At some point, Ojiya decided that just the year-round attractions don’t make it interesting enough. This is very lucky for us, because that means it has a lot of seasonal events for us to go through as well.
Tag: summer-festivals
Fifteen years ago, I would often have to explain that no, really, Japanese fireworks are a cut above the rest, and anyone who comes here in summer owes it to themselves to see it.
Japanese culture holds a deep respect for seasonality. From the reflection of seasons in traditional Haiku, to the waves of seasonal foodstuffs celebrated in markets across the country, marking the changes through the year is taken very seriously here.
Obon (お盆) is a Japanese Buddhist festival, held in the summer, during which people honor their ancestors and departed loved ones. It is believed that during Obon, the spirits of the dead revisit their families.
This is the 2nd part of our two-part introduction to Japan’s most famous summer festivals. In Part 1 we looked at the best festivals held in July. Below is the run-down for the August matsuri season.
Summer is the season for festivals in Japan. When a matsuri (festival) comes to your neighborhood the night resounds to the beat of taiko drums, and people put on colorful yukata (a light cotton kimono) before promenading through yatai (street stalls) where delicious treats and carnival games await. Every town has its own special matsuri, […]
When I take visitors from abroad to a festival in Japan, or just tell them about it (which is often, since they’re the entire country’s major and constant attraction from about May till September), I’m always careful to call it a festival and not a holiday.
This is the 2nd part of our two-part introduction to the best fireworks displays in Japan. For this article we have saved the very best till last, with Japan’s most spectacular pyrotechnic shows.
