Page 51 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

JAP AN THROUGH THE Y EAR  49

Obon (Jul 13–16; held in Aug
in most areas). See under
August, page 50.
Nachi-no-Hi Matsuri
(Fire Festival, Jul 14),
Nachi­Katsura, Wakayama
prefec ture. At Nachi Shrine,
12 massive torches are
carried by priests in
white robes.
Gion Matsuri (Jul 1–29,
esp 17 and 24), Kyoto. The
city’s biggest festival, dating
from the 9th century, when
the people were seeking the
protection of the gods from
a deadly pestilence that
Cormorant fishing in Nagara River, Gifu, between May and October was ravaging the local
population. The streets are
Sanja Matsuri (3rd Fri–Sun in Summer especially crowded for the
May), Tokyo. Locals parade parade of fabulous ancient
mikoshi through the streets Technically summer begins floats on the 17th.
near the temple of Senso­ji, in mid­July, as soon as the Kangensai Music
accompanied by music. Can last clouds of the rainy Festival (late Jul–early Aug),
be quite wild. season have left the sky. Miya jima, Hiroshima
Mifune Matsuri (3rd Sun in The heat and humidity prefecture. Classical court
May), Kyoto. An ancient boat continue to rise, mountains music and dance performed
festival charmingly re­enacted “open” for the season, and in on beautifully decorated
on the Oi River. mid­July, as soon as schools boats at Itsukushima Shrine.
break for the vacations, the Tenjin Matsuri (Jul 24–25),
sea also “opens” for swimming. Osaka. Celebrated at Ten man­
Rainy Season
The air vibrates with the gu Shrine. A flotilla of boats
From the pleasant climate sound of insects; the rice carries portable shrines
of late spring, skies cloud grows fast; and people do down the Dojima River
and there are torrential what they can to keep cool. accompanied by the sound
downpours which are Even as the overheated of drumbeats.
often the cause of landslides landscape begins to sigh Sumidagawa Hanabi
and flooding. A blanket of with exhaus tion, frenzied Taikai (last Sat in Jul), Tokyo.
humidity envelops the land­ summer cele brations break Spectacular fireworks on
scape. Only Hokkaido, being out, including spectacular the Sumida River near
so far north, manages to steer firework displays that light Asakusa; a revival of Edo­
clear of such discomfort. The up the night skies. era celebrations.
rest of Japan finds beauty in
viewing hydrangeas and other July
flowers through the mists of Yamakasa Matsuri
mid­June to mid­July. (Jul 1–15), Fukuoka.
Climaxes with a race
June of giant floats over
Sanno Matsuri (Jun 10–16, 5 km (3 miles).
alternate, even-numbered years), Tanabata Matsuri
Tokyo. Portable shrines are (Star Festival, Jul 7).
carried around Hie Shrine in the Celebrated nation wide
Akasaka area. to mark a Chinese
Rice-Planting Festival (Jun 14), legend (see p47).
Sumiyoshi Ward, southern Osaka. Stems of bamboo are
Girls wearing traditional farmers’ decorated with paper
costumes ceremonially plant rice streamers inscribed
in the Sumiyoshi Shrine’s fields, with poems. The
praying for a good harvest (see p46). week­long Hiratsuka
Chagu-chagu Umakko Tanabata in Kana gawa
(Horse Festival, 2nd Sat in Jun), prefecture features
Morioka, Iwate prefecture. Disney­style
Decorated horses parade mechanical exhibits
to Morioka Hachiman Shrine. in competition. Carrying torches at Nachi-no-Hi Matsuri

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