The four consecutive public holidays that make up Golden Week in Japan are fun, but be prepared: half the country seems to traveling at the same time. This right was founded on the fact that the governor of Owari Province (presently Aichi Prefecture) visited the Owari Shosha Shrine (Konomiya shrine) to drive away evil spirits and calamities, because Emperor Shotoku ordered all the kokubun-ji* to offer invocations to dispel plagues.
With the arrival of spring in late March, a pink tide of cherry blossom washes north from Kyūshū, travels up Honshū during the month of April and peters out in Hokkaidō in early May. The first day of the year (ganjitsu) is usually spent with members of the family. Thousands of artists from all over Tohoku and even further regions come to Nango to perform. One of the best is the Earth Celebration on Sado-ga-shima, where the famed Kodo drummers collaborate with guests from the world music scene. A fair is traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in local neighborhoods. It’s a day to show off the students’ talents and the school itself to parents and prospective students. If you love planning, but find arranging the logistics exhausting, you’re in the right place. Attracting an audience of well over 100,000 and simpler to get to is Summer Sonic, a two-day event held in Chiba, just across the Edo-gawa River from Tokyo. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. The more important events are listed below. Some cities also hold displays in early August. festival episode may be well based at school’s Bunkasai. Other Names: Year-end (年の瀬, toshi no se), Year-end Fair (年の市, Toshi no Ichi). At midnight, Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times (the estimated number of worldly sins/desires). Similar for Nagasaki's Lantern Festival[1] that is based in Nagasaki Chinatown. Unlike in the West where the celebration revolves around New Year's Eve revelry and short-lived resolutions, Shogatsu focuses on bringing prosperity in the upcoming year — beyond just hangover recovery. Information: People do the general house cleaning (Ōsōji) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure influences. This festival is held from late January to mid February. Takayama Matsuri April 14–15. Fail to do so and you could find yourself spending much of your trip waiting in queues. 2008 Ministry of Land, I. T. (n.d.). Learn how and when to remove this template message, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 小学校学習指導要領 第4章 特別活動(Curriculum guideline of Elementary School Chapter 4: Special activity), 中学校学習指導要領 第4章 特別活動(Curriculum guideline of Lower Secondary School Chapter 4: Special activity), 高等学校学習指導要領　第4章　特別活動(Curriculum guideline of High school Chapter 4: Special activity), "Komaba Festival - Student Support - The University of Tokyo, Komaba", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cultural_festival_(Japan)&oldid=969041213, Articles with Japanese-language sources (ja), Articles needing additional references from January 2009, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 July 2020, at 01:45. Many businesses remain closed until at least January 3. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from EBSCO Host: This page was last edited on 9 September 2020, at 18:15. Shogatsu, the Japanese New Year celebration, falls on the familiar date of January 1 per the Gregorian calendar, but the celebration in Japan is stretched out days before and after. 20-year-olds celebrate their entry into adulthood by visiting their local shrine.

It is also a custom to eat toshikoshi-soba in the hope that one's family fortunes will extend like the long noodles. Many people start the new year by eating soba (buckwheat) noodles at midnight for good health.

