Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri) 15 January-12 March 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.
1-3 March Uto, The torii gate of this shrine is the smallest in 1-14 March Todai-ji Shunie Priests hold a fire ceremony every evening during this festival by swinging long torches into the air to ward off evil. At 2 March Water-drawing Festival A ritual that dates back over 1,200 years that involves water being drawn from the 2 March Kyokusui no Utage Dazaifu Tenmangu, Dazaifu, Poets dressed in Kimono of the Heian Period’s (794-1192) style sit under the plum trees and compose poems of narrow strips of paper that are then placed into sake cups that float in a nearby stream. 2 March (date may vary) Konomiya Hadaka Festival Konomiya Shrine, Hundreds of men aged 42 years wear loincloths and try to catch a naked man as he runs to the safe haven of Konomiya Shrine. Catching the naked man is thought to ward off bad luck and ill-fortune. 3 March Hina (Doll) Festival Participants wear models of doll’s traditional clothing 3 March Hina (Doll) Festival Dolls are floated along the river that runs through the shrine to pray for children’s good health 3 March Hina (Doll) Festival The Doll Festival has its roots in an ancient Chinese purification ceremony whereby evil was transferred to doll “surrogates”, which were then thrown into a river.
3 March Hadaka Oshiai Festival Various rituals take place throughout the day, ending with young men wearing loincloths being doused in ice-cold water and then jostling in snow as a prayer to the evil-banishing god of arms, Bishamonten. 3 March Hina (Doll) Nagashi Festival Women and girls dedicate dolls to the shrine, the dolls are then taken to the sea and placed on a boat to remove the evil and illnesses that women may experience. 3-4 March Jindai-ji Daruma-ichi An annual market that sells Daruma dolls for good luck. 3-10 March Shimabara Hatsuichi Shimabara, A festive market is held to commemorate the construction of 6 March Kirishima Jingu Otaue-sai Kirishima Jingu Shrine, Kirishima, A ceremonial rice planting festival that marks the start of Spring. This festival features various traditional dance and music styles. 9 March Takaosan Hiwatari Festival Witness the ascetic exercises of the mountain priests of Takao-san such as walking on hot coals, with visitors welcome to participate. 10 March Shiogama, A lively parade that features Shinto music and dance. 15 March Honensai Festival A fertility festival during which freshly carved 3m wooden phalluses are paraded around the shrine. Infertile couples pray for a child by touching the monster phalluses. 16 March Hatsuuma Taisai A parade and procession of approximately 700 people wearing traditional dress. 15-16 March Oumihachiman Sagicho Festival Oumihachiman Shrine, Hachiman, Decorated floats parade around the city before being burnt. This festival also features traditional dancing and music. 18-23 March Oide Festival Hakui, Features a horse-back archery contest and a parade of ceremonial dress. 21 March Aizu Higan Shishi Aizu Wakamatsu, Lion dances are performed throughout the city to mark the end of winter and the Buddhist services of the equinoctial week. Last Saturday in March Kirishima Nanohana Flower Walk Kirishima Jingu, An exploration of Kirishima’s stunning flora. 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.
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