The Gion Festival, or Gion Matsuri, is a famous yearly festival in Kyoto which draws crowds of visitors to downtown Kyoto. Dating back to 650 years in Japan’s history, this festival originated as part of a purification ritual to appease the gods that caused disasters such as plagues and earthquakes. Author’s photo Today, the Gion…
In Kyoto, the largest annual festival is Gion Matsuri, a summer festival held to ward off disease and disasters. If you weren’t aware, Gion Matsuri is actually celebrated throughout the entire month of July, with the main festivities taking place on the 17th. However, for those visiting Kyoto in July, there are still a number…
Discover this 400-year-old festival that has recently been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. See the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival this November 2017 in Kumamoto Prefecture! Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Dubbed as one of the three great festivals in Kyushu, the Yatsushiro Myoken Festival is celebrated yearly on November 22 and 23. An autumn festivity at…
When we hear or see the word “Himeji,” the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful white facade of Himeji Castle. Every autumn, a fierce fight takes place in the same city as this castle. Behold the battle of mikoshi and yatai at the Nada Fighting Festival! Nada Fighting Festival The Nada Fighting…
They say laughter is the best medicine. In every country in the world, laughter and comedy are celebrated in different ways, and Japan is no exception. In Japan, people say that laughter is so powerful that it can cheer up the gods! The Warai Festival, held in the town of Hidakagawa in Wakayama Prefecture, is…
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…
One of the oldest lakes in the world and the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) possesses a long and rich history. While it is known for the many tourist spots and resorts that surround it, there are also three festivals that should not be missed when visiting the lake. Let’s find out more…
Spring in Japan is well-known for the full bloom of sakura (桜; cherry blossoms). If you are going to visit Tokyo for the cherry blossoms this spring, then you can’t miss some of these popular spring festivals. Festivals, or matsuri (祭り), in Japan are common events. Almost every shrine celebrates their own festival. In Tokyo,…
Hi, readers! This is the Japan Info staff. We wanted to say thank you for always reading our articles and we’ve got a way for you to enjoy them more! Out of all the posts that have been published over the last week (August 8th to 14th) on Japan Info and/or on Facebook, we are…
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…
