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Festivals |
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Soul stirring, graceful, gorgeous - every region in
Japan celebrates its own festivals and events in response to the
transition of the four seasons. Called matsuri, festivals can be found
almost everyday somewhere in Japan. Many festivals have their origin
in Shinto and Buddhism, while other events, such as snow festivals and
fireworks displays, are wonderfully staged for the local populace and
visitors alike.
Since ancient times, the Japanese have found sacred and spiritual
powers centered in the many aspects of nature and worshiped them as
kami (deities). This is believed to be the origin of Shinto.
Shinto-based matsuri are celebrated to worship and communicate with
the kami, praying for a rich harvest, for business prosperity as well
as for a happy and prosperous community and quality for its
inhabitants.
Note : Dates and functions are subject to change without
notice. |
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January |
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1st
New Year's Day is the festival of the festivals for the
Japanese and is celebrated throughout the country. People in
traditional Kimono costume pay homage at nearby shrines, offering
visitors a good shutter chance. It is primarily an occasion for family
reunions just like Christmas in Western countries.
6th
Dezomeshiki or the New Year's Parade of Firemen in Tokyo is a
dazzling spectacle of agile firemen in traditional uniforms performing
acrobatic stunts on top of tall bamboo ladders.
7th
Usokae, the Bullfinch Exchange Festival of Dazaifu Temmangu
Shrine, Dazaifu, Fukuoka Pref.
9th - 11th
Toka Ebisu Festival of Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka. People pray
for a successful New Year’s business; Ebisu is the patron deity of
business and good fortune. The festival features a procession of women
in colorful kimono, carried in palanquins, through the main streets.
Day before Coming-of-Age Day
Grass Fire Ceremony on Mt. Wakakusayama in Nara.
17th
Bonten Matsuri Festival of Miyoshi Shrine, Akita. |
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February |
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3rd or 4th
Setsubun or Bean-Throwing Festival is observed at leading
temples across the country.
3rd
Mantoro, Lantern Festival of Kasuga Shrine, Nara. This is known
for the fantastic scene created by 3,000-lighted lanterns.
Early February for 7 days
Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Huge, elaborate snow and
ice sculptures are erected on the Odori-Koen Promenade.
3rd Saturday
Eyo or Hadaka Matsuri (naked festival) at Saidaiji Temple,
Saidaiji, Okayama. A multitude of partially clad young male devotees
elbow and shoulder one another for a pair of sacred wands thrown to
them in the darkness in and around the temple.
15th - 16th
Kamakura in Yokote, Akita Pref., is a unique snow country
event. Snow houses, enshrining the God of Water, are erected, and
children enjoy indoor parties in these snow houses. |
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March |
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1st
- 14th
Omizutori or Water-Drawing Festival of Todaiji Temple, Nara, is
solemnly observed at 2 a.m. on the 13th day to the accompaniment of
ancient Japanese music. For many Japanese, Omizutori ritual signals
the advent of a long-awaited spring.
3rd
Hinamatsuri or Doll Festival is celebrated throughout the
country. A set of Hina-Ningyo dolls and miniature household articles,
arranged on a tier of shelves, is displayed in a living room of
practically every home blessed with young daughters.
13th
Kasuga Festival of Kasuga Shrine in Nara features a staging of
a 1,100-year-old classic dance. |
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April |
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8th
Hana Matsuri or Buddha's Birthday is celebrated at all Buddhist
temples in commemoration of Buddha's birthday. In the temples, a small
image of Buddha is displayed before the public and sweet tea called
Amacha is poured over the image as an expression of devotion.
14th - 15th
Takayama Matsuri Festival of Hie Shrine in Takayama, Gifu
Pref., is known for its gala procession of gorgeously decorated
floats.
13th - 17th
Yayoi Matsuri Festival of Futarasan Shrine, Nikko, is featured
by a parade of gaily-decorated floats. |
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May |
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3rd - 4th
Hakata Dontaku Festival in Fukuoka features a parade of
citizens in fancy attire, escorting masqueraders of legendary gods on
horseback.
