Japanese festivals祭,祭り[ Matsuri ]

Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. There are also various local festivals (e.g. Tobata Gion) that are mostly unknown outside a given prefecture. It is commonly said that you will always find a festival somewhere in Japan.

from Japanese_festivals (Wikipedia) CC BY SA 3.0

Advice about Japanese festivals

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Yatai Foods: Savory Treats on a Stick

Japan has many different festivals - matsuri - throughout the year and no festival is complete without food from yatai food stalls （屋台）. Yatai sell sweet and savory foods and a lot of that is food on a stick.Ayu - あゆ: This small fish is very popular in Japan and is served both grilled on a …(232 words)

David

April 8 Flower Festival Celebrating Buddha's Birthday

April 8 is not a national holiday in Japan, but there are festivals at temples everywhere in the country. This day is the celebration of Buddha's birthday, often called Flower Festival （花まつり） or Kanbutsu-e （潅仏会）. In Japan the date for Buddha's Birthday is April 8, but some temples start …(243 words)

David

Oiran Parade : The screamingly bright colors!

Shinagawa Shukuba Festival is held on the last Saturday and Sunday of September every year. We just had one two weeks ago. One performance you should not miss is the parade of oiran (courtesans) wearing beautiful Kimono. If you are lucky, you will have an opportunity to watch one of those oiran par…(467 words)

EmiOnishi

How To Make the Strongest Wish: Shimanrokusennichi and Hozuki Flower Market at Senso-ji

Shimanrokusennichi at Senso-ji temple in Tokyo Asakusa is your chance to make the strongest wish possible.It might be Friday the 13th and a full moon as I am writing this, but an extremely auspicious day is coming up in a few weeks. July 10 is Shimanrokusennichi 四万六千日 at Senso-ji temple in…(236 words)

David

Yatai - Festival Food Stalls

There are a lot of matsuri - festivals - all over Japan especially in the summer. At the matsuri you can always find many kinds of yatai - food stalls. Even small local events have yatai, because the food is part of the festival. Yatai offer all sorts of fun yummy foods, both sweet and savoury. Ple…(126 words)

David

Matsuri (Festivals)

The best time to experience a festival in Japan is in from spring to fall. The best ones are in the summer, although many are technically in the spring or fall because their origins coincide with harvests or the opening and closing of fishing season.The most interesting and common matsuri are …(306 words)

mikekato

Amazing Japanese Festivals in August

Many neighborhood associations take great effort to prepare for the yearly Matsuri (festival) in their area. This photo is taken in August as a group in the Noge area of Yokohama transports their O-mikoshi (portable shrine). The taxi driver proudly told me that one of these shrines can cost more th…(166 words)

Tsukishima Mizukake Matsuri

Tsukishima is one of the small island in Tokyo Bay. It is famous for its monjayaki street today. Tsukishima in English mean the Island of the Moon, which is quite poetic, but it used to be a place for fishing in the past (it must be why it is called so as fishing occurs early morning, before th…(179 words)

Claire

Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri

Tanabata, which means "double seven" in Japanese, is celebrated usually on the 7th of July, as one might expect. It is a celebration stemming from the lunar/solar calendar and the meeting of a mythical cowherd and weaver girl throughout much of East Asia.On July 7th, people throughout Japan pl…(489 words)

mikekato

How to enjoy Matsuri in Shitamachi

May is the most comfortable month in Japan. Sun shines, flowers bloom and wind blows softly. However, in Shitamachi, May is the season of Matsuri, the summer festivals of Shrines.Usually, the main events including Miya-Mikoshi is on Sunday. In the early morning Mikoshi is started from a shrine …(241 words)

Keiko, OTT

Natsu Matsuri

I miss Japanese summer except for that humidity :) Song of crickets and cicadas, sound of wind-bell and baseball games on TV. Sit on tatami floor and have cold beer with edamame... I love them! You can't miss Omatsuri in summer, too! It is like a farmer's market with more activities. Please enj…(54 words)

Asiantiger

Yatai Sweets: Baby Castella Mini Cakes

Castella is Japanese sponge cake. It is one of the foods popular as omiyage souvenirs and gifts. Baby Castella don't make fancy gifts, but they are fun. Fresh, hot, and baked in front of you, I think they are one of the best sweet foods from yatai food stalls.Castella is made with simple ingred…(215 words)

David

Kameido Tenjin's birds for good fortune

Kameido Tenjin Shrine （亀戸天神社） is known as a shrine for people who wish for success in their studies, like passing exams. On January 24 and 25, the shrine has a special event, the usokae-shinji （鷽替神事）. Similar festivals are held at a few shrines in Japan, in Tokyo also at Yushima Tenjin, Ja…(241 words)

David

Let a Lion Bite Your Head (for Good Luck)

If you could use a little more good luck, let a lion help you. Lions protect many shrines and temples in Japan. The dance of the lion dispels evil and calls in good luck. For an extra dose of good luck put your head in the lion's mouth and let it bite you.This is the lion dance, shishi-mai, at Kame…(250 words)

David

Why Visit Japan in Summer

Japan is a true "year-round" destination, but if you like the heat - and lively festivals - then summer is the perfect time for you to visit!Summer in Japan lasts from about June to mid-September. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from approximately 70° to 90° Fahrenheit.…(320 words)

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

Summer in Japan

Why visit Japan in summer“Japan is a true "year-round" destination, but if you like the heat - and lively festivals - then summer is the perfect time for you to visit! Summer in Japan lasts from about June to mid-September. Summers isare hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from approximate…(431 words)

DeepJapan

Hadaka Matsuri, a.k.a "The Naked Man Festival"

On the third Saturday night in February, the annual Hadaka Matsuri is held at the Saidaiji Kannon-in temple in Okayama Prefecture. This year's festival will be held on February 21st, 2015.Originating in 1510, this historic festival is also one of Japan's largest Naked Man festivals. In fact, na…(349 words)

Andrea Miyata

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT JAPAN?

