5 Summer Festivals in Japan
1) Nebuta Matsuri ねぶた祭 (Aomori)
Pic by annintofu
Held in Aomori Prefecture from August 2 to 7. The festival is known for its enormous lantern floats of up to nine meters high, made of painted washi paper over wire frames which takes a year to design and construct. They depict gods, historical samurai and mythical figures like the legendary beasts, Nebuta.
Source : Japan Guide
2) Tokushima Awa Odori 阿波おどり (Shikoku)
Pic by Justin Bowdidge
Held in Tokushima Prefecture during the Obon season from August 12 to 15. In the evening, the city center shuts down as the streets turn into a large dance stage where the performers dance down the streets for onlookers to see and join in the fun, there are also game and food stalls decorating the streets.
Source : Japan Guide
3) Gion Matsuri 祇園祭 (Kyoto)
Pic by TokyoViews Also known as the festival of Yasaka Shrine which takes place throughout the whole month of July, where there are grand procession of floats, Yamaboko Junko during the day and Yoiyama in the evening. It dates back to 869 as a religious ceremony to appease the gods during the outbreak of an epidemic.
Source : Japan Guide
4) Hanabi 花火 (the most famous one in Kamakura)
Pic by Bensen Ho
Hanabi means fireworkds, the festival originally meant to ward off evil sprits in ancient times is now held during the summer holidays in July and August. A festival that is widely portrayed in anime and dramas where people dressed in yukata come together to enjoy good food, fun games and beautiful fireworks.
Source : Japan Guide
5) Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri 岸和田だんじり祭 (Osaka)
Pic by Guifré
Held in September in the city of Kishiwada in southern Osaka Prefecture. A 300-year-old tradition, Danjiri Matsuri (wooden float festival) brings a team from each of Kishiwada’s thirty-four neighborhoods together to compete by manually pulling their four-ton danjiri through the city’s streets.
Source : Osaka Info
