Japanese festivals and the annual calendar
Matsuri are Japan's shrine and temple festivals, many centuries old, with portable shrines, floats, dances and fire. Alongside them runs the calendar of seasonal observances that every household knows.
Aomori Nebuta FestivalAomori Nebuta MatsuriLantern giants, taiko drums and leaping dancers in Honshu's far northAugustAwa OdoriAwa OdoriDancing fools and watching fools: four nights of Bon dance in TokushimaAugustChichibu Night FestivalChichibu YomatsuriLantern-lit floats and fireworks on a December nightDecemberGion MatsuriGion MatsuriA month of rites and a procession of moving museums through central KyotoJulyHakata Gion YamakasaHakata Gion YamakasaA tonne on the shoulders, at a run, at dawnJulyHanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)hanamiPicnics under the cherry trees, and the beauty of what does not lastMarchAprilHinamatsuri (Doll Festival)HinamatsuriCourt dolls, peach blossom and wishes for daughtersMarchKanda MatsuriKanda MatsuriThe shogun's festival: Edo pageantry in the heart of modern TokyoMayKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriTonnes of carved zelkova, taken round corners at a runSeptemberOctoberKodomo no Hi (Children's Day)Kodomo no HiCarp streamers in the May windMayNagasaki KunchiNagasaki KunchiA port city's history, danced in front of its shrineOctoberObonObonWhen the ancestors come home for the summerJulyAugustSanja MatsuriSanja MatsuriThree days of portable shrines in the lanes of old AsakusaMaySapporo Snow FestivalSapporo Yuki MatsuriA city centre turned into an open-air gallery of snow and iceFebruarySendai TanabataSendai Tanabata MatsuriPaper streamers, wishes and a city centre under bambooAugustSetsubunSetsubunRoasted beans against demons on the eve of springFebruaryShichi-Go-SanShichi-Go-SanTiny kimono, long sweets and thanks for growing upNovemberShogatsu (Japanese New Year)ShōgatsuThe year's great reset: shrine bells, family tables and a clean startJanuaryTakayama MatsuriTakayama MatsuriLacquered floats, clockwork puppets and lanterns in the Hida mountainsAprilOctoberTanabata (Star Festival)TanabataTwo stars, one night, and wishes tied to bambooJulyAugustTenjin MatsuriTenjin MatsuriLantern boats, drums and fireworks on Osaka's riversJulyTsukimi (Moon Viewing)tsukimiDumplings, pampas grass and the clearest moon of the yearSeptemberOctober