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SUMMER – Play time in the land of Nature
Summer is the season of rice planting, as well as being the time of total greenery throughout the country. The green cherry leaves, maples, oaks and chestnuts in mountain forests contrast with the deeper tints of evergreen pines, while the delicate shoots of bamboo sway gently throught the land.
Summer is the season of fireworks. Almost every night, communities around Japan stage lively firework displays colorfully enlivening the night skies.
Summer throught Japan culminates with large-scale festivals, many with folk dancing, as well as “Bon odori” dance meetings for the recreation of local residents, friends and visitors.
Festivals and Events
Mid-June Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine in Tokyo features a procession of portable shrines through the busy streets of the Akasaka District, every other year.
2nd Sat.of June Chagu-chagu Umakko Horse Festival in Morioka where colorfully decorated horses are on parade.
July 7 Tanabata or Star Festival throught Japan. The most famous is held in Sendai with the decoration of numerous bamboo branches with colorful paper stripes.
Mid-July (for 15 days) Fourth Sumo Tournament, Nagoya.
July 13-15 (or August in many areas) Bon Festival throughout the country. Religious rites are held in memory of the dead. Bon odori folk dances are offered to comfort their souls.
July 14 Nachi Shrine Himatsuri or Fire Festival, Nachi-Katsura features the bearing of 12 giant torches by white-robed prients.
July 1-15 Hakata Gion Yamagasa in Fukuoka peaks on the 15th with a parade of giant floats.
July 16-17 Gion Matsuri, the largest festival in Kyoto, dates back to the 9th century. Gorgeously bedecked traditional floats parade through the main streets.
Last Sat.of July Grand Fireworks Display over the Sumida River in Tokyo.
July or August Kangensai Music Festival of ItsukushimaShrine in Hiroshima, featuring court music and dances.
July 24-25 Tenjin Matsuri of Temmangu Shrine in Osaka features a parade of boats bear-ing portable shrines on the Dojima River.
August 1-7 Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Aomori (August 2-7), and Neputa Matsuri Festival in Hirosaki (August 1-7), with parades og enormous lighted papier-mache dummies set on floats.
August 3-6 Kanto Matsuri Festival in Akita, featuring a parade of long bamboo poles hung with many lighted lanterns.
August 5-7 Hanagasa Matsuri in Yamagata, with a dance parade of some 10,000 townspeople wearing traditional straw hats with colorful artifical flowers.
August 12-15 Awa Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima. The entire city resounds with singing and dancing day and night.
August 16 Daimonji Bonfire on the hills overlooking Kyoto.
AUTUM-Tinted leaves and harvest time
While the summer linger into September here and there, by October most at Japan is enjoying the cool, crisp days of its distinct autumn.
Autumn in Japan brings swings swirls of changing leaves, in vivid hues of crimson, gold, bronze and yellow, that paint its hills and mountainsides in carpets of color. The season of harvest. In rural areas, the many rice fields turn to gold, and the grain is soon cut and stacked or hung out to day in neat, even rows. A time of frequent festivals, sports meets and cultural functions around the country.
Eager crowds also, throng to the many chrysanthemum shows which crop up around the country.
Festivals and Events
September 16 Yabusame or Horseback Archery takes place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura.
Mid-September (for 15 days) 5th Sumo Tournament, Tokyo.
October 7-9 Kunchi Festival of Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki features a dragon dance of Chinese origin.
October 9-10 Takayama Matsuri of Hachimangu Shrine is noted for its parade of colorful floats.
Mid-October Nagoya City Festival with a procession of feudal lords along the city streets.
October 14-15 Kenka Matsuri or “Roughhouse” Festival of Matsubara Shrine in Himeji reaches its climax on the 15th.
Mid-October –Mid-November Chrysanthemum Exhibitions at Meiji Shrine and Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo.
October 17 Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, with a parade of palanquins escorted by armor-clad retainers.
October 22 Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Ages of Heian Shrine in Kyoto is one of the three grandest festivals of Kyoto
October 22 Fire Festival of Yuki Shrine, Kurama, in Kyoto, features long rows of torches embedded along approaches to the shrine.
November 2-4 Okunchi of Karatsu Shrine in Saga is famous for its parade of colorful floats.
November 3 Daimyo Gyoretsu in Hokane is a faithful reproduction of a feudal lord’s procession.
Mid-November Tori-no-ichi, or Rake Fair of Otori Shrine in Kanto Region.
Mid-November (for 15 days) Sixth Sumo Tournament, Fukuoka.
November 15 Sichi-go-san (7-5-3) is the shrine-visiting day for children aged 3, 5 and 7 in appreciation of their good health given them by the guardian goods.
