Seven Spooky Japanese Halloween Costume Ideas
Sep 27, 2022 By Bert Wishart
So, Halloween is coming and you are getting ready to dust off that old ghost, vampire or witch costume that you wear every year. But this year why not try something different, something that takes its inspiration from the local folklore? Below are some ideas for spooky Halloween costumes that come from...[ Click to read more ]
Osu Street Performers’ Festival
Sep 17, 2022 By Bert Wishart
October brings the Nagoya Festival, a massive parade throughout the city celebrating three great warriors and historical leaders connected to the city: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, this is by no means the only - nor even the most interesting - of the festivals celebrating the city's great history this month....[ Click to read more ]
Autumn Festivals in Hiroshima
Aug 31, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Autumn is a season sprinkled with many festivals across the world. The hot summer has passed, and we experience cooler temperatures and that lush gold tinge for a few months before winter arrives. In Hiroshima, you can find autumn festivals expressing appreciation for harvest and wishing for an abundant crop...[ Click to read more ]
Autumn Festivals in Kumamoto Prefecture
Aug 30, 2022 By Justin Hanus
Japan is famous for its traditional festivals, most of which involve parades, dancing, and performances. Every prefecture has its festivals, and Kumamoto is no exception. If you are in Kumamoto between September and November, you’ll have the chance to attend a few. Kumamoto Castle Autumn Festival Kumamoto Castle is the...[ Click to read more ]
Saio Festival in Mie
May 30, 2022 By Bert Wishart
From Elsa to Cinderella to Snow White, princesses are held in extremely high regard in Japanese culture. But it isn't just your common-or-garden Disney princess that enraptures the attention of the Japanese public; the adoration of Princess Aiko, and the furor surrounding the marriage to a commoner of Princess Mako,...[ Click to read more ]
The Yukata Matsuri Festival in Himeji
May 25, 2022 By Justin Hanus
The yukata is a garment similar to a kimono worn in summer, particularly at matsuri (festivals). It is so popular some festivals celebrate it; these are called Yukata Matsuri. The original yukata festival takes place every June in Himeji — a city in Kansai famous for its castle. About the...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun: The Bean-Throwing Festival
Jan 27, 2022 By Justin Hanus
In the old Japanese calendar, spring arrived at the beginning of February. Setsubun, which means "seasonal division," commemorates the end of winter and the start of the weather turning mild. It is held before the first day of spring, or Risshun, and falls between February 2 and 4. Although Setsubun...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun Festivals in Nagoya 2022
Jan 25, 2022 By Ray Proper
Setsubun, or "That Bean-Throwing Festival," celebrates the beginning of spring in Japan. Celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival, its association with the Lunar New Year makes this festival a sort of New Year's Eve. A special ritual accompanies this association to cleanse away the evil...[ Click to read more ]
Tondo Festivals in Hiroshima in 2022
Dec 27, 2021 By Michael Stigall
Once you get through the usual New Year's activities, there is one last thing to enjoy called the Tondo festival. The Tondo festival is part of 'Koshagatsu,' marking the traditional lunar new year. You will see gatherings in public parks, school grounds, and shrine courtyards where people gather around towering...[ Click to read more ]
Festivals to Look Forward to in 2022 in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Annual festivals and events have taken a hit in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Things are some way off returning to normal, but there's hope we can look forward to a brighter 2022 as some of the staples of our social calendar return. Kobe has a...[ Click to read more ]
