More information about the multitude of offeringsto explore Japan with Princess in 2023 can be found atwww.princess.com/japan. The Gion Matsuri is a major event in the city of Kyoto. But at matsuri youll find the streets lined with yatai (food stall) after colorful yatai, offering a remarkable selection of healthy (and not-so-healthy) festival snacks. Your grave will be marked by glow sticks. The festival attracts one million attendees annually, many of whom dress in traditional yukata kimonos. The Asahikawa Winter Festival showcases the biggest snow sculptures in Hokkaido. Fleets of huge, breathtaking, colorful floats (omikoshi) parade through town centers and locals put up decorations. Experience a lively parade of taiko drummers, flute and cymbal players, hundreds of dancers, and huge warrior floats that resemble Kabuki characters and mythological figures. Having been celebrated for over 500 years, it is one of the most famous events in the country, and boasts of being the largest festival. The Koenji neighborhood where it is held is a laid-back area just west of Shinjuku, known for its great food and drink, music venues, and vintage shops. Sanja Matsuri is another boisterous shinto festival, held on the third Sunday of May (and preceding Friday and Saturday) in Tokyos old-fashioned Asakusa district. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japans countryside unfold before your eyes. Don't know which tour is suitable for you? In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Attendees often wear yukata, traditional kimonos made of lightweight cotton. The festival's highlight takes place in the evening of December 3. . If youre braving the heat and visiting Japan in summer, you may have the chance to attend one of the countrys dazzling hanabi (fireworks) matsuri. The Sanja Matsuri which draws around 2 million visitors over three days, and is considered the largest shinto festival in Tokyo honors the three founders of Senso-ji Temple, who are enshrined in the Asakusa Shrine next door to the temple. The main site at Odori Park exhibits the most significant snow sculptures, modeled after famous buildings and characters. Where? Eventually, this evolved into an elaborate procession during the height of the Heian period. Our Festival Tours feature the best matsuri, as well as the major highlights of Japan. This festival is held in Aomori prefecture. In the capital, the big one is the Sumida-gawa Fireworks Festival on the last Saturday in July. Summer 2023. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. Although July is typically a rainy season, it doesn't stop others from enjoying the list of events that take place this month. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy the hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. Jul. I am currently in Japan. The 2023 edition is going to bring new activities and surprises. Shogatsu is observed by enjoying many traditional . The festival takes place along the Kawazu River, where visitors can enjoy gorgeous rows of cherry blossom trees that continue endlessly. We couldnt resist including a few honorable mentions, but there are countless more, as well! This became a lively annual event, and one of Japans most fun-loving matsuri. The following is a calendar of major festivals, annual rituals, trade shows, sports events and seasonal attractions in the city. Last month, the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami hosted a Virtual Summer Festival to . Shibazakura Festival, The Golden Route Japan Tour Spring: Kyoto Aoi Festival, The Golden Route Japan Tour Summer (Reverse): Gion Our tours range from 7 to 21 days, to various regions of Japan. Held about 90 minutes from Tokyo, the Chichibu Yomatsuri is one of Japans most impressive float festivals, featuring human-powered floats that can weigh up to 20 tons. For even more information on Japanese festivals, we also recommend the excellent Japan-Guides overview of festivals in Japan, and the useful Japan Atlas guide to Japanese festivals. The main event is held simultaneously in three important sanctuaries: Ota-jinja Shrine, Nakamura-jinja Shrine and Odaka-jinja Shrine. Each celebration is based around an individual shrine which pays tribute to a different deity or a famous historical event. These are the tours for you. Visiting Japan in July Image by foooomio / CC BY 2.0. It's a festival. Attending one of more of these festivals will give you a glimpse into authentic Japanese culture. Site content may not be reproduced without express written permission. As the story goes, the three founders dedicated their lives to Buddhism after catching a small statue of the Boddhisatva Kannon in Tokyos Sumida River while fishing one morning, back in the 7th century. Each are colorfully lit up, creating a dream-land atmosphere. See thousands of shibazakura during a tour to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, just 3km away from Lake Motosuko. As with the previous years, the rock festival is held in both Tokyo and Osaka.For the Tokyo locations, the festival will be held at the Zozo Marine Stadium & Makuhari Seaside Park. Autumn Festival Tour, The Golden Triangle of Japan: Autumn Leaves & Cherry The ship--designed with the destination in mind, featuring regionally infused cuisine, unique entertainment and a tranquil Izumi, the largest Japanese bath at seacalls to 38 destinations in four countries on 43 unique itineraries and 57 departures, ranging from 5- to 19-days. The wheels that mobilize the floats are often as tall as a person. BUFF Malm Film Festival 2023. 