A trip to Japan is not complete without attending at least one festival. There are so many of these events taking place all year round, celebrating everything from the changing of seasons to ancient traditions, that it is likely you can be in Japan at the same time a festival is taking place. Whether it…
It is said that human beings and foxes lived together in the olden times. Foxes are depicted as intelligent creatures that have the ability to trick others or act as faithful guardians. The latter is the reason why there are many Japanese shrines dedicated to the deity of foxes. One example is Oji Inari Shrine,…
They say that light shines brightest in the darkest of nights. If you want to witness a parade of thousands of lights in Tokyo, the Oeshiki Festival is perfect for you! Held annually in October, the Oeshiki commemorates the death anniversary of Nichiren Shonin. This Buddhist festival is celebrated all over Japan, but the Oeshiki…
Whenever we sleep, we usually have a dream or two, perhaps even more. Sometimes we remember them, sometimes we don’t. If you do remember your dreams, what do you think they mean? In Japan, what started as a dream became a treasured tradition. Let’s find out more about the Miya Festival! History Miya Festival is…
October is a beautiful month to witness different festivals in Japan as the weather is pleasant and ideal for traveling around the country. Different regions celebrate varieties of traditional festivals. Some of these attract a lot of tourists who are interested in getting to know the country’s culture deeply. Here are two exciting Japanese festivals…
Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo’s districts where you can see several major attractions and events. This coming September 23 and 24, 2017, a huge festival will be held in order to bring the community to a festive mood. It is a great opportunity for locals and tourists alike to see an “Omikoshi,” which is a…
As the summer months are fast approaching, so are this season’s festivals and colorful events in Japan. In Osaka particularly, an annual event called “Heisei OSAKA Legend of the Milky Way” lights up the Okawa River with little LED balls, making the river look like our galaxy, the Milky Way. Check it out! The Legend…
18 More Photos to Show How Crazy and Interesting Halloween 2016 in Japan Was! Do you know that Halloween is a big crazy event in Japan nowadays? From small parties to gatherings in the streets of big cities – lots of various Halloween events are held and an insane number of people join them. Let’s…
A mikoshi is a divine palanquin which can be seen carried through the streets of Japan during certain festivals. In the past, the purpose of parading the Shinto gods along the streets was meant as a cleansing or purifying act. Such practice existed during the desperate times of plague and disaster. flickr.com/ The mikoshi may…
At some Japanese festivals, it is not uncommon for the festivities to be adorned by beautiful floats being paraded along the streets on certain events. In the city of Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, a small museum known as Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall houses 14 very old large parade floats which have been kept over a hundred…