May 11th - October 15th
Nagaragawa Ukai & Seki-no-Oze-no Ukai (Cormorant Fishing) on the
Nagara River, Gifu. This ancient method of catching Ayu, a trout-like
fish, with trained cormorants takes place nightly under the light of
blazing torches.
Mid-May
Kanda Matsuri Festival of Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo (held
every odd-year). Dozens of Mikoshi portable shrines are paraded in the
neighboring area of the shrine. A gala tea ceremony is also offered.
3rd Sun. & previous Fri. & Sat.
Sanja Matsuri Festival of Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo. Citizens
carrying colorful portable shrines on their shoulders parade the
streets.
15th
Aoi Matsuri or Hollyhock Festival of Shimogamo and Kamigamo
Shrines in Kyoto features a magnificent pageant reproducing the
colorful Imperial Procession that paid homage to the shrines in
ancient days.
17th - l8th
Grand Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. Its highlight is a
spectacular procession of over 1,000 armor-clad men, escorting three
sacred portable shrines through the streets.
3rd Sunday
Mifune Matsuri Festival on the Oi River, Kyoto, reproduces a
graceful ancient boat festival. |
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June |
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14th
Otaue-Shinji, Rice-Planting Festival of Sumiyoshi Shrine in
Osaka. Young girls in traditional farmers' costumes ceremoniously
transplant rice seedlings in the shrine’s paddies in prayer for a good
harvest.
2nd Saturday
Chagu-Chagu Umakko or Horse Festival in Morioka. A number of
colorfully decorated horses parade through the streets to Hachimangu
Shrine.
Around 10th-l6th
Sanno Festival of Hie Shrine in Tokyo features a procession of
portable shrines through the busy streets around the Akasaka district. |
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July |
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1st - 15th
Hakata Gion Yamagasa Festival in Fukuoka reaches its climax on
the 15th with a fleet of giant floats topped by elaborate decorations
that are paraded through the streets.
7th
Tanabata or Star Festival is celebrated nationwide. Legend has it that
the stars Vega and Altair, the separated lovers, can meet each other
across the Milky Way once a year on this day. Children set up bamboo
branches hanging colorful paper strips on which poems are written.
13th-16th (August in some areas)
Bon Festival. Religious rites in memory of the dead who,
according to Buddhist belief, revisit this world during this period
are observed throughout the country. A Bon dance party is nightly held
in practically every community, and visitors are encouraged to join
this easy-to-learn folk dance.
14th
Nachi Himatsuri or Fire Festival of Nachi Shrine,
Nachi-Katsuura, Wakayama is featured by the lighting of 12 giant
torches carried by white-robed priests.
July or August
Kangensai Music Festival of Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.
Classical court music and dances are performed on the brightly
decorated boats.
16th - 17th
Gion Matsuri, the biggest festival in Kyoto, dates back to the
9th century when people tried to seek the protection of the gods
against a pestilence that was then ravaging the city. Gorgeous floats
parade through the main streets on the 17th.
23rd - 25th
Soma-no-maoi or Horse-Chasing Festival in Haramachi, Fukushima
Pref. is a dynamic horse riding contest of a thousand horse riders in
ancient Samurai armor vying for three sacred flags.
24th - 25th
Tenjin Matsuri Festival of Temmangu Shrine in Osaka. A fleet of
boats bearing portable shrines sail down the Dojima River. |
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August |
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1st - 7th
Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Aomori from the 2nd to 7th noon, and
Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Hirosaki from the 1st to 7th are
spectacular summer festivals televised nationwide. Enormous,
illuminated papier-mache dummies set on floats parade the streets in
the evening.
Early August
Waraku Odori, Nikko, Tochigi, is one of the most popular folk
dances performed in Japan during the Bon season. Thousands of people
dance to the accompaniment of gay music.
