Festivals in Japan

Gujo Odori(Gujo Dance Festival)

Gifu-ken, Gujo-shi(Gujo city in Gifu prefecture)

8-gatsu chuujun(middle of August)

There are many types of Bon-odori (Bon dance) in Japan ... Gujo-odori is a kind of such Bon-odori (Bon dance) and the most largest one in Japan ...

Aoi Matsuri(Hollyhock Leaf Crest Festival)

Kyoto(in Kyoto)

5-gatsu chuujun(middle of May)

This is the annual festival of Shimogamo - jinja Shrine and Kamigamo - jinja Shrine. Its actual name is Kamo Festival. Along with the Gion Festival and the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages), it is one of the three big festivals in Kyoto...

Gion Matsuri(Gion Festival)

Kyosho, Gion(Gion in Kyoto)

7-gastu 17-nichi(17th. of July)

This festival originated during the outbreak of a pestilence in 869, when the people prayed to the deity of Gion - jinja Shrine, Susano-onomikoto, to rid the land of the pestilence. The festival lasts for about one month. The highlight is ...

Gozan Okuribi - Daimonji Yaki(Daimonji Gozan Fire Festival)

Kyoto(in Kyoto)

8-gatsu 16-nichi(16th. of August)

Daimonji on the Nyoigatake peak in Higashiyama, "Myoho" at Matsugasaki Nishiyama Higashiyama, "Funagata" at Nishigamo Funayama, Hidari Damonji at Daihokusan near Kinkaku - ji Temple...

Jidai Matsuri(Festival of the Ages)

Kyoto(in Kyoto)

10-gatsu 22-nichi(22nd. of October)

This is the annual festival of Heian - jinja Shrine. This event was started in 1895 in celebration of the 1,100th year since the capital had been transferred to Heian-kyo, ...

Todaiji - Omizutori(Omizutori)

Nara Todaiji(Todaiji temple in Nara prefecture)

3-gatsu(March)

A festival held at Todai-ji which is well-known as great Buddha temple. Omizutori is the common name of the ceremony, but the official name is "Shunie". Although "Omizu (water)" is in the name, it is actually a fire festival.

Nachi no Himatsuri(Fire Festival of Nachi)

Wakayama-ken, Kumano Taisha(Kumano shrine in Wakayama prefecture)

7-gatsu 14-ka(14th. of July)

Periodical big festival held at Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine, whose Ougi festival is known as "Fire Festival of Nachi". 10m length of 12 elongated ougi sacred palanquins are flamboyant, shining with gold color...

Danjiri Matsuri(Danjiri Float Festival)

Osaka-fu, Kishiwada-shi(Kishiwada city in Osaka)

9-gatsu to 10-gatsu(September and October)

The Danjiri Matsuri, (float festival) is said to have its origin in the "Inari Matsuri" held in the 16th year of the Genroku era(1703). Created by the Lord of Kishiwada Castle to pray for an abundant harvest ...

Tenjin Matsuri(Tenjin Festival)

Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi(Osaka city in Osaka)

7-gatsu gejun(late in July)

Tenjin Festival has a thousand-year history,...

Nada no Kenka Matsuri(Nada Kenka Festival)

Hyogo-ken, Himeji-shi(Himeji city in Hyogo prefecture)

10-gatsu chuujun(middle of October)

The "Nada Kenka Matsuri" of the Matsubara Hachiman Shrine is known nationwide for its magnificence and the heroic performance of portable-shrine bearers...

Awa Odori(Awa Dance Festival)

Tokushima-ken, Tokushima-shi(Tokushima city in Tokushima prefecture)

8-gatsu chuujun(middle of August)

Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year ...

Hakata Gion Yamakasa(Yamakasa Float Festival)

Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi(Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture)

7-gastu chuujun(middle of July)

There are many Gion festivals in Japan ... Hakata Gion Yamakasa participants carry the wheel-free Yamakasa float on their shoulders to dedicate to the Kushida Shrine, and therefore, Hakata Gion Yamakasa can be considered a unique Gion festival.

Nagasaki Kunchi(Nagasaki Kunchi Festival)

Nagasaki-ken, Nagasaki-shi(Nagasaki city in Nagasaki prefecture)

10-gatsu Nanoka - Tooka(7th. to 10th. of October)

Nagasaki Kunchi is a festival with a rich international flavor which shows the unique blend of cultures between Japan and overseas countries, especially China....

Yamaga Toro matsuri(Toro Lantern Festival)

Kumamoto-ken, Yamaga-shi(Yamaga city in Kumamoto prefecture)

8-gatsu chuujun(middle of August)

Thousands of Toro (Japanese traditional lantern) and Toro Dance in which one thousand women in Yukata ... (in Japanese)

Naha Haarii(Dragon-Boat Race)

Okinawa-ken, Naha-shi(Naha city in Okinawa prefecture)

5-gatsu 3, 4, 5(3rd, 4th., 5th. in May)

The Haarii is a dragon-boat race transmitted from China over 500 years ago. This is even older than the Pe-long of Nagasaki. The race is held all over Okinawa as a ritual for the safety of fishing and the good catch...

Ootsuna Hiki(Tug of War Festival)

Okinawa-ken, Naha-shi(Naha city in Okinawa prefecture)

10-gatsu chuujun(Middle of October)

This magnificent event has a long tradition as a congratulatory event since the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Its rope was recognized as the largest rope using natural materials in 1995...