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Festivals
Taiko drummers performing at a local festival
Japan has an abundance of local festivals,
known as matsuri, connected with shrines and
temples throughout the country. Most are
held annually on a particular set date or
within a few days of this. They celebrate or
commemorate a number of things, from
seasonality or historic events to ancient
legends and deities. Festivals are sociable and
community-based events and more often
than not are colourful, raucous and joyous.
Mikoshi being paraded at Sanja Matsuri
These lively affairs often involve a procession,
whose participants carry a mikoshi – a special,
decorated shrine containing the spirit of the
local Shinto kami (gods) – through the streets.
Many festivals also involve large, decorated
floats, music and traditional dances.
As the festivals are popular with domestic
tourists, accommodation during some of
the larger ones can be difficult to secure
at late notice.
Key festivals
Yuki Matsuri (early February)
Held every February in Sapporo, the capital
city of Hokkaido, this week-long snow
festival sees huge ice sculptures created
along the Odori-koen park, ranging from near
life-size imitations of feudal castles to kitsch
replicas of cartoon favourites. The event is
illuminated at night and is a spectacular sight
from the TV tower at the end of the park’s
main thoroughfare.
Sanja Matsuri (16-21 May)
The Sanja matsuri of Asakusa Shrine is one
of the three biggest festivals in Tokyo, along
with the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival.
It became very popular during the Edo
period (1603-1868), and today involves the
parading by residents of more than a hundred
mikoshi around the crowded streets near
Asakusa Shrine.
Nebuta Matsuri, Aomori
Nebuta Matsuri (early August)
The Nebuta Matsuri is held in Aomori and
attracts more than three million visitors each
year. Legend has it that in the 9th century AD,
General Tamuramaro subjugated his enemies’
armies by frightening them with huge lanterns,
replicas of which are now carried through the
streets on festival evenings. This is definitely a
festival to find yourself caught up in and
carried away by.
Jidai Matsuri (22 October)
Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
dates back to 1895, and takes place to
commemorate Kyoto becoming the capital of
Japan in 794 AD. The focal point is the Jidai
Gyoretsu procession, which features a parade
of splendid traditional costumes. At the front,
participants wear the local dress of 1868
(the year that the capital was transferred to
Tokyo) with the costumes behind going
progressively back in time until the Heian
period (6th Century AD).
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