9. Cherry Blossom Tours, Takayama Spring Festival Take a seat on the Miyakawa river in Ise for one of the three biggest fireworks festivals in Japan. Tours including Akita Kanto Festival, Sendai Tanabata Festival These tours are great for first time visitors to Japan looking for comfortable accommodation with all entrance fees and most meals included. Here is a list of the best eight Hanabi festivals in 2021. Attempting to narrow all of Japans festivals down to a list of the best is a fools errand, but here is a small sampling of our favorites. The magnificent floats depicting imposing gods, warriors, kabuki actors, animals, and even TV celebrities are made with washi (Japanese paper) and lit from the inside. Japan Summer Tours are lively, beautiful, and culturally rich. 2023. Kyotos Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) takes you back in time through Kyotos thousand-year-reign as the capital of Japan. Japan has one of the deepest, best-preserved cultures anywhere on earth, and you'll get to experience this first-hand on cruises to Japan. Smaller in scale than Tokyos larger hanabi festivals, this matsuri is a good option if you want to ensure a good view. Select a Japan Festival Tour from one of our itineraries for a festive, enlightened trip to Japan. Visited by more than 2 million tourists annually, colorful decorations fill the streets of Downtown Sendai every year from August 6 to 8. in Japan happening in April. Lucca Summer Festival 2023, one of the most important music festivals in Italy, will take place during the month of July, 2023, in the beautiful town of Lucca. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. In fact, the intricately-carved floats are so large that they double as kabuki stages during the day. Dating back to 1970, the festival is a complete cultural experience reaching well beyond the music. Using water from the beautiful Lake Shikotstu to create ice structures and pillars, this unique fairground takes 2 months to create. 7:00pm - 8:00pm. 1-12 March 2023. Held from February to early March, the event attracts more than 2 million visitors per year for a chance to see the early blooming Kawazu Cherry Trees. The Fukagawa Festival is officially one of the Tokyos big 3 Shinto festivals, along with the Sanno Matsuri and the Kanda Matsuri (which all date back to the 17th century). More info: Sanja Matsuri: Tokyo's Biggest Festival. Festivals take place year-round, with a number of the most prominent in summer. The following calender covers public holidays, festivals, events and seasonal attractions for all regions of Japan for 2022 and 2023. Park - Summer, Charms of Hokkaido: Lavenders & Summer Flowers, Charms of Hokkaido: Summer Flowers & Nature. While the festival has possibly been around in some form since around that time, the shrine itself has only been around since 1649. Throughout the summer hanabi festivals take place all over the country, and range from major events in cities like Tokyo and Osaka to regional and local displays in smaller communities. Join us on this Summer 2023 Japan Tour Tokyo Package in the warm season of 2023! Soma Nomaoi is a festival which celebrates the regions horse-breeding heritage. Here is a short list of some of Japans most notable hanabi matsuri. Nagasaki Kunchi celebrates the Dutch and Chinese influences on the historic and cosmopolitan city of Nagasaki. The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan's most popular winter attractions, showcasing spectacular snow sculptures that are impressive in size and detail. On the right, events scheduled on a single day; on the left, events scheduled over several days. Enjoy a serene experience at the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. At the festivals climax, the floats are pulled to the top of a slope, and the night concludes with a two-hour fireworks display a rare treat in winter. Search for festival in various categories and regions and create you own festival list. Japan Festival Tours Land Tour Trips to Japan for The Festivals 2021, 2022 & 2023 Experience an intergral part of Japanese culture by visiting Japan's most renowned festivals on one of our tour packages. Bringing in the new year is taken very seriously in Japan. 1 thought on Matsuri: The 10 best Japanese summer festivals to visit, Obon Festival Guide: Meaning, traditions and 2022 dates, The 7 best beach locations to visit in Japan, Bullet Train movie: facts, accuracy, and differences from Shinkansen, HyperDia and Alternatives: Japan Rail Planners, Japan travel restrictions and COVID-19 travel ban advisory, Japan to open to visa-free individual tourists from October 11, Autumn in Japan: 2022 Fall Foliage Forecast, Halloween in Japan: Costumes, traditions, and where to go. Tour through an ice playground spectacularly lit with colorful lights at the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. Accompanying the floats are groups of dancers, taiko drummers, flutists, and other musicians. The yatai are constructed with intricately carved wood, lacquer art, detailed metal work, woven textiles, and fully moving giant marionettes (karakuri ningyo). Hundreds of firework shows are held every year across the country, mainly during the summer holidays in July and August, with some of them drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators. It's hard not to run into local festivals and firework displays during this time. Summer is one of the best times to visit Japan, as this is when many vibrant summer festivals are held and nature is at its full glory. As anyone who has spent much time in Japan knows, fireworks are elevated to an art here, and hanabi artisans take their jobs seriously! Tenjin Matsuri (Festival of the Gods) is an exuberant celebration that takes place at the end of July in the lively city of Osaka. Thousands of dancers are distinguished into various groups, known as "ren", and parade through blocked off streets. When: The entire month of July; the most popular events occur on July 14 to 17. We have tours available to see the best cherry blossom festivals of Japan, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival at Tokyo Ueno Park, one of Tokyo's most popular sites to witness sakura. January, 2022 February, 2022 March, 2022 April, 2022 Earth Day Tokyo Mid April * Yoyogi Park May, 2022 June, 2022 July, 2022 August, 2022 September, 2022 October, 2022 Please do not book flights until speaking with a travel agent at Japan Deluxe Tours.