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 ]
Furusato Matsuri Tokyo 2022
Dec 25, 2021 By Jason Gatewood
Like food? Silly question, right, of course you like food! If you are looking for the opportunity to sample dishes from all over Japan but don’t have the time on your hands to be bouncing through all 47 prefectures and regions to seek out each individual plate (Or like me,...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Tokyo – Shrines to Visit for New Years
Dec 24, 2021 By Bert Wishart
In Japan, celebrating New Year is all about 'firsts.' Perhaps the most important 'first' is the first trip to a shrine, a tradition called hatsumode. While this visit can happen at any time, usually over the first three days of the year, the most dramatic time will be at midnight...[ Click to read more ]
