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Japanese Festivals

Japanese Festivals. Back to homepage. Japanese Festivals Background. Japan has an abundance of local festivals

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Japanese Festivals

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  1. Japanese Festivals Back to homepage

  2. Japanese Festivals Background Japan has an abundance of local festivals Festivals in Japan areconnected with shrines and temples throughout the country. Most are held on an annual basis on a particular set date. Japan's festivals often celebrate the changing of the seasons, special historical events or are connected with fertility or prayers to the gods for good health. Most festivals in Japan are colorful, lively and joyous affairs often involving a procession with participants in period dress carrying through the streets a special, decorated palaquin containing the local Shinto Gods. Many festivals in Japan may also involve large, decorated floats, exhibitions of martial arts such as archery and horse-riding, music, dancing and quantities of food and drink served up from street stalls.

  3. Tanabata Festival “Star Festival” Tanabata, also known as the "star festival", takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year. One popular Tanabata custom is to write one's wishes on a piece of paper, and hang that piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the hope that the wishes become true. Colorful Tanabata festivals are held across Japan in early July and August.

  4. Sapporo Snow Festival The Sapporo Snow Festival is the most famous winter festival in Japan and attracts people from all over the world. This festival lasts about a week and begins in early February. More than 300 large snow statues are exhibited and the two biggest sites are in Sapporo and Hokkaido. The statues are illuminated with colorful lights at night making the views even more incredible.

  5. Kyoto Gion Festival The ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto is taken back in time during the Gion festival, by Yasaka Shrine. The Gion festival is one of the biggest festivals in Japan and begins July 1st and lasts until July 31st. At this time, there are many street vendors with games and Japanese festival food. It is said that the summer of Kyoto begins with the Gion Matsuri. The Gion festival was started in 869 A.D when a bad plague spread through Kyoto. In the first festival, young men carried numbers of wooden floats. It was a divine intervention to stop the plague. The plague soon ended, and this eventbecame a popular festival.

  6. Cherry Blossom Festival Cherry blossoms can be viewed from Jan. to June in different regions in Japan. There are hundreds of cherry blossom festivals held during this time. Pictures taken by me (Twyla Harvey) while at the 2004 Hirosoki Cherry Blossom Festival (Hirosoki, Japan). Top photo taken from top window of Hirosoki Castle.

  7. Aomori Nebuta Festival The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Japan and is known as Japan's fire festival. It's held from Aug. 2 to Aug. 7 every year. Over 20 nebuta floats are pulled by people in the streets of Aomori city. Also,Aomori citizens and audiences participate in the festival as dancers called haneto.

  8. Obon Festival The 13th through 16th of August is called obon in Japan. Obon is a Buddhist event and one of the most important traditions for Japanese people. It is the period of praying for the repose of the souls of one's ancestors. People believe that their ancestors‘ spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during obon.

  9. Setsubun - Mame Maki February 3rd is called Setsubun in Japan. It's not a national holiday, but Setsubun mame maki (bean throwing) festivals are held on the day. Traditionally, people throw roasted soy beans at home, shouting 'oni wa so to' (get out demons) and 'fu ku wa uchi‘ (come in happiness.) This beans are called fuku mame (fortune beans.) It is said that people Keep their health and happiness When they pick up and eat fuku mame a number equal to their ages.

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