Japanese Festivals
Japanese Festivals
Miyako Odori
Spring in Japan is notable for a variety of reasons, including the famous cherry blossom season. In Kyoto, the Miyako Odori is one of the most beautiful celebrations honoring the blossoms. Showcasing special cherry blossom dances, the Geisha of Kyoto perform a unique performance during the cherry blossom season. Tracing Its Origins Dating back to... Read More
Doll Festival- Hina-Matsuri
Taking place on March 3, annually, the Doll Festival, also referred to Hina-Matsuri is celebrated in Japan. Another holiday is known as “Girls’ Day” also coincides with the Doll Festival, taking place on March 3. The Doll Festival honors a tradition that has been around since the Edo Period in the 17th Century and displays... Read More
Obon Festival
Japanese Obon Festival also referred to as Bon, is a ceremonial custom which dates back some 500 years – honoring and celebrating the spirits of family members who have passed. The tradition comes from Buddhist-Confucianism and is celebrated over three days, it is considered a festival of souls. It involves both the cleaning of gravesites and... Read More
Omisoka Festival
Taking place just before the Japanese New Years Festival, Omisoka is a significant and important date, occurring on December 31 annually. The holiday is symbolic and the goal is to prepare for the coming year, moving forward in the right direction. There are a variety of customs and traditions, that are often connected to the... Read More
Japanese Floating Lantern Festival – Toro Nagashi
Literally translating to “lantern” and “cruise/float”, respectively, the Japanese Floating Lantern Festival- Toro Nagashi, represents the Japanese concepts of floating paper lanterns down a river. Traditionally, this idea of floating paper lanterns symbolized the guiding of souls, those who have left the physical world and now exist spiritually. History of Toro Nagashi The first ceremony... Read More
Tanabata Festival – Star Festival
Taking place in the summer months, the Japanese Tanabata Festival is based on tradition in which people write their wishes onto small colorful pieces of paper, these colorful strips are then hung onto bamboo branches. These unique papers that hold the wishes are referred to as tanzaku. Another style of celebrating this concept can also... Read More
Hanamatsuri Festival – Buddha’s Birthday
Traditionally, Hanamatsuri Festival, Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated across East Asia in a variety of different ways. It generally falls in the spring, but depending on where it is celebrated, it can be in April, May, or June. It is believed that this particular date coincides with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, a once-Indian prince who... Read More
Hanami Festival
Most often referring to cherry blossoms, the Hanami Festival celebrates the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying flowers. Starting towards the end of March and lasting until the beginning of May, cherry blossoms – sakura, as well as plum trees – ume are in blossom all around the country. This is the ideal time to celebrate... Read More
Japanese New Year (Shōgatsu)
One of the most important and influential holidays in Japan, the Japanese New Year, known as Shogatsu or Oshogatsu is celebrated across the country. Taking place on January 1, most businesses close for the celebrations, enabling everyone to partake in the celebration. In Japan, the new year symbolizes a new start and an opportunity to... Read More