Some games played at New Year's are karuta (a card game), hanetsuki (similar to badminton), tako age (kiteflying), and komamawashi (spinning tops).
You'll pay the dues without even getting to enjoy the fun! Public holiday. Each homeroom class will put on some sort of event (justified form the educational standpoint as teaching the students how to run a business); the two common involve turning a classroom either into a small cafe (kissaten), or a haunted house (obakeyashiki). According to legend, the only day in the year when the astral lovers, Vega and Altair, can meet across the Milky Way. The reason they are rung 108 times is because of the Buddhist belief that human beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions (bonnō). Cultural festivals (文化祭, Bunkasai) in Japan are annual open day events held by most schools, from nursery schools to universities at which their students display their artistic achievements. In the Imperial Palace at dawn on the 1st, the Emperor performs the rite of shihōhai (worship of the four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being of the nation. The celebrations themselves vary widely depending on the occasion, but almost always involve spirited processions of participants vigorously chanting, dancing, and bearing massive, … They are also intended to enrich people's lives by increasing social interaction and fostering community ties. Turn up the heat by attending one of the Fire Festivals, including the blazing Nachi Fire Festival on July 14th in Wakayama Prefecture that climaxes in twelve portable shrines in the shape of the Nachi Falls being set alight. About a dozen large sculptures are built for the festival along with around 100 smaller snow and ice sculptures. Okunchi Matsuri October 7–9. Cultural festivals (文化祭, Bunkasai) in Japan are annual open day events held by most schools, from nursery schools to universities at which their students display their artistic achievements. Here find some links to pictures of Bunkasai : There is a dance portion of this festival. Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) March 3. Festivals are held to display the students' learning, but many people visit a festival as a recreational diversion. On the last day of winter by the lunar calendar, people scatter lucky beans round their homes and at shrines or temples to drive out evil and welcome in the year’s good luck. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from VR Mag: Japan-Guide.com. This summer jazz festival doesn't cost anything but potential members of the public still need to receive a ticket to enter the event. It's considered one of the biggest festivals in Japan. For example, the climax of A Silent Voice (2016) takes place at the bunkasai. Tea ceremonies are held under trees; folk songs, traditional dances, beauty pageants, and even parades add to the festive atmosphere. Fires are lit in front of homes and lanterns help guide the spirits. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent evil spirits from entering and to show the presence of the toshigami. It takes place on the Kawaramachi and Oike Street of Kyoto. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and osechi (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. In autumn, the red Japanese maple leaves called momiji bring people outdoors. Mandatory - can not be deselected. Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) May 15. People visit shrines, temples, and family graves during Obon. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival held in Hirosaki Koen Hirosaki-city, Aomori prefecture. At Rough Guides, we understand that experienced travellers want to get truly off-the-beaten-track. [5] Normally it is held on a Saturday or Sunday; sometimes even both. The slopes of Wakakusa-yama, Nara, are set alight during a grass-burning ceremony. One big attraction of any Japanese festival is the beer and food. Learn how your comment data is processed. This festival is held early-mid April. At dawn, the Emperor of Japan prays for the nation. This itself has become such an ingrained part of the trope that it is rare to see any other possibilities? Kanda Matsuri Mid-May. and throws beans until he leaves. Tiered platforms for hina ningyō (hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake). The only other day that the public is allowed inside the gates is on December 23 for the Emperor's Birthday celebration. Get your dream travel planned & booked by local travel experts. There are cherry-blossom festivals, and the sake flows at blossom-viewing parties. Traditionally, most schools hold Bunkasai in autumn. This festival is held late April-early May (Mishima, Cherry Blossom Festivals 2010). Every city, town and village in Japan has at least one matsuri (festival) a year. Jidai Matsuri October 22. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in Nara in 606. Information: One traditional custom to mark the end of the Bon Festival. In Nara, the event is marked by a huge lantern festival on February 3. Japanese people take advantage by planning vacations; hotels, flights, and ground transportation fill up. Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls' Festival). It is said that the form of the festival, a struggle to touch the Naoinin or Shin-otoko (man of god), is reminiscent of the struggle in old times between the assemblage of lower-ranking Shinto priests called shanin and contributors tried to catch and set up a man for naoinin (shin-otoko), an unlucky poor man, who was unwilling to take the role. Awa Odori August 12–15. These games are played to bring more luck for the year. Fukuoka’s main festival culminates in a 5km race, with participants carrying or pulling heavy mikoshi, while spectators douse them with water. Summer is the season for fireworks, known as hanabi in Japan, lighting up the skies with spectacular, colorful displays. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear the temple bells rung 108 times at midnight (joya no kane). Japanese tea ceremonies and music performers are held at these festivals. Women give men gifts of chocolate on Valentine’s Day (February 14), while on White Day (March 14) men get their turn to give their loved ones more chocolates (white, of course). This is around late October and November. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. Young girls put on their best kimonos and visit their friends' homes.

The celebration takes place both inside the home and at the seashore. Constitution Memorial Day hits on May 3 and is followed by Greenery Day on May 4 then Children's Day on May 5.


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