Summer is the season of rice planting, as well as being the time of total greenery throughout the country. The green cherry leaves, maples, oaks and chestnuts in mountain forests contrast with the deeper tints of evergreen pines, while the delicate shoots of bamboo sway gently throught the land.
Summer is the season of fireworks. Almost every night, communities around Japan stage lively firework displays colorfully enlivening the night skies.
Summer throught Japan culminates with large-scale festivals, many with folk dancing, as well as “Bon odori” dance meetings for the recreation of local residents, friends and visitors.
Festivals and Events
Mid-June Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine in Tokyo features a procession of portable shrines through the busy streets of the Akasaka District, every other year.
2nd Sat.of June Chagu-chagu Umakko Horse Festival in Morioka where colorfully decorated horses are on parade.
July 7 Tanabata or Star Festival throught Japan. The most famous is held in Sendai with the decoration of numerous bamboo branches with colorful paper stripes.
Mid-July (for 15 days) Fourth Sumo Tournament, Nagoya.
July 13-15 (or August in many areas) Bon Festival throughout the country. Religious rites are held in memory of the dead. Bon odori folk dances are offered to comfort their souls.
July 14 Nachi Shrine Himatsuri or Fire Festival, Nachi-Katsura features the bearing of 12 giant torches by white-robed prients.
July 1-15 Hakata Gion Yamagasa in Fukuoka peaks on the 15th with a parade of giant floats.
July 16-17 Gion Matsuri, the largest festival in Kyoto, dates back to the 9th century. Gorgeously bedecked traditional floats parade through the main streets.
Last Sat.of July Grand Fireworks Display over the Sumida River in Tokyo.
July or August Kangensai Music Festival of ItsukushimaShrine in Hiroshima, featuring court music and dances.
July 24-25 Tenjin Matsuri of Temmangu Shrine in Osaka features a parade of boats bear-ing portable shrines on the Dojima River.
August 1-7 Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Aomori (August 2-7), and Neputa Matsuri Festival in Hirosaki (August 1-7), with parades og enormous lighted papier-mache dummies set on floats.
August 3-6 Kanto Matsuri Festival in Akita, featuring a parade of long bamboo poles hung with many lighted lanterns.
August 5-7 Hanagasa Matsuri in Yamagata, with a dance parade of some 10,000 townspeople wearing traditional straw hats with colorful artifical flowers.
August 12-15 Awa Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima. The entire city resounds with singing and dancing day and night.
August 16 Daimonji Bonfire on the hills overlooking Kyoto.
AUTUM-Tinted leaves and harvest time
While the summer linger into September here and there, by October most at Japan is enjoying the cool, crisp days of its distinct autumn.
Autumn in Japan brings swings swirls of changing leaves, in vivid hues of crimson, gold, bronze and yellow, that paint its hills and mountainsides in carpets of color. The season of harvest. In rural areas, the many rice fields turn to gold, and the grain is soon cut and stacked or hung out to day in neat, even rows. A time of frequent festivals, sports meets and cultural functions around the country.
Eager crowds also, throng to the many chrysanthemum shows which crop up around the country.
Festivals and Events
September 16 Yabusame or Horseback Archery takes place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura.
Mid-September (for 15 days) 5th Sumo Tournament, Tokyo.
October 7-9 Kunchi Festival of Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki features a dragon dance of Chinese origin.
October 9-10 Takayama Matsuri of Hachimangu Shrine is noted for its parade of colorful floats.
Mid-October Nagoya City Festival with a procession of feudal lords along the city streets.
October 14-15 Kenka Matsuri or “Roughhouse” Festival of Matsubara Shrine in Himeji reaches its climax on the 15th.
Mid-October –Mid-November Chrysanthemum Exhibitions at Meiji Shrine and Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo.
October 17 Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, with a parade of palanquins escorted by armor-clad retainers.
October 22 Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Ages of Heian Shrine in Kyoto is one of the three grandest festivals of Kyoto
October 22 Fire Festival of Yuki Shrine, Kurama, in Kyoto, features long rows of torches embedded along approaches to the shrine.
November 2-4 Okunchi of Karatsu Shrine in Saga is famous for its parade of colorful floats.
November 3 Daimyo Gyoretsu in Hokane is a faithful reproduction of a feudal lord’s procession.
Mid-November Tori-no-ichi, or Rake Fair of Otori Shrine in Kanto Region.
Mid-November (for 15 days) Sixth Sumo Tournament, Fukuoka.
November 15 Sichi-go-san (7-5-3) is the shrine-visiting day for children aged 3, 5 and 7 in appreciation of their good health given them by the guardian goods.
