A Information to Japan’s Matsuri

Matsuri, festivals in Japan, are sometimes spectacular, full of colour, exuberance, and custom. Japan has maybe extra distinctive festivals than some other nation on the earth, and taking in a matsuri is an unforgettable expertise.

If you wish to see Japan at its liveliest, a high-energy matsuri is the place to do it! The celebrations themselves range extensively relying on the event, however nearly at all times contain spirited processions of members vigorously chanting, dancing, and bearing huge, intricately-decorated mikoshi (transportable shrines) or floats.

As if all of this weren’t sufficient, festivals in Japan are additionally top-of-the-line locations to pattern an unimaginable array of distinctive, informal, and seasonal Japanese meals. To the shock of many, road meals isn’t very prevalent in Japan (in contrast to in lots of different elements of Asia). However at matsuri you’ll discover the streets lined with yatai (meals stall) after colourful yatai, providing a outstanding collection of wholesome (and not-so-healthy) competition snacks.

This text was final up to date on September 30, 2022

The Finest Japanese Festivals: Our Favourite Matsuri

Japan has too many unbelievable matsuri to incorporate in a single checklist, and a few of the most pleasant are unsung festivals held in small neighborhoods all through Japan. In our information to Japan’s festivals beneath, we offer an introduction to what we contemplate a few of the finest and most attention-grabbing Japanese festivals, together with:

• Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri
• Osaka’s Tenjin Matsuri
• Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri
• The Awa Odori competition in Tokushima
• And lots of extra!

That will help you discover what you’re on the lookout for, here’s a fast desk of contents for simple navigation:

Checklist of Upcoming Japanese Matsuri (Festivals)

In the event you’re within the trip-planning course of and curious whether or not your journey dates overlap with any nice festivals, right here is an up-to-date checklist of notable matsuri happening all through Japan (we replace this checklist incessantly).

Festivals happen year-round, with a lot of probably the most distinguished in summer time. Japan’s summer time is scorching and muggy (learn extra concerning the seasons and climate in Japan), and the sultry climate lends itself properly to the rambunctious ambiance at many matsuri.

Upcoming Festivals (Matsuri) in Japan in 2023

• Month of July: Gion Matsuri (Kyoto) (Foremost parades, evenings of July seventeenth and twenty fourth)
• July 24-25: Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka)
• July 29: Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• July 29: Sumidagawa Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• August 2-7: Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori)
• August 5: Edogawa Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• August 5: Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Pageant (Osaka)
• August 12-15: Awa Odori (Shikoku)
• August 13-15: Hokkai Bon Odori (Sapporo) (fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month; lasts for 3 days)
• August 16: Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, aka Daimonji Pageant (Kyoto)
• October 9-10: Takayama Fall Pageant (Takayama)
• October 22: Kurama Fireplace Pageant (Kyoto)
• October 22: Jidai Matsuri (Kyoto)
• November 11 & 23: Asakusa Torinoichi Honest (Tokyo) (Held on Days of the Rooster in November; Days of the Rooster happen each 12 days all through the month)
• December 2-3: Chichibu Yomatsuri (Saitama)

Upcoming Festivals (Matsuri) in Japan in 2024

• February 4-11: Sapporo Yuki Matsuri Snow Pageant (Sapporo)
• April 14-15: Takayama Spring Pageant (Takayama)
• Could 15: Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)
• Could 17-19: Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo)
• Month of July: Gion Matsuri (Kyoto) (Foremost parades, evenings of July seventeenth and twenty fourth)
• July 24-25: Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka)
• July 27: Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• July 27: Sumidagawa Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• August 2-7: Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori)
• August 3: Edogawa Fireworks Pageant (Tokyo)
• August 3: Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Pageant (Osaka)
• August 12-15: Awa Odori (Shikoku)
• August 13-15: Hokkai Bon Odori (Sapporo) (fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month; lasts for 3 days)
• August 16: Kyoto Gozan Okuribi, aka Daimonji Pageant (Kyoto)
• October 9-10: Takayama Fall Pageant (Takayama)
• October 22: Kurama Fireplace Pageant (Kyoto)
• October 22: Jidai Matsuri (Kyoto)
• November 5, 17, & 29: Asakusa Torinoichi Honest (Tokyo) (Held on Days of the Rooster in November; Days of the Rooster happen each 12 days all through the month)
• December 2-3: Chichibu Yomatsuri (Saitama)

Tokyo’s Finest Festivals: Matsuri in Tokyo

We start with a collection of Tokyo’s finest festivals.

Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo)

Kanda was a key central district of Edo (and stays so in present-day Tokyo), and Kanda Matsuri is named one among Tokyo’s massive three festivals.

It takes place solely in odd-numbered years (alternating with the Sanno Matsuri) and technically lasts a whole week, though the principle parade happens on the Saturday closest to Could fifteenth, when over 300 folks — bearing 100 mikoshi — march by means of the streets of central Tokyo.

This shinto competition started as a celebration of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s victory on the battle of Sekigahara, and continued as a present of wealth for the brand new Edo interval shogunate.

Over time, the competition has come to signify prosperity for the residents, and it’s fairly a spectacle to look at because the parade of transportable shrines, musicians, monks on horseback, and dancers make their means by means of the streets, blessing native onlookers. The procession ends at Kanda Myojin Shrine.

Sanja Matsuri (Asakusa Shrine, Tokyo)

Sanja Matsuri is one other boisterous shinto competition, held on the third Sunday of Could (and previous Friday and Saturday) in Tokyo’s old school Asakusa district.

The Sanja Matsuri – which pulls round 2 million guests over three days, and is taken into account the most important shinto competition in Tokyo – honors the three founders of Senso-ji Temple, who’re enshrined within the Asakusa Shrine subsequent door to the temple.

Because the story goes, the three founders devoted their lives to Buddhism after catching a small statue of the Boddhisatva Kannon in Tokyo’s Sumida River whereas fishing one morning, again within the seventh century. Whereas the competition has presumably been round in some kind since round that point, the shrine itself has solely been round since 1649.

There are many video games and meals to be loved, and the competition itself is understood for being comparatively raucous. The streets are flooded with flute gamers, taiko drummers, and folks chanting. On Sunday, on the peak of the competition, three mikoshi — every with the spirit (kami) of one of many founders — are energetically carried by means of the streets earlier than being laid again of their place of relaxation at Asakusa Shrine. It’s mentioned that the louder the chanting and music, and the extra roughly the mikoshi are shaken, the extra good luck might be bestowed upon the neighborhoods they go.

Kyoto’s Finest Festivals: Matsuri in Kyoto

Under is a small sampling of our favourite festivals in Kyoto.

Aoi Matsuri (Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto)

Additionally known as the Kamo Matsuri, the Aoi Matsuri is an ornate, elegant competition with a procession from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Kamo Shrine within the north of the town. Individuals gown within the elaborate fashion of the the Heian interval (794-1185), with some on horseback and in ox-drawn carriages, and others on foot whereas taking part in Heian courtroom music.

The origins of the Aoi Matsuri really predate the Heian interval, and it might have begun in some kind as early because the sixth century, when Emperor Kinmei would ship choices to the Kamo Shrine within the hopes of keeping off pure catastrophe. Finally, this advanced into an elaborate procession in the course of the peak of the Heian interval. The competition’s title comes from the hollyhock (aoi) that adorns the costumes and carriages of the members, as soon as thought-about good luck appeal towards pure disasters.

The Aoi Matsuri’s procession begins on the Imperial Palace at 10:30 am, and eventually arrives at Kamigamo Shrine at round 3:30 pm. Along with the parade, there are additionally equestrian races and occasions within the previous days.

Gion Matsuri (Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto)

Gion Matsuri is probably Japan’s best-known competition, and presumably the most important as properly. It has an extended historical past (relationship again to the 12 months 869) and lasts the complete month of July, culminating in a parade of floats — the Yamaboko Junko — on July seventeenth.