3rd - 6th
Kanto Matsuri Festival in Akita features a parade of men vying
in their skills at balancing Kanto or long bamboo poles, hung with
many lighted lanterns, on their shoulders, foreheads, chins or hips.
6th - 8th
Tanabata or Star Festival in Sendai is the largest and
brightest of its kind. The main streets are decorated with numerous
colored paper streamers and banners.
6th - 9th
Hanagasa Festival in Yamagata Pref. features a dance parade
through the streets by more than 10,000 townspeople wearing Hanagasa,
a low, round straw-hat, adorned with brightly colored artificial
flowers.
12th - 15th
Awa Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima. The entire city
resounds with singing and dancing, day and night, and visitors are
encouraged to join this joyful dancing parade.
16th
Daimonji Bonfire on Mt. Nyoigatake in Kyoto. A spectacular
bonfire in the shape of the Chinese ideograph meaning big can be
viewed from downtown Kyoto. |
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September |
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16th
Yabusame or Horseback Archery takes place at Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura and always draws a very large crowd.
indoor parties in these snow houses. |
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October |
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7th - 9th
Kunchi Festival of Suwa Shrine in
Nagasaki features a dragon dance of Chinese origin and floats with
umbrella-shaped decorations.
9th - 10th
Takayama Matsuri Festival of Hachimangu Shrine in Takayama is
noted for its gala procession of ornate floats.
11th - 13th
Oeshiki Festival of Hommonji Temple, Tokyo is celebrated in
commemoration of the Buddhist leader, Nichiren (1222-1282). People
march toward the temple carrying large lanterns decorated with paper
flowers.
14th - 15th
Kenka Matsuri Festival of Matsubara Shrine in Himeji reaches
its climax on the 15th when portable shrines, shouldered by half naked
youths, jostle each other and the bearers vie to show their skill in
balancing the shrines.
17th
Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko features a colorful
procession of armor-clad parishioners escorting a sacred portable
shrine.
22nd
Jidai Matsuri or Festival of Eras of Heian Shrine in Kyoto is
one of the three grandest festivals of Kyoto. Its highlight is a
procession of citizens in colorful costumes representing various eras
of Kyoto's 1,200-year-old history.
22nd
Fire Festival of Yuki Shrine, Kurama, in Kyoto, features long
rows of torches, imbedded along the approach to the shrine that are
set on fire, and children with burning torches march to the shrine. |
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November |
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3rd
Daimyo Gyoretsu in Hakone is a faithful reproduction of a
feudal lord's procession that was once a familiar scene along the old
Tokaido Road.
2nd - 4th
Okunchi Festival of Kara-tsu Shrine in Karatsu is known for its
parade of huge, colorful floats.
Mid-November
Tori-no-ichi or Rake Fair of Otori Shrine in Tokyo. Dozens of
makeshift stalls selling Kumade or ornate bamboo rakes are set up in
the shrines' precincts.
15th
Shichi-go-san is the shrine-visiting day for children aged 3, 5
and 7 in appreciation of the good health given them by the guardian
gods. Good shutter chances abound for those interested in
photographing Kimono-clad children. |
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December |
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15th - 18th
On-Matsuri Festival of Kasuga Shrine in Nara features a
procession of people masquerading as courtiers, retainers and
wrestlers of ancient times.
17th - 19th
Hagoita-Ichi (Toshi-no-ichi) or Battledore Fair of Asakusa
Kannon Temple in Tokyo is the year-end mart where ornate battledores
and various New Year decorations are sold.
31st
Namahage in Oga Peninsula, Akita Pref. is a unique annual event
when groups of grotesquely masked men, disguised as devils, make
door-to-door calls to houses with children, growling in Japanese, Is
any good-for-nothing kid hereabout?
31st
Okera Mairi Ceremony of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. Here a sacred
fire is kindled in the shrine's precincts, which is believed to bring
happiness to those cooking their first meal with the embers of the
fire, and visitors are encouraged to take some of the embers of the
sacred fire, made available, to their homes. |
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Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization. |
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