Mitama Matsuri (みたままつり) is one of the most popular summer festivals in Tokyo. Celebrated since 1947, it is an Obon festival and Japanese people honor the spirits of their ancestors. It takes place at Yasukuni Shrine on 13-16 July. Each year more than 300,000 visitors come here for the spectacular and nostalgic atmospere created by the […]
Tanabata (the “night of the seventh”) is the night when the two lovers, Hikoboshi and Orihime (the stars Altair and Vega), meet on the bridge that connects the ends of Milky Way. According to legend, the Milky Way separates the lovers and they can only meet once a year on the seventh day of […]
Shinmachi Sakura Matsuri at JGSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force) Camp Shinmachi. Enjoy cherry blossoms while walking around the base. Self-defense force demonstrations and vehicles are on display and you can have photos with Japanese commandos. The festival is held in April every year. About 2 hours by train from Tokyo (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and JR Takasaki Line), at Shinmachi, Gunma […]
The Chichibu Yomatsuri (Night Festival) is one of the three major float festivals in Japan, along with the Kyoto Gion Festival and the Hida Takayama Festival. Started around 300 years ago, it is held annually on December 2 and 3 at Chichibu city, Saitama Prefecture. During the festival, people pull gorgeous floats around Chichibu, while […]
During the June weekends of Katsushika Iris Festival many events are being held at Horikiri Garden and Mizumoto Park. One of them is the parade around the Horikiri Shobuen Station with performance of traditional dance Awa Odori. Photos-video: Junko Nagata © Japanbyweb.com Video Junko NagataCo-founder of Japanbyweb.com
Katsushika Iris Festival (Katsushika Shobu Matsuri) is held annualy (early-mid June) in two locations in Katsushika (葛飾区) one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo. The first location is Horikiri Shobuen, a famous and old garden of Edo. There are 6,000 Iris flowers of 200 varieties in this garden. Its beauty during the iris flowers blooming […]
Shinobazu Pond is located in the south of Ueno Park and it is divided in three sections. The Lotus Pond with lotus flowers and huge green leaves that completely cover its surface during the summer, the Boat Pond with rental boats, and the Cormorant Pond which takes its name from the birds that inhabit it. […]
Tanabata Masturi (the Star Festival) in Fussa, a town located in western Tokyo, celebrate the yearly meeting of the star-crossed lovers Princess Orihime and Hikoboshi. The festival hosts a wide range of events centered around Fussa Station such as a Princess Orihime Contest and various parades including a folk dance parade. Over 100 fair stalls by residents stand side by side in the […]
Kenkoku Kinen-no-hi Hoshuku Parade is held on the National Foundation Day (建国記念の日, Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) celebrated annually on February 11 and marking the foundation of Japan and the accession of Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan to the throne in 660BC. The parade starts from Meiji Park at 10 a.m., proceeding along Gaien-Nishi Street, Aoyama Street, and […]
Kuri Matsuri (Chestnut Festival) is held on the 27th and 28th of September at Okunitama Jinja, one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo, located in the center of Fuchu City. Okunitama is known as one of the five major shrines in Tokyo, the others being Tokyo Daijingu, Yasukuni Jinja, Hie Jinja and Meiji Jingu. This […]
Hiwatari Matsuri, the fire-walking festival, is held on the second Sunday of March every year at Yakuoin Temple which is located atop Mt. Takao. At this traditional event, believers first pray for the safety of family and good health and and then follow yamabushi (Shugendo practicing monks) to walk barefoot over the sacred goma fire that is […]
The Shirasagi no Mai (White Heron Dance), dates back to the Heian period and embodies the slow and graceful movements of that time. The dance was restored in November of 1968 by the Asakusa Tourist Federation to commemorate Tokyo’s 100th Anniversary as the capital of Japan. The parade includes a lineup of 3 warriors, 1 […]