Though there are festival-related occasions all through the month, the principle festivities happen on the day of the Yamaboko Junko (July seventeenth) and on the three evenings earlier than (often called the yoiyama evenings).

“Yamaboko” refers back to the two kinds of floats: the smaller yama floats and the large hoko floats. Hoko floats might be as much as a number of tales (round 25 meters) in peak, and may weigh as a lot as 12 tons carrying competition members. The competition floats are elaborately adorned with beautiful tapestries and paper lanterns, and hoko floats require round 40 folks to drag them by means of the streets.

Through the yoiyama evenings, streets are closed and filled with folks having fun with yatai (meals stalls), performances, conventional music and costumes, and presumably even recognizing geiko and maiko. This can be a likelihood to benefit from the spectacular competition floats up shut, and a particular alternative to see Kyoto residents let unfastened!

One other fascinating facet of the yoiyama evenings is the concurrently-held Byobu Matsuri (“Folding Display Pageant”), throughout which many Kyoto households open the entryways of their properties to the general public, providing a glimpse of valuable household heirlooms.

There may be additionally a barely smaller parade (with fewer floats) that takes place on July twenty fourth, and it too is preceded by its personal yoiyama nights of revelry.

Japan’s Finest Matsuri Past Tokyo and Kyoto

Making an attempt to slender all of Japan’s festivals all the way down to a listing of the very best is a idiot’s errand, however here’s a small sampling of our favorites.

Nebuta Matsuri (Aomori Prefecture)

Nebuta Matsuri, held within the northern prefecture of Aomori, is one among Japan’s most visually putting festivals. Through the Nebuta Matsuri, the streets of Aomori Metropolis come alive with breathtakingly vibrant lantern floats, which may take as much as a 12 months to construct.

The magnificent floats — depicting imposing gods, warriors, kabuki actors, animals, and even TV celebrities — are made with washi (Japanese paper) and lit from the within. Accompanying the floats are teams of dancers, taiko drummers, flutists, and different musicians.

All festival-goers are invited to affix within the full of life procession of dancers, supplied they put on the normal haneto dancer’s costume (available all through the town).

In contrast to most festivals, the Nebuta Matsuri options parades on each night of the competition week, aside from the ultimate day, when the parade is held within the afternoon.

Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Snow Pageant, Sapporo, Hokkaido)

As featured in our article on the high causes to go to Japan in winter, each February the town of Sapporo — Hokkaido’s largest metropolis — performs host to Sapporo Yuki Matsuri, one of many world’s nice snow and ice festivals.

Famend for its awe-inspiring ice and snow sculptures, the Sapporo Snow Pageant (which dates again to 1950) attracts greater than two million guests a 12 months. The painstaking effort and creativity that goes into every of the sculptures might be loved by day, and they’re much more magical within the evenings when they’re fantastically illuminated.

Aside from the snow structure, the Yuki Matsuri options quite a lot of occasions for younger and previous, together with live shows, a world snow-sculpting competitors, culinary happenings, snowball fights, snow slides, ice bars and rather more.

Takayama Matsuri (Takayama, Gifu Prefecture)

Takayama’s Spring and Autumn Matsuri are among the many most stunning festivals in Japan, in nice half because of their venue: the beautiful and historic city of Takamaya within the Japan Alps.

Takayama is famend all through Japan for its highly-skilled craftspeople, and their handiwork is on gorgeous show within the spectacular competition yatai (other than referring to meals stalls, the phrase yatai may consult with parade floats because it does right here). The yatai are constructed with intricately carved wooden, lacquer artwork, detailed metallic work, woven textiles, and totally shifting big marionettes (karakuri ningyo).

The wheeled floats are masterpieces, however the true deal with is watching the each day performances of the puppets, moved by dozens of strings and pushrods, operated from contained in the float by a grasp puppeteer.

Takayama’s Spring competition (Haru no Takayama Matsuri) is held to wish for an amazing harvest after planting season, and takes place in southern Takayama at Hie Shrine (often known as Sanno Shrine). The Autumn Pageant (Aki no Takayama Matsuri) provides thanks for the crops which were harvested, and takes place in northern Takayama across the Hachiman Shrine.

