Experience the Passion, Embrace the Tradition: Japan's Summer Festivals
- 1.Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture)
- 2.Kanto Festival (Akita City, Akita Prefecture)
- 3.Gion Festival (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
- 4.Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
- 5Tenjin Festival (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)
- 6.Awa Dance (Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture)
- 7.Okinawa Island-wide Eisa Festival (Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture)
- 8Summary
Aomori Nebuta Festival (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Its history is long, and you can enjoy it even more by learning about the background of the festival, which continues to evolve while inheriting traditions. The colorful lanterns called "nebuta," which are based on motifs of ancient warlords and kabuki characters, can reach up to 5 meters in height and 9 meters in width, and their power and delicate beauty are overwhelming. If you see the nebuta parading to the festival music up close, you will be overwhelmed by their size and passion. Another attraction of the festival is that anyone can join the nebuta procession by purchasing or renting the dancer costumes called "haneto."
Recommended Hotel
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Aomori
Facing Shinmachi Street, which is the parade route of the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the hotel boasts a superb location with the giant Nebuta passing right in front of the hotel. The spacious rooms have separate bathrooms and toilets, making them the perfect place to relax after the heat and excitement of the festival. At the breakfast buffet, you can enjoy Aomori's local cuisine, such as dishes made with apples and rice cracker soup. It is easily accessible, just a five-minute walk from JR Aomori Station, and there is a convenience store on the first floor, making it extremely convenient during your stay. This is one of the most recommended hotels for those who want to experience the excitement of the festival up close while also enjoying a comfortable, high-quality stay.
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Kanto Festival (Akita City, Akita Prefecture)
One of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, the Kanto Festival is a beautiful festival held in Akita Prefecture, where countless lanterns fill the night sky. The "Kanto", which consists of dozens of lanterns hung from large bamboo poles, represents ripe rice, with the pole itself representing an ear of rice and the string of lanterns representing rice sacks. Don't miss the skill of the "Sashite" performers, who hold the gigantic Kanto, which is 12 meters long and weighs up to 50 kilograms, in perfect balance with just the palms of their hands, forehead, shoulders and waist.
Recommended Hotel
Dormy Inn Akita
The hotel is within walking distance of the main venue of the Akita Kanto Festival, "Kanto Boulevard," making it the perfect location for enjoying the festival. The hotel has a large natural hot spring bath and an open-air bath, where you can relax and soothe the heat of the festival and the fatigue of the day. After your bath, you can enjoy a heart-warming midnight snack with Dormy Inn's specialty free soy sauce ramen "Yonakisoba (noodles sold by a hawker at night)." At the breakfast buffet, you can taste local cuisine including Akita specialties such as Kiritanpo, allowing you to experience the local food culture. With excellent access, hot springs, and warm hospitality, this hotel is the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the Kanto Festival and the charms of Akita in comfort.
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Gion Festival (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
The Gion Festival, a representative festival that colors Kyoto's summer, boasts a history of over 1,100 years. It is a festival of Yasaka Shrine where various religious ceremonies and events are held over the month of July to pray for the elimination of epidemics. In particular, the Yamahoko Procession on the 17th (first festival) and 24th (last festival) features gorgeously decorated floats called "yama" and "hoko" parading through the streets of Kyoto, and its beauty and grandeur has earned it the nickname "moving art museum." In addition, during the period called "Yoiyama" that takes place a few days before each procession, lanterns are lit throughout the town, and many outdoor stalls and food stalls are set up while the sounds of Ohayashi music reverberate throughout the city, creating a lively festival atmosphere. During the Yoiyama period, the Byobu Festival is also held, where treasures such as folding screens that have been passed down for generations by long-established families and long-established businesses are specially exhibited; this is also an event not to be missed.
Recommended Hotel
MIMARU Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo
Located in "Yamahokocho," where the floats of the Gion Festival are lined up, this is a great location to experience the excitement of the festival and the sounds of the music up close. This apartment hotel has a kitchen and dining table in every room, so you can enjoy a comfortable stay as if you were living in Kyoto. The spacious rooms are perfect for families and groups, and are ideal for returning from the hustle and bustle outside and relaxing in a private space. Another great attraction is that you can buy ingredients at the nearby department store basement or supermarket and have a meal of your own. This is the perfect accommodation for those who want to enjoy the Gion Festival, as it allows you to combine the comfort of a hotel with the freedom of home while staying in the heart of the festival.
