Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

50  INTRODUCING JAP AN

Fall colors at Sounkyo Gorge in central Hokkaido
August Obon (Festival of the Dead, Aug Nada no Kenka Matsuri
Neputa Matsuri (Aug 1–7), 13–16). Religious rites in (Oct 14–15), Himeji, Hyogo
Hirosaki, and Nebuta Matsuri connection with the Bud dhist prefecture. At Matsubara
(Aug 2–7), Aomori. These belief that spirits return to this Shrine, nearly naked youths
festivals are so spectacular world to visit loved ones in carrying mikoshi challenge
they are televised. Massive summer. A big family occasion, each others’ skills in balancing.
illuminated and painted with everyone visit ing, cleaning, Doburoku Matsuri (Oct 14–19),
papier mâché figures are and decorating tombs. Shirakawa-go, Gifu prefecture.
paraded on floats (see p47). Communal Bon Odori dance A harvest festival with dancing
Kanto Matsuri (Aug 3–6), parties are held most evenings and drinking.
Akita. Men compete in (see p47). Nagoya Festival (Fri–Sun in
balancing huge poles Daimonji Bonfire (Aug 16), mid-Oct). Long procession in
hung with lanterns on Kyoto. Five large bonfires on Nagoya with impersona tions
their shoulders, foreheads, the hills surrounding the city of historical characters.
chins, and hips. burn to mark the end of Obon, Tosho-gu Fall Festival (Oct 17),
Sendai Tanabata (Aug 6–8), followed by dancing. Nikko, Tochigi prefecture.
Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. In Armor-clad samurai escort
Sendai’s tradi tional version September a portable shrine.
of the festival celebrated in Hachiman-gu Festival (Sep Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages,
July elsewhere, streets are 14–16), Kamakura. A pro cession Oct 22), Kyoto. One of the city’s big
decorated with colored paper of floats and horseback archery three festivals. Citizens in colorful
streamers and hanging banners. at the Hachiman-gu Shrine costumes re-create 1,200 years of
Awa-Odori (Aug 12–15), draw a big crowd (see p47). the city’s history in a large pro-
Tokushima, Shikoku. The cession from the Imperial Palace
whole city sings and dances Fall to the Heian Shrine (see p47).
for four days and nights; the Kurama Matsuri (Fire Festi val, Oct
festival originally commemo- Although the children are 22), Kyoto. Torches lining the route
rated the building of the back at school and the to Yuki Shrine, Kurama, are set
castle here in 1587. sea is once again “closed,” the alight, and children march through
heat goes on. Now is the time them holding more torches.
to start thinking about
harvesting the rice. Apples November
flood the shops, leaves start Karatsu Kuchi (Nov 2–4),
to fall, and snow will soon Kyushu. Celebrated at Karatsu
begin in the north. Shrine and known for its colorful
parade of floats.
October Daimyo Gyoretsu (Nov 3), Hakone.
Kunchi Matsuri (Oct 7–9), A re-enactment of a feudal lord’s
Nagasaki. A dragon dance procession along the old Tokaido
of Chinese origin winds road between Edo and Kyoto.
between floats with umbrella- Tori-no-ichi (Festival of the
shaped decorations at Rooster, held on days of the
Suwa Shrine. Rooster in Nov, differs every year),
Takayama Hachiman Matsuri Tokyo. Stalls at the Otori Shrine
(Oct 9–10), Gifu prefecture. Held near Asakusa sell ornately
at Takayama’s Hachiman-gu decorated rakes (kumade) for
Shrine, this harvest festival is raking in money next year.
Girls holding bamboo decorated with most memorable for a pro- Shichi-go-san (Seven-Five-Three
paper strips, Sendai Tanabata cession with ornate floats. Children’s Festival, Nov 15).

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