Each festivals are equally worthwhile, showcasing the inimitable yatai, together with a magical night procession (yomatsuri) on the primary night of every competition. When nightfall falls, the floats — led by costumed dancers and musicians — are lit with lots of of lanterns and pulled by means of the streets of Takayama, traversing the city’s picturesque bridges.

Tenjin Matsuri (Tenmangu Shrine, Osaka)

Tenjin Matsuri (“Pageant of the Gods”) is an exuberant celebration that takes place on the finish of July in the full of life metropolis of Osaka.

The competition celebrates Sugawara no Michizane, a poet and scholar from the Heian interval who’s deified at Osaka’s Tenmangu Shrine. Through the procession, this patron god of artwork and schooling is paraded in his mikoshi alongside members who embrace lion and umbrella dancers, musicians, goblins on horseback, and plenty of extra.

Individuals from Osaka are recognized for being enjoyable and outgoing, and whereas Tenjin Matsuri is a storied conventional competition with over 1,000 years of historical past, the ambiance in the course of the competition is pure enjoyable, with countless meals stalls and festive partying within the streets.

The competition peaks on its second day, when 3,000 folks — outfitted in Heian interval apparel — proceed by means of the streets, then board torch-lit boats that proceed alongside Osaka’s Okawa River. The night culminates with a stunning fireworks show over the flaming boats floating on the river.

Awa Odori (Tokushima, Shikoku)

The Awa Odori (Awa Dance) competition originated in rural Tokushima (previously often called Awa Province), on the island of Shikoku.

Story has it that it dates again to the late sixteenth century when the feudal lord of Awa held an enormous celebration on the opening of Tokushima citadel. After ingesting all through the evening, the attendees are mentioned to have begun drunken singing and dancing, whereas musicians performed a easy, syncopated beat. This grew to become a full of life annual occasion, and one among Japan’s most fun-loving matsuri.

Regardless of its considerably distant location (we function Shikoku on this submit about nice off-the-beaten-path locations), Awa Odori attracts over 1,000,000 guests to Shikoku annually.

The competition options unbelievable conventional costumes, a dynamic (if stylized) dance, and extremely energetic singing, chanting, and instrumentation. Greater than something, it’s at its core a really pleasant and colourful dance competitors.

The procession is comprised of groups of dancers. Every staff has its personal distinctive costumes and spin on the normal dance. The ambiance is party-like, and the dance is named the “idiot’s dance.” The lyrics say all of it: “The dancers are fools, and the folks watching are fools. Since everyone seems to be a idiot, why not dance!”

For individuals who can’t make all of it the best way to Tokushima, it’s price making an attempt to catch the Tokyo model of Awa Odori, which has been held in Tokyo’s Koenji neighborhood for the reason that Nineteen Fifties.

Whereas smaller than the unique incarnation in Shikoku, even Tokyo’s model of Awa Odori has grown to draw over 1,000,000 guests annually. The Koenji neighborhood the place it’s held is a laid-back space simply west of Shinjuku, recognized for its nice foods and drinks, music venues, and classic outlets.

Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu Shrine, Saitama Prefecture)

Held about 90 minutes from Tokyo, the Chichibu Yomatsuri is one among Japan’s most spectacular float festivals, that includes human-powered floats that may weigh as much as 20 tons. The truth is, the intricately-carved floats are so massive that they double as kabuki levels in the course of the day.

A yomatsuri (evening competition), the Chichibu Yomatsuri is legendary for the sensible show of lanterns masking the floats, that are accompanied by taiko drummers, flute gamers, and mikoshi from the two,000-year-old Chichibu Shrine.

On the competition’s climax, the floats are pulled to the highest of a slope, and the evening concludes with a two-hour fireworks show – a uncommon deal with in winter.

