Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri)
31 December – 1 January Mabuni Fire and This festival is held in honor of those who perished during WWII. Participants light torches from a sacred flame and pray for peace as a bell rings to announce the new year. Hagurosan Shoureisai Mt Haguro, Two giant chiggers are set on fire and pulled around with ropes.
Horan Enya Men row decorated boats into the harbor and offer prayers for safety at sea and good fishing. The men stop the boats in the middle of the harbor and then swim to the opposite shore. 2 January Dainishi-do Bugaku Kazuno, 11 traditional Bugaku dances are held at the Dainichi-do Shrine. 2-6 January Amamehagi Suzu, Wajima, Monzen, Amamehagi, or Namahage, visit young children in their homes to warn them not to be lazy in the new year. 3 January Hakozakigu Tamaseseri Hakozake-gu Shrine, Two teams of semi-naked men participate in a competition to catch a sacred ball that is said to bring good luck to the winning team for the coming year. 5 January Joma Shinji Festival Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, People dress in samurai costume and shoot arrows at a 60cm target with the Kanji (Chinese character) for oni written on the back. Every successful shot is said to fend off the devil. 6-7 January Shorin-zan Daruma-ichi Hanadaka-machi, Takasake, Thousands of people gather throughout the day and night to pray for good luck and to buy their daruma dolls for the coming year. This is the first and biggest of the daruma festivals in 7 January Dazaifu Tenmangu, Dazaifu, Visitors gather around a dying bonfire in the evening to exchange carved wooden usokae in the hopes of ending up with one of the gilt wooden carvings that the disguised shrine officials circulate. It is believed that this ritual’s intention is to exchange lies for truth, as uso means “lie”.
Nanokado Hadaka-mairi Yanaizu, Young townsmen dressed only in loincloths race to climb a rope to reach the ceiling of Nanokado temple to capture a holy charm. This is a somewhat unusual festival but is known throughout 7 January Tamataregu Oniyo An amazing fire festival whereby six huge torches each weighing two tones are held aloft with poles by 300 men dressed only in loincloth. The men then carry the torches around the temple seven times. 8 January Katsube no Himatsuri Katsube, Large torches are set alight by local men wearing loincloths. They spin several times in groups to the cheers of onlookers.
8 January Dondo Yaki Mochi is toasted over fires of burning Shogatsu decorations. 8-12 January Ebisu Shrine, A festival dedicated to Ebisu, the God of business and prosperity. Mochi is distributed to participants and onlookers can watch kagura and bugaku dancing.
Hatsu-ichi An annual daruma market where you can witness lion dances, mikoshi, and karyu drumming. 9-11 January Toka Ebisu Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, A three day festival dedicated to Ebisu, the God of business and prosperity. This festival features a procession of women wearing colourful kimono that are carried on floats through the main streets.
A festival dedicated to Ebisu, the God of business and prosperity. This is the largest festival of its kind in the Kansai region. Crowds race to smash open a barrel of sake, which is then served to everyone. 10 January Hatsuichi A famous market that dates back to the 13 January Daikoku Festival Kanda Myojin Shrine, Chiyoda-ku, A purification ceremony at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo during which people, wearing loincloths or white gowns, pour icy water over themselves in the morning. 14 January Sagicho Oiso, The previous year’s shogatsu decorations, charms and amulets are burnt in this ritualistic festival. People eat dumplings over the fire to have good luck. 14 January Dondo-sai Shogatsu decorations are burnt in this ritualistic festival. This festival features a small naked festival.
14 January Hadaka Odori 14 January Dova Dova Two teams of men wearing loincloths struggle for the possession of a sacred amulet.
Nino no Yukimatsuri Izu Shrine, Nino, People offer snow to the gods as a prayer for good crops during the coming year. Traditional dances are also performed throughout the night.
15 January Yaya Festival Amarumemachi, Boys aged 6-14 wearing grass skirts gather at Yawata Shrine to be doused in cold water. They then parade around the neighborhood before returning to the shrine to pray for good health. Second Monday in January Toshi-ya This festival coincides with Coming of Age Day. Over 1,000 archers in traditional costume line up to shoot arrows at a target 120m away along the length of the
Nozawa Dosojin Himatsuri Nozawa Onsen, Men aged 25 and 42 years (considered to be unlucky ages in 15 January Matobakai Men wearing loincloths battle for possession of an archery target in a procession that starts in the town, moves to the coast and end in the sea.
15 January Chakkirako Ten elegantly dressed girls perform traditional dances while holding chakkirako, a ceremonial instrument with bells and paper pennants attached to a wooden handle. 15 January Ebisu Daikoku Tsunahiki Two teams representing the gods of prosperity (Ebisu and Daikoku) compete in a game of tug-of-war. A win for the Ebisu team is said to bring good fortune when fishing while a win for the Daikoku team is said to bring a good harvest. 15 January Wakakusayama Yamayaki Wakakusayama, Approximately 33hectares are burnt on the slopes of Wakakusayama in a spectacular blaze that engulfs the entire mountain. 15 January-12 March Atami Baien, Atami, 16 January Hetomato Fukue, A varied festival that begins with sumo wrestling at Shirahama Shrine, followed by a traditional game of hanetsuki, then a game of kemari, which is similar to football, is played in ceremonial dress. After this, semi-naked men have their bodies painted black and participate in a game of tug-of-war. The festival is concluded with a giant straw sandal being paraded around the town. Late January Tokuwa no Tenjinsai Higashi-Yamanashi gun, Mikoshi parade in honor of the Heian Period (794-1192) nobleman Sugawara no Michizane, who is considered to be Tenjin, god of scholarship and learning. 20 January Jyogyodo Hatsuka Yasai Men wearing loincloths march in line following a torch bearer. When they arrive at Motsu-ji, they battle for possession of sacred charms. 20 January Tenmangu Kowakamai Setaka, Features performances of the oldest style of bugaku in 20 January – 20 February Shiwasu Festival Features a reenactment of the meeting between the king of Paekche and his son, as well as traditional dances. This festival celebrates the history of the region and the site where Korean nobles of the kingdom of Paekche fled after their defeat in the 7th century battle. Around 20 January (lasts 3 days) Taikan Misogi Held on what is considered to be the coldest day of the year. Participants soak themselves in cold water before drinking hot drinks and eating porridge. This ritual is thought to ward of colds in the coming year. 24 January Sugamo Togenuki Jizo Taisai Approximately twenty priests read the “Sutra of Great Wisdom” while the temple and its surrounds have street stalls and visitors. 25 January Usokae Shinji Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Eto-ku, Visitors exchange their year-old bullfinch carvings for new ones. The exchange symbolizes exchanging last year’s bad luck for good luck in the coming year. 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. |
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