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Gozan no Okuribi (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
The Gozan no Okuribi, along with the Gion Festival, are one of Kyoto's most famous summer events. The most well-known is the Daimonji Okuribi, in which the character "大" is lit on Mt. Nyoigatake in Higashiyama, followed by the characters "Myo" and "Ho" on the mountains of Matsugasaki, "Funagata" on Mt. Funayama in Nishigamo, "Hidarimaji" on Mt. Okita, and "Toriigata" on Mt. Mandala in Saga. These five bonfires are traditional events to send the spirits of ancestors who have been welcomed into this world to the Pure Land (the afterlife). The majestic flames that rise into the Kyoto night sky can be seen from various places in the city. It is not just an illumination, but a rare opportunity to experience Japanese culture of respecting ancestors.
Recommended Hotel
Kyoto Brighton Hotel
Located on the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, this hotel boasts a prime location for viewing the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires, especially the symbolic "Daimonji" fire. Every year, a viewing plan and special dinner are prepared for guests on the night of the bonfires, allowing them to enjoy this solemn event in elegance without the crowds. The atrium lobby creates an open and airy space, ensuring a quiet and relaxing stay in the heart of Kyoto. The spacious rooms and high-quality restaurants will further enhance your satisfaction with your trip, and the high-quality service will put guests from overseas at ease. This luxury hotel combines location and comfort, making it the perfect place for those who want to enjoy Kyoto's traditional events at their leisure.
*Please check with the inn regarding the send-off bonfire plans.
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Tenjin Festival (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)
The Tenjin Festival at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is one of the three biggest festivals in Japan, along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto, and is one of the most spectacular festivals in Japan. In particular, on the night of the 25th, a boat procession is held, with around 100 glittering boats passing back and forth on the Okawa River, and fireworks are also launched as votive offerings that light up the night sky. Due to the splendid sight of the bonfires, lantern lights, and fireworks reflected on the Okawa River, the festival is also known as the Festival of Fire and Water. Many food stalls are set up within the grounds of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and along the Okawa River, so you can enjoy to your heart's content the foods that are representative of Japanese festivals.
Recommended Hotel
Premier Hotel -CABIN PRESIDENT- Osaka
This hotel is conveniently located right next to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, which signals the start of the Tenjin Festival, and allows you to feel the excitement of the land parade up close. It is directly connected to the Minamimorimachi subway station, so its biggest attraction is that you can travel smoothly without worrying about festival crowds or the weather. You can relax after the festival in the stylish and functional rooms. The food is also highly rated, with a breakfast buffet with over 60 dishes, so you can enjoy Osaka's food culture. It is the perfect base for those who want to fully enjoy the Tenjin Festival and Osaka sightseeing, as it combines comfort and convenience while being in the center of the festival.
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Awa Dance (Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture)
Awa Odori, the most representative festival of summer in Tokushima, is the largest Bon Odori dance in Japan with a history of over 400 years. It is an enthusiastic festival that attracts over one million tourists from Japan and abroad every year. The performances, set to the lively rhythm of the shamisen and taiko drums, are a spectacular sight. Anyone can become a dancer in Awa Odori with just simple movements of the hands and feet, making it easy for beginners to get into. If you join a group called "Niwaka Ren," where anyone can become a part of the dance on the day, it will be a wonderful experience that allows you to feel the excitement of the festival up close.
Recommended Hotel
Smile Hotel Tokushima
Its greatest attraction is its excellent location, about a 5-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station and just a short walk from the Awa Odori dance hall and the city center. The functional and clean rooms will help you cool down from the heat and excitement of the festival and ensure a comfortable rest. For breakfast, the popular Japanese and Western Buffet offers regional cuisine made with local ingredients. With a convenient location and reasonable prices, you can rest assured that you will use it as a base for sightseeing. This hotel offers excellent value for money and is the perfect base for enjoying the Awa Odori dance to the fullest.
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Okinawa Island-wide Eisa Festival (Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture)
The Okinawa All-Island Eisa Festival is a beloved Okinawan summer tradition. Eisa is a traditional Okinawan art form in which people dance to the sound of beating drums to honor the spirits of their ancestors, and its history is said to date back to the Ryukyu Kingdom period over 500 years ago. Each region has its own unique style of drumstick handling, leg lift, costumes and formations, so one of the joys of the festival is finding an Eisa style that suits your taste. The heroic sounds of the drums and the energetic dancing of the young people are a spectacular sight, and you'll be able to feel the passionate spirit and culture of Okinawa with your whole body.
Recommended Hotel
REF Okinawa Arena by VESSEL HOTEL
Located next to Koza Sports Park, the main venue for the Okinawa All-Island Eisa Festival, this hotel is in a great location to experience the excitement of the festival up close. After enjoying the performance, you can relax to your heart's content in the rooftop pool, large public bath, and sauna. The breakfast, which uses plenty of Okinawan ingredients, and the design that incorporates the charm of Koza, a city of music and culture, will make your stay even more fulfilling. With overwhelming access to the venue and luxurious facilities that exude a resort feel, this hotel is the perfect base for enjoying the Eisa Festival to the fullest.
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Summary
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