Hanabi (Fireworks) Matsuri

In the event you’re braving the warmth and visiting Japan in summer time, you might have the possibility to attend one of many nation’s dazzling hanabi (fireworks) matsuri. As anybody who has spent a lot time in Japan is aware of, fireworks are elevated to an artwork right here, and hanabi artisans take their jobs severely!

All through the summer time hanabi festivals happen everywhere in the nation, and vary from main occasions in cities like Tokyo and Osaka to regional and native shows in smaller communities. Like different matsuri, these festive celebrations are an amazing alternative to calm down, spend time with family and friends, and take pleasure in chilly drinks and competition meals.

Here’s a brief checklist of a few of Japan’s most notable hanabi matsuri. Particularly for those who’re planning to attend a preferred fireworks occasion, make further certain to reach early to safe a great spot!

Sumidagawa Fireworks Pageant

Tokyo’s greatest hanabi occasion (often attended by over a million folks), with two totally different applications and venues, each alongside the Sumidagawa (Sumida River).

Edogawa Fireworks Pageant

One other of Tokyo’s largest fireworks exhibits, held on the Edogawa (Edo River). The competition itself is round Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood.

Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Pageant

Smaller in scale than Tokyo’s bigger hanabi festivals, this matsuri is an efficient possibility if you wish to guarantee a very good view. En path to the fireworks viewing space, stroll by means of the old school streets resulting in Shibamata Taishakuten Temple.

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Pageant

One in all Osaka’s most iconic summer time occasions, this competition is organized and run totally by volunteers. The hanabi show is finest recognized for showcasing its particular, hand-made fireworks.

Honorable Mentions: Different Nice Festivals in Japan

We couldn’t resist together with a number of honorable mentions, however there are numerous extra, as properly!

Omizutori (Todaiji Temple, Nara)

Through the stunning Omizutori, each night after sundown, monks carrying burning torches climb as much as the balcony of Todaiji Temple’s Nigatsudo Corridor. Along with the great thing about the spectacle, and wonderful views over Nara from Nigatsudo, the falling embers are mentioned to grant the attendees beneath a secure 12 months forward.

Kanamara Matsuri (Kanamaya Shrine, Kawasaki)

The notorious Kanamara Matsuri (“Pageant of the Metal Phallus,” mostly recognized by its extra colloquial title) is held within the metropolis of Kawasaki, instantly south of Tokyo. Befitting its theme, you’ll find “uncommon” mikoshi, sweet, and trinkets, all modeled after symbols of fertility. The competition is a light-hearted and full of life affair, and charitably donates proceeds to AIDS/HIV analysis.

Kanto Matsuri (Akita Prefecture)

As a part of the Kanto Matsuri (“Pole Lantern Pageant”), performers stability big bamboo poles strung with lanterns, whereas drummers and different musicians play alongside. The competition’s highlights are the evening parades, when the lanterns are lit with candles, and the unimaginable balancing acts illuminate the evening.

Nagasaki Kunchi (Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki

Nagasaki Kunchi celebrates the Dutch and Chinese language influences on the historic and cosmopolitan metropolis of Nagasaki. Numerous neighborhood districts participate, with performances representing the cultural influences on this Japanese melting pot, together with Chinese language lion dances massive ship-shaped floats. Although the principle performances have paid seating, there are some free-seating occasions held all through the town.

Jidai Matsuri (Heian Shrine, Kyoto)

Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (“Pageant of the Ages”) takes you again in time by means of Kyoto’s thousand-year-reign because the capital of Japan. Over 2,000 samurai warriors, Heian courtroom princesses, geisha, and different traditionally important characters kind a procession from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine on this photogenic reenactment of Kyoto’s storied historical past.

Extra Japanese Matsuri Assets

Hopefully you’re now excited to go to Japan and attend a dynamic matsuri or two!

Please remember that for most of the above festivals — particularly the most well-liked, such because the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri and the Takayama Festivals — important advance planning is important, because it’s not unusual for lodging to promote out months prematurely.

For much more data on Japanese festivals, we additionally advocate the superb Japan-Information’s overview of festivals in Japan, and the helpful Japan Atlas’ information to Japanese festivals.