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Misty Fujii is a Canadian who moved to Osaka, Japan in 2019 and married her Japanese sweetheart. In 2022 they’d a child and moved to Fukui for the clear nation air. She is a DJ who teaches English half time and writes with a view to share Japan with the world. She will get enthusiastic about gathering classic vinyl data, meals of all nations, travelling and renovating her conventional Japanese home.
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It’s no secret that Japan has mind-blowing festivals! From celebrating the great thing about the cherry blossoms to the thunderous beats of taiko drums, these cultural extravaganzas mix custom and partying completely. We’ve scoured each nook and cranny of this fascinating nation to convey you a hand-picked number of essentially the most famend and beloved festivals that may depart you breathless and craving extra.
Prepare to bounce with legendary creatures, feast on tantalizing avenue meals, and witness jaw-dropping shows of fireworks. Brace yourselves for the unforgettable expertise of exploring Japan’s twelve most well-known and widespread festivals.
1. Hakata Dontaku (Fukuoka)
We begin in Hakata, Fukuoka, for his or her Golden Week pageant in Could, the place over 30,000 performers steal the present at this colossal occasion. What started as a humble procession to honor three gods of fine fortune has now blossomed into considered one of Japan’s greatest festivals. Put together to see a vibrant parade, charming performances on 30 totally different levels, and the glamorous crowning of Miss Fukuoka. As you line Meiji-dori avenue, now reworked into the legendary “Dontaku Road,” you’ll be spellbound by the dazzling dancers and majestic floats passing by. And keep in mind to affix the contagious Dontaku dance earlier than bidding farewell to this unforgettable spectacle with a panoramic fireworks finale.
2. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
Put together to be amazed by the Aomori Nebuta Competition, which takes place in August. Behold the awe-inspiring nebuta (lantern) floats, colossal artistic endeavors meticulously crafted by native groups. They pay homage to revered deities and important historic figures, as you may see by their elaborate designs. When the floats majestically glide by means of the streets, rhythmic beats from taiko drums fill the air. On the similar time, jubilant dancers chant “Rassera Rassera” with contagious vitality. Immerse your self within the festivities, savoring delectable treats and donning conventional apparel. And once you thought it couldn’t get any extra spectacular, a panoramic two-hour fireworks show illuminates the sky, concluding the pageant with a powerful increase!
3. Sapporo Snow Competition
Expertise the last word winter wonderland at Sapporo Snow Competition! This annual extravaganza transforms Sapporo right into a jaw-dropping masterpiece of ice and snow sculptures, from iconic landmarks to whimsical creatures. It’s not nearly admiring artwork; it’s an entire sensory journey. Each February, you may take pleasure in steaming ramen, slide down ice slides, and groove to dwell music. The pageant brings winter magic to life, proving Japan is aware of the way to have time, even within the coldest seasons!
4. Sendai Tanabata Competition
In Sendai, the Tanabata pageant honors the celestial reunion of star-crossed lovers in August. The town turns into a whimsical wonderland with vibrant Tanabata decorations adorning central Sendai and close by procuring districts. These stunning shows, crafted from bamboo and vibrant washi paper, create a surprising forest of colours, excellent for capturing memorable photographs. Nonetheless, the festivities supply rather more than visible delights. Put together to be entertained with dwell performances, melodic music, and loads of treats and drinks. Because the evening unfolds, a grand fireworks show provides a spectacular finale to this charming celebration.
5. Tokushima Awa Odori
Get swept away by the rhythm of Tokushima Awa Odori, the crown jewel of Obon season’s dance festivals. Famend far and large, this charming occasion unites dance teams throughout Japan and past, reworking Tokushima’s metropolis heart right into a spirited stage. As the town shuts down, you’ll see a kaleidoscope of placing performances, processions of jubilant dancers, and numerous meals and sport stalls. Amidst the joy, keep in mind to safe tickets for the coveted paid areas, the place a number of the finest performances occur. Be part of the crowds of dancers, give up to the infectious vitality, and create recollections that may resonate with you lengthy after August’s Obon season.