A common question we hear from travelers is, “If you could visit Japan at any time of year, when would you go?”One of the best things about Japan is that it’s truly worth visiting at any time of year! Every season has its highlights, and Japanese culture is remarkable in its appreciation of the…(350 words)

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

Yukata Festival in Hiroshima

Tokasan festival is one of the big festivals of the year in the Hiroshima city center. Food, drink and game stalls to enjoy as well as a dancing area to take part in traditional Japanese "obon" style "odori" dancing around the central drum and music tower. Tokasan is held on the first weekend i…(314 words)

jjwalsh

Sanja Matsuri/Festival in Asakusa - Summary and report

Of all the festivals in Asakusa year around, Sanja Matsuri Festival should be the most famous and the biggest one. If you have a chance, I encourage you to make a plan to see it once, referring to this and other sempai posts listed below. 1-2-3 basics;Sanja matsuri festival is held every y…(567 words)

Zara

Wisteria: Fuji - Spring Flowers in Japan

Tokyo changes all the time, but there are a few places left that feel unchanged. Kameido Tenjin Shrine is a place like this. I was there today for the wisteria flower festival and it was like walking through the old print from "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" by Utagawa Hiroshige. Wisteria flo…(154 words)

David

Popular Yatai Foods: Takoyaki

Takoyaki is among the most popular savoury foods from yatai food stalls. When there is a festival at a temple or shrine you will always find yatai there. Vendors sometimes also set up near train stations. Watch the food being prepared. The pieces are turned quickly to give them their round shap…(200 words)

David

Win with a Tai (yaki)

Tai, or sea bream, is a fish often used in Japan to celebrate something. The reason is because the sound is part of the word, "medetai," that indicates a cause for celebration. The winners of sumo tournaments, for example, celebrate by carrying a large tai, presumably to be consumed at the feast …(348 words)

mikekato

Popular Yatai Foods: Yakisoba

Yatai food stalls at festivals always include a yakisoba vendor. Yakisoba noodles are Japanese fried noodles, but they have nothing to do with soba. The noodles used here are more like the ones for ramen. The noodles are quickly cooked on a hotplate with vegetables, meat, or seafood and seasone…(215 words)

David

“Promotion Daimyo Character” Ieyasu Kun Rallies for your Success in Hamamatsu City, Japan

Festooned with Symbols of Success for Japan “Ieyasu Kun” will make you smile and help you feel you can do anything you set your mind to.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlwK79Rl3ioHis “Chon Mage” hair fashion says it all! Look closely at Ieyasu Kun’s head and you will see it is not a black ha…(566 words)

Anime Genius in Japan: Sin-San

We call him “Master” and that honorific describes him to a “T”. The owner at a restaurant in Japan is often referred to as “Master” or in Japanese pronunciation “Masuta—“. Senpai Hint! When you are at a loss for how to address the guy in charge at a restaurant or bar in Japan, feel free to use …(803 words)

2.5 Jigen Kamimatsuri: Anime/Subculture Event

Video coverage by Subtokyo:http://youtu.be/LMFhlqb9JbwI've been to many Anime or Subculture related events during my past 5 years in Japan and even before that when I was back in America. While the most exciting of events usually happen at giant convention centers like Tokyo Big Sight and Mak…(594 words)

Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo

Enjoy the cherry blossoms

Every spring, it is the same thing: everyone are getting very (positively) anxious and are looking forward to enjoying the cherry blossoms.Spring is there. 8 blossoms on a tree, and it's done. Cherry blossom season is launched. Time to prepare your picnic and enjoy it under the trees, if you f…(169 words)

Claire

Who would ever think up a festival like this and then keep it going for 1,200 years

Who would ever think up a festival like this and then keep it going for 1,200 yearsIt was our second day of pulling a ten-ton log down a mountain with 50 hefty men clad in fancy gear riding on top of it that my friend Andrew visiting from Australia turned to me and said, "who would ever dream up …(971 words)

Phil

Japan Festivals and when, where and how to enjoy.

Wow, where do I begin, there are many many many festivals in around Tokyo to enjoy in the hot hot days of summer.Matsuri, Samba, Fireworks, Music! You name it Tokyo has it. Since there are so many, I'd like to guide you to this link, which has a nice list and lots of info for you to choose fr…(110 words)

DjMarvin

Tomioka Hachiman

Festival at Tomioka Hachiman is great. Once three years, there are lots of Omikoshi going out in the town. That is called Mizukake Matsuri (water pouring festival).I also recommend the festival at Ohtori shrine in Meguro. It is held in September.(42 words)

juninada

Omatsuri in Tokyo

I think the one of the best festival in Tokyo is the Akasuka SANJYA MATSURI this festival is held on the 3rd week of May Friday,~sunday!! In this festival both men & women participate!!! Asakusa is the last station on the Ginza line (subway)(44 words)

Pop

Firefly Festival "Hotaru Matsuri"

Firefly festivals are held all over Japan usually at the beginning of summer. Almost every community with a waterway has one and they are open to the public. There are usually food stalls selling yaki soba (fried noodles) and yaki tori (chicken kebabs).(43 words)

Kenji