Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri) Late March/Early April Kanamara Festival Wakamiya Hachiman-gu Shrine, The “Festival of the Iron Phallus” features a parade of a 2m tall pink penis through the streets to offer prayers for conception, safe child-birth and marital happiness. This festival dates back to the Edo Period when prostitutes prayed for protection against sexually transmitted diseases. 1-30 April Miyako Odori Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre, Kyoto This festival offers a rare chance to see geisha perform traditional dances and music. Tickets must be purchased in advance. April/May (every seven years, will be held in 2010) This festival is held every seven years, in the Year of the Tiger and Year of the Monkey. This is an amazing but dangerous festival as giant fir trees (weighing over 10 tons) are pulled from the forest and hauled across freezing rivers using straw ropes to the town. The local men then ride the huge logs down the steep slopes. Over the years a number of people have died doing this, so only locals are allowed to participate in this part of the festival – though everyone is welcome to observe! First weekend in April Himesama Douchu Hosoe, A traditional dress parade that features women and girls in kimono (with full make-up) accompanied by servants and attendants. First weekend in April Katori Jingu Otaue-sai Sawara, A rice-planting festival that is accompanied by traditional song and dance. This festival often coincides with the cherry blossom season, so the event is very colorful and popular. Early/mid April Shingenko Festival This festival is held to honor Takeda Shingen, a famous warlord of the Sengoku Era and the founder of Second weekend in April A parade of colorful flower floats followed by an evening of streetside comedy with amateur comedians performing wherever they find an audience, making for a jovial atmosphere. Held annually on the second weekend of April, and the second Sunday in October Oh-chamori A 700 year old tradition in which participants help each other to drink from an oversized tea cup. Third weekend in April Ushibuka Haiya Festival Ushibuka, This festival incorporates elements from various festivals throughout 4 April Ose Festival Ose Shrine, Men wear women’s clothing and dance a lively jig on board a boat that floats in the harbor. On the shore, taiko groups beat their drums and stalls sell local produce. 4-6 April Zen Nihon Chindon Concours An annual gathering of 4-6 April A spring celebration that incorporates the
Inuyama Festival Inuyama, An annual parade of floats that carry elaborately-made mechanical dolls that date back centuries. They perform to the sound of traditional music played on flutes and drums. 8 April Kambutsue Festival Shitennoji, Tennoji, April 8 is celebrated throughout 11 April Yasurai Festival This festival dates back to a ninth century plague. Approximately thirty people dress in traditional costume and carry a decorated canopy with four “demons”. When the procession stops, observers rush under the canopy to protect themselves from ill-health. 12-13 April Asanogawa Enyukai Held on the banks of the 12 April – 11 May Kasama Tsutsuji Festival Kasama, An azalea festival that celebrates the blossoming of approximately 35,000 azalea trees and attracts over 3 million visitors. 13-20 April A festival that commemorates the establishment of a shogunate government at 14-15 April Takayama Spring Festival Takayama, Considered to be one of the three most beautiful festivals in 14-16 April Hikiyama Festival Nagahama, Children perform kabuki plays on decorated festival floats as they are pulled around the city. 17 April Hojoe Festival Kofukuji, Carp are released into 19-20 April Ningen Shogi High-ranking shogi (Japanese chess) players exhibit their skills using people dressed in full military costume as the game “pieces”.
Okoshi Daiko Festival Furukawa, Hundreds of men wearing loincloths fight to touch a wooden frame that supports a huge taiko drum, which is being carried through the city streets. There is also a parade that features traditional dance and music. 20 April Oiran Dochu Bunsui, A procession of women wearing kimono and full make-up in a recreation of a common Edo Period (1603-1867) sight of courtesans parading streets with their attendants. A spectacular festival to observe the traditional clothing. 21 April Renge-mai (Dance of the Lotus) Kokubun-ji, Saigo, This ancient dance was brought to 23 April – 5 May Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival Hirosaki, This festival celebrates the blooming of approximately 5,000 Cherry Blossom trees in the castle grounds. Traditional events are held during the day and the park is bright with magnificent illuminations in the evenings. 25 April Shinkosai Matsuo Taisha Shrine, This festival dates back over one thousand years and is dedicated to the god of sake-brewing. There is a procession whereby participants hold masks of the god on long sticks. 25-29 April A sailing festival with famous sailing boats representing several countries performing maneuvers in the harbor. 27 April (and 3-5 May) Togyu Taikai A traditional bull-fighting event in which two bulls are pitted against each other in a magnificent test of strength. The animals are not wounded or killed in this festival.
Kamikochi, This festival marks the opening of the mountain climbing season, and involves ceremonies that are devoted to the safety of climbers. 28-29 April Hidaka Hibuse Festival Mizusawa, A day-long festival consisting of decorated floats parading through the streets carrying numerous children playing flutes, drums and shamisen. People pray for safety from fire during this festival. 29 April – 3 May Uesugi Festival Yonezawa, A spectacular festival that exhibits musical parades and ceremonies, all culminating in a magnificent reenactment of the famous battle of Kawanakajima. The reenactment takes place on the final day of the festival, and showcases flintlock guns as well as thousands of local people dressed in samurai armor. 29 April – 5 May Arita Ceramics Fair Arita,
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