6. Gion Matsuri (Kyoto)
Partake within the summer season revelry at Gion Matsuri, Kyoto’s greatest pageant! All through July, get pleasure from the harmonies of conventional music, be wowed by spectacular parades, and bask within the enthusiastic ambiance. Originating as a plague treatment, this legendary celebration has develop into an epic bash. Don a yukata, savor mouth watering avenue meals, and marvel on the intricately adorned floats. However what actually units Gion Matsuri aside is the intimate glimpse into native households’ lives as they proudly showcase their treasures outdoors their properties. In the event you’re in Kyoto, benefit from this extremely anticipated extravaganza!
7. Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka)
Dive into considered one of Japan’s three nice festivals, the Tenjin Matsuri. This occasion is to not be missed, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Tokyo’s Sanno Competition. Osaka is famend for its pleasant locals and spirited vibe, so brace your self for an adrenaline-pumping boat pageant, jaw-dropping parades, spectacular fireworks, and irresistible pageant meals. This two-day celebration on July twenty fourth and twenty fifth is the most well liked ticket on the town, promising an unforgettable occasion that may make you overlook the summer season warmth. Osaka is aware of the way to convey the home down!
8. Kanda Matsuri (Tokyo)
Custom meets merriment on the Kanda Matsuri, held throughout odd-numbered years. Behold the grandeur of the Kanda Myojin Shrine, residence to a trio of divine beings symbolizing bountiful harvests, thriving commerce, and the unyielding fortune of the Japanese folks. For a complete week in Could, the guts of Tokyo transforms right into a hub of festivity, culminating in a weekend of revelry. An impressive procession engulfs the town’s core on Saturday, whereas Sunday witnesses moveable shrines gracefully navigate the streets. Weekday affairs enchant attendees with performances, sacred tea ceremonies, and honest needs for Japan’s everlasting prosperity and concord.
9. Karatsu Kunchi Competition (Saga)
Head to the island of Kyushu in November for the mesmerizing Karatsu Autumn Competition in Saga. Originating from the Edo interval, this three-day pageant celebrates a plentiful harvest with a show of colossal floats referred to as hikiyama. Put together to be awe-struck as these magnificent floats adorned with majestic lions, swish fish, and numerous elaborations navigate the bustling streets. With its distinguished UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage standing, this pageant radiates irresistible vitality.
10. Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo)
The Sanja Matsuri is a shining star among the many metropolis’s high Shinto celebrations. Held in Asakusa throughout Could, this pageant respects the three trailblazing founders of the revered Sensō-ji Buddhist temple. Anticipate grand sights as golden-laden moveable shrines price forty million yen every take heart stage. This pageant attracts a colossal crowd, drawing in a staggering two million keen onlookers of locals and vacationers alike. You’ll hear thunderous taiko drums and admire breathtaking performances by Japan’s most interesting geishas, making this a must-see occasion of legendary proportions.
11. Fukagawa Hachiman Competition (Tokyo)
One among Tokyo’s high Shinto festivals, the Fukagawa Hachiman Competition, is an thrilling occasion held in mid-August. Alongside the famend Kanda Matsuri and Sanno Matsuri, it varieties the trifecta of grand Shinto celebrations within the metropolis. This vigorous pageant hosts musical performances, beautiful parades, and conventional Noh theatre. However what units it aside is its distinctive nickname, the “water throwing pageant” or Mizu-kake Matsuri. When you witness the water-filled spectacle, you’ll perceive the moniker! Attendees collect to joyfully douse the moveable shrines as they make their manner by means of the streets. The pageant reaches its peak of pleasure throughout the “hon matsuri” 12 months, occurring as soon as each three years. And guess what? 2023 is a hon matsuri 12 months, promising an unforgettable and epic celebration!
12. Sanno Matsuri (Tokyo)
The Sanno Matsuri is an esteemed pageant and considered one of Japan’s high three Shinto celebrations. Whereas sure elements of the pageant, such because the grand Shinkou-sai procession, happen solely on even-numbered years, the pageant itself nonetheless happens on odd-numbered years. Though you would possibly miss the epic parade, worry not! The 11-day pageant nonetheless guarantees an array of actions. If you end up in Tokyo throughout June, it’s a must-see occasion, representing considered one of Japan’s pinnacle festivals.
With a lot taking place in Japan all 12 months spherical, you’ll hopefully get to attend some festivals when you journey. Which festivals do you need to attend essentially the most?
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