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Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri)
Atami Baien, Atami, 29 January – 5 March Sounkyo Ice Festival Snow and ice sculptures join the natural wonderment of a frozen waterfall in this winter extravaganza. Colored lights and fireworks add to the magnificent atmosphere in the evenings. Early February Abashiri Okuhotsuki Drift Ice Festival This winter festival features ice sculptures and fireworks. Early to mid February Mombetsu Drift Ice Festival Includes an endurance competition, bobsled races and a giant slide made from ice. Early to mid February Iwate Snow Festival Shizukuishi-cho, Snow and ice statues illuminate the night in this festival, which is one of the biggest snow festivals in the Tohoku region. February Oyster Festival Various locations, 1-2 February This festival features winter sports, ice sculptures and illuminations. Kurokawa Noh Kasuga Shrine, Kushibiki, Ceremonial parades and seven sacred noh plays are displayed to celebrate the beginning of the new year. 1-5 February Owase Yaya Festival Owase, Young men wearing loincloths parade around the streets before diving into the sea to purify themselves on the evenings of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Parades, archery events and street dancers entertain onlookers during the remainder of the festival. 3 February Takisanji Oni Festival Young men carrying torches chase three goblins dressed as grandfather, mother and child.
Naritasan Setsubune A major bean-throwing festival held at the head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect, attracting elite sumo wrestlers and famous entertainers. 3 February Kasuga Taisha Mandoro Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Thousands of stone lanterns and bronze hanging lanterns are lit at Kasuga Taishi Shrine for this bi-annual festival.
3 February Nishiarai Daruma Kuyo This is one of 3 February Tsuina Ceremony Seven youths dress up as demons and dance around with torches to the sound of conches and drums. 3 February Konaki Zumo Approximately 300 one-year-old infants participate in this competition. Participating infants sit opposite each other while a referee tries to surprise them into crying. The first baby to cry is the winner.
3 February Ushikae Shinji Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, Hofu, Local businesses donate cow-related prizes made from gold, copper and silver. The top prize is a live bull, which the winner has to care for until autumn. 5-6 February Snow Carnival Unazaki Onsen, A winter festival that features snow and ice sculptures, as well as fireworks and an evening procession of 100 torch-bearing skiers. 6 February Matsushima Oyster Festival Matsushima, Celebrates the local oysters (kaki), which are a specialty of the area. This festival features Buddhist ceremonies and a 100m long grill in the park for visitors to cook fish and seafood that can be purchased at the market. 6 February Onda Festival (Otauesai Festival) Asukamura, This rice planting festival is also a celebration of fertility. 6 February Tako-ichi Iji Inari Shrine, Kita-ku, An annual kite market that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867) when kites were thought to cut through the wind and stop fires from spreading. 6 February Shusho Onie Men dress up as demons (oni) and prod people’s backs with burnt out torches. This ritual is thought to expel evil spirits and townspeople gather to receive the demon’s blessings. 6 February Oto Festival Shingu, A fire festival in which hundreds of men dressed in white run down the steel steps of the mountain carrying flaming torches. 6 February Hatsu-umasai Hundreds of people wearing festival clothing are led by horses with colorful headgear and saddles through a parade of mambo-style dance. Thousands of people attend this festival every year. Early February for one week (dates vary, but usually held around 6-12 February) This is the biggest snow and ice festival held in 7-11 February One of the world’s most prominent ice sculpture competitions, and holds the world record for the biggest snow statue in the world. Many of the snow sculptures and snow slides are illuminated in the evenings.
10 February Takewari Festival Kaga-shi, Young men dressed in white beat the ground with 2m lengths of bamboo in a recreation of the legendary killing of snakes in ancient times. 10-13 February Yuki Toro Festival Hirosaki, Snow lanterns are made in the shape of traditional Japanese stone lanterns. At this festival, approximately 200 such lanterns and 300 miniature igloos are placed in 11 February Agon Shu Hoshi Festival (Fire Rites Festival) Yamashina, This festival involves the lighting of two massive bonfires and millions or prayer sticks. There is also a procession of the relics thought to belong to the historic Buddha. 11 February Shinwa no Takachiho Kenkoku Festival Takachiho, This festival celebrates the mythical “founding of the nation day” with a “goddess” contest and a beard contest. The winners lead a parade and people dress as Japanese gods.
Daito Ohara Mizukake Festival Men aged 25 and 42 years (thought to be unlucky ages in 11 February Sominsai Kokuseki-ji, Men aged 25 and 42 years (thought to be unlucky ages in Chousho-ji Aragyo Choisho-ji, Priests chant and pray for peace while dousing themselves in cold water. Mid February Tokamachi Snow Festival Tokamachi, This is 13-15 February Namahage Sedo Festival This festival begins with ceremonial kagura dances, followed by namahage dancing around a bonfire, and concludes with a torch-lit procession down the mountain. 14 February Iwatsuka Kinekosa Festival Shichisoa Shrine, Nakamura-ku, A dozen naked men plant a bamboo pole in the 15 February Kariwano Otsunahiki Kariwano, An annual tug-of-war contest between the people of the “lower” and “upper” towns. Thousands participate by pulling the ends of a rice-straw rope over 50m long. 15-16 February Yokote, Locals build snow houses around the town and offer food and drink to visitors. 15, 17 February Kuromori Kabuki Kuromori, This festival dates back over 250 years, and involves local people performing kabuki on an outdoor stage. 16 February Akiyoshidai Yamayaki Akiyoshidai, This festival signals the beginning of spring with the burning of dry grass on the mountain slope. 17 February Hadaka Festival Kounomiya Shrine, Inazawa, This festival dates back over 1,200 years and involves semi-naked men competing to touch the “god-man”, a ritual that is thought to rid the men of evil. 17-20 February A local folk-dance festival that dates back to when people with no farming experience were taught how to work the fields through dancing with a tool called enburi. 18 February Tanigumi Odori Tanigumi-mura, First performed during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) by the victorious samurai of the Minamoto clan, this celebratory dance involves brightly-colored clothes and large drums. Third Saturday of February Saidai-ji Eyo Up to 10,000 men wearing loincloths battle for sacred wooden sticks thrown into the air by priests. 25 February Baikasai Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, A tea party held among the blossoming plum trees. Last weekend of February Katsuyama Sagichosai Katsuyama, Traditional music performed on 12 stages to display the talent from every part of the town. The highlight of this festival is the closing dondo-yaki ceremony where the town’s new year’s decorations are burned. |
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