Japan Calendar of Events |
Date |
“Okunchi” Festival of Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki
This festival is highlighted by a parade of floats of Chinese origin including “ k a s a - b o k o ” carts, lavishly decked with umbrella-shaped decorations along the city’s main streets. Colorful dances of Chinese origin are also performed. |
October 7th - 9th |
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“Marimo Matsuri” on Lake Akan, Hokkaido
“Marimo” (Aegagropila sauteri) is a singular spherical green weed, found in Lake Akan in Hokkaido and Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi Prefecture. The festival is given by the native Ainu inhabitants. On the 9th Ainu dances are performed on the lakeshore and o n the 10th the weeds are thrown into the water with ceremony.
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October 13th - 15th |
“Takayama Matsuri” of Hachiman Shrine, Takayama
This festival, said to date back to the 15th century, is noted for the gala procession of gorgeous floats. |
October 9th & 10th |
Health-Sports Day
National Holiday
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October 9th |
“Oeshiki” Festival of Hommonji Temple, Tokyo
This festival is celebrated in commemoration of the Buddhist leader, Nichiren (1222–1282). People march toward the temple carrying large lanterns decorated with paper |
October 12th & 13th |
“Nada Kenka Matsuri” or Roughhouse Festival of Matsubara Shrine, Himeji, Hyogo Pref .
Gorgeous shrine palanquins jostle each other and the bearers vie to show their skill in managing the palanquins. |
October 14th & 15th |
Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, Tochigi Pref.
A palanquin is carried from the main shrine to the sacred place called “Otabisho” escorted by armor-clad parishioners. |
October 17th |
“Jidai Matsuri” or Festival of Eras , Heian Shrine, Kyoto
This festival is held to commemorate the founding of the old capital city of Kyoto in 794 . It is featured by a procession of over 2,000 people in groups, attired in picturesque costumes, representing important epochs in the city’s history. |
October 22nd |
Fire Festival of Yuki S h r i n e , Kurama, Kyoto
Long rows of torches placed along the street leading to the shrine are set on fire and gaily-dressed children march to the shrine holding burning torches. |
October 22nd |
Culture Day
National Holiday |
November 3rd |
“Daimyo Gyoretsu” at Hakone, Kanagawa Pref.
The long parade passes along the old Tokaido Highway lined on both sides with tall cryptomeria trees. |
November 3rd |
“Okunchi” Festival of Karatsu Shrine, Karatsu, Saga Pref.
This festival is highlighted by a parade of huge colorful floats pulled along the streets by young men in gay uniforms with music accompaniment. |
November 2nd - 4th |
“Shichi-go-san” or Children’s Shrine Visiting Day in all Japan
“Shichi-go-san” literally means “seven-five-three”, and children of these three years, a l l dressed in their best, are taken to the shrines by their parents to express their thanks to the tutelary deities for their good health and to pray for future blessings. |
November 15th |
Labor Thanksgiving Day
National Holiday |
November 23rd |
“Chichibu Yo-matsuri” or a l l - n i g h t festival, Chichibu City, Saitama Pref .
The festival, counted as one of the three grandest float festivals in Japan, is highlighted by a parade of six huge, lavishly adorned and lantern-lit floats. On the evening of the 3rd, all the floats assemble at the Chichibu Shrine (around 7:00 p.m.) and proceed along the city’s main streets. A display of fireworks at Hitsujiyama Park, 8:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m., will add color to the festivity. In the daytime, a performance of a local Kabuki Play on a temporary stage set up in front of Musashino Bank, 1:00
p.m.–3:00 p.m., will also be worthwhile seeing .
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December 2nd & 3rd |
1 4 t h “Gishi-sai” at Sengakuji Temple, Tokyo
“Gishi-sai” or memorial celebration of the famous vendetta carried out by the 47 R o n i n (masterless samurai) of Ako (present Hyogo Pref. back in 1702) will take place in Nihombashi over Ryogoku Bridge. The costume parade by businessmen reenacting the famous vendetta will start from Nihombashi Memmo Co., at 6:00 p.m., nearH i g a s h i - Nihombashi Sta. on the Toei Asakusa Line, crossing Ryogoku Bridge, and will arrive at the Matsuzakacho Park around 6:30 p.m. After a reception at Matsuzakacho Park, the warriors will proceed to Higashi-Nihombashi Sta. to catch the Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Sengakuji Sta. They are due at the Sengakuji Temple, the burial placeof the 47 Ronin, at around 7:30 p.m., and a memorial service will be held in the
worship hall for the repose of the separated souls. |
December 14th |
“Hagoita Ichi” or battledore Fair, Asakusa, Tokyo
It is held in the compound of Asakusa Kannon Temple, Asakusa Sta. on the Ginza
Subway Line, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day. Stalls will be open all night. |
December 17th - 19th |
“On-Matsuri” of Kasuga Shrine, Nara
The festival is featured by a gala procession of people masquerading as courtiers,
r e t a i n e r s and wrestlers of those long-ago days. |
December 17th |
Emperor’s Birthday
National Holiday |
December 23rd |
“Namahage” on Oga Peninsula, Akita Pref.
In the evening, groups of “Namahage,” men disguised as devils, make door-to-door
v i s i t s , growling, “Any good-for-nothing fellow hereabout?” |
December 31st |
“Okera Mairi” at Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto
At midnight a sacred fire is kindled in the shrine precincts, and each worshiper tries to
take some of the sparks to his home, with which to cook the first meal of the new year. |
December 31st |
