Japan Summer Guide (Part 1)

Summer is an exciting and colorful travel season, not only because you have ample vacation time to leisurely explore with family, but also because there is more time to travel abroad and gain new experiences. Summer in Japan is also a peak season for fascinating festivals (matsuri). You should take part in them to experience a different, passionate side of Japan.

What exactly are Japanese festivals?

Answer: A grand ceremony to welcome and send off the gods.

Most Japanese festival rituals involve welcoming the deities for worship and then sending them back. Therefore, the process usually consists of two parts: welcoming and sending off the gods. This is done by carrying the deities in a portable shrine (mikoshi) during a procession.

What are the most worthwhile festivals to visit in Japan?

Kyoto Gion Matsuri:

This is one of Japan's most famous festivals and a major summer event. During the Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's streets feature grand processions and beautifully decorated floats, attracting many tourists and locals.

This year, the yamaboko (float) procession routes will be the same as previous years, from the front festival on July 17 to the rear festival on July 24. Additionally, the much-anticipated "Taka-yama" float will officially return to the rear festival procession for the first time since the late Edo period.

This year, there are a total of 33 floats in the procession, with the largest weighing 12 tons. From assembly to procession to disassembly, it requires about 180 people. The most famous is the "Nagahata-boko" (Long Sword Float), which leads the procession each year. It carries a long sword, symbolizing the driving away of epidemic diseases and evil spirits. The second float, "Kanko-boko," is based on the story of Lord Mengchang from the Warring States period in China, involving "the rooster's crow and the dog's bark." The other floats also have unique stories.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival:

Held in July this year, this is one of Japan's most distinctive summer festivals, taking place annually in Nagasaki City. During the festival, thousands of lanterns illuminate the city, creating a beautiful nightscape. Originating from the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, it is a highlight of Nagasaki's winter, but the summer version is also spectacular. In central Nagasaki, including Shinchi Chinatown, Minato Park, Central Park, the area around Spectacles Bridge, Hamanomachi, and the shopping arcade, about 15,000 colorful Chinese lanterns and large artistic installations decorate the streets, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. During the festival, performances such as dragon dances, Chinese acrobatics, and erhu concerts take place at various venues daily.

Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture and Aomori Nebuta Matsuri:

Hirosaki Castle is a historic castle that hosts a grand fireworks display in summer. The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is the largest summer festival in Aomori Prefecture, famous for its giant "nebuta" (lantern floats) and floats, attracting many visitors. This year, it will be held in August.

The main features of the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri are the large float displays and the "haneto" dancers. The large floats depict warrior figures such as Ushiwakamaru and Benkei (Ushiwakamaru is the childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a general of the Minamoto clan from the late Heian to early Kamakura period; Benkei was a rogue monk who later became Yoshitsune's retainer). These floats are as colorful and elaborate as Kabuki costumes. The "haneto" dancers dance along to the beat of drums and accompanying music, creating a spectacular group dance.

In the next article, I will introduce some lesser-known festivals in Japan.