworks Festivals – Hanabi 2019
By Bert Wishart
For Brits like myself, fireworks displays conjure up memories of cold winter nights, huddling round bonfires and oohing and ahhing as both your breath and extremities freeze. While this is possible in Japan, here fireworks festivals, or hanabi matsuri, are very much a summertime thing. Fireworks Festivals in Nagoya Hanabi...[ Click to read more ]
