Are you looking for an unforgettable experience in Japan? Festivals in Japan are called Matsuri and they are spectacular and one of the best ways to explore Japanese culture. The colorful festivals are filled with exuberance and tradition. Japan offers some of the most unique festivals around the world. You will see Japan at its liveliest and high-energy during these festivals. Roam around and try out an incredible array of extraordinary, casual, and seasonal Japanese foods. Street food is not very prevalent in Japan but it is not the case during festivals. You will find the streets lined with food stalls called yatai.
Kanda Festival
Kanda Festival is one of the best festivals Tokyo has. It is celebrated at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo. This festival is one of Tokyo’s big three festivals. Kanda Festival takes place only in odd-numbered years and lasts an entire week. The highlight of the festival is the main parade that occurs on the Saturday closest to May 15th. You will find people marching across the streets of central Tokyo. The Kanda Festival represents prosperity for the residents. If you are in Tokyo during this time, nothing can be better than the parade of portable shrines, performers, priests on horseback, and dancers endowing local spectators.
Sanja Festival
Sanja Festival is celebrated in Tokyo’s old-fashioned Asakusa Shrine. This Shinto Festival is held on the third Sunday of May. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in Japan which draws around 2 million visitors over three days. This festival has been celebrated for so long, some suggest the 7th century. Sanja Festival is quite a raucous festival that offers plenty of games and food to be enjoyed. You will find streets flooded with flute players, taiko drummers, and people chanting. People believe that the more roughly the three mikoshis are shaken, the more good luck will be bestowed upon the areas they pass.
Yuki Festival
The Yuki Festival is one of the most popular winter events in Japan. It is also known as the Sapporo snow festival. The festivities are held for about a week in Hokkaido. It is a huge cultural festival featuring awe-inspiring snow and ice sculptures. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in Japan attracting more than two million visitors from Japan and across the world every year. If you are in Sapporo during this time of the year, don’t miss out on one of the world’s great snow and ice festivals. The view of sculptures is magical in the evenings when they are beautifully illuminated. Enjoy activities like snowball fights, concerts, an international snow-sculpting competition, culinary happenings, snow slides, and ice bars.
Hanabi Festival
One of the most dazzling festivals in Japan is the Hanabi Festival. It is also known as the Fireworks Festival. You will never see such breathtaking fireworks anywhere else in the world. The fireworks are unique and are elevated to art here. You will find Hanabi artisans taking their jobs seriously. Throughout the summer, these festivals are celebrated all over the country. If you are in Tokyo or Osaka, don’t miss these out. Make sure to arrive early if you want to secure a good spot. Some of the most popular Fireworks Festivals are Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, Edogawa Fireworks Festival, and Katsushika Noryo Fireworks Festival. These festivals attract millions of people from around the world.
Gion Festival
The Gion Festival is among the best festivals in Japan. Arguably, it is known as the mother of all Japanese celebrations. It is a part of a purification ritual that is meant to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods, and earthquakes. Gion Festival is a long festival that is celebrated for the whole month of July. Every day something new and different happens. If you are in Kyoto during this time of year, it is the best way to explore the culture and history of the region. Preceding the main float possessions, Yoi-Yama is celebrated. You will be surprised for sure while being in Kyoto during the festival.
Kishiwada Danjiri
The last festival on our list of recommendations for you is the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival. It is celebrated in Kishiwada, South Osaka, and is a harvest festival to pray for a good autumn bounty. Danjiri is a traditional shrine or temple-shaped Japanese wooden float decorated with carvings and lots of ornaments. This wild party is celebrated in mid-September. You will be surprised to know that most of the Danjiri floats weigh over 3000 kg. A team of up to 1000 members is needed to pull it. These floats represent different districts of the city. It is one of the most colorful festivals in Japan. With so many festivals it’s hard to decide which one is better, but we would recommend you to visit as many as you can. There is always some festival happening somewhere in Japan.
