Jan. 1 New Year's Day (Ganjitsu)
People go to shrines or temples to pay their respects
and pray for safety and
good luck. In early January, people visit their relatives
and friends to
exchange New Year's greetings. Most stores and offices
are closed through
Jan. 2 Holiday observed
Jan. 15 Coming Of Age Day (Seijin no Hi)
Honors young people who have reached the age of 20,
voting age, during the previous year. Most cities
and towns sponsor ceremonies on this day.
Jan. 16 Holiday observed
Feb. 11 National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi)
Celebrates accession to the throne of the first emperor,
Jimmu.
Mar. 20 Vernal Equinox (Shunbun no Hi)
Celebrates the coming of spring; visits to ancestral
graves (ohaka mairi).
Apr. 29 Greenery Day (Midori no Hi)
Celebrates nature; tree planing ceremonies abound.
May 3 Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo Kinenbi)
Commemorates Japan's new peace constitution
May 4 People's Day (Kokumin no Sukujitsu)
May 5 Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi)
Formerly called Boy's Day, this holiday celebrates
the growth of children.
Sept. 15 Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi)
Celebrations are held for the elderly.
Oct. 10 Health Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi)
Encourages people to enjoy sports and to lead a healthy
life. Established in
commemoration of the Tokyo Olympics.
Nov. 3 Culture Day (Bunka no Hi)
Celebrates the development of cultural pursuits, and
encourages people to
enjoy peace, freedom and culture.
Nov. 23 Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha no Hi)
Frequently combined with harvest celebrations in the
country-side.
Dec. 23 Emperor's Birthday (Tenno Tanjobi)
Emperor Akihito's birthday. Imperial Palace grounds
open to the public.
Festivals and Events Calendar
Jan. 1 Marine Tower Hatsunobori, Marine Tower First
Climb, Yokohama Port,
Yokohama
Jan. 2-3 Daruma-ichi, Daruma Doll Fair, Haijima Daishi Shrine, Tokyo
Jan. 2 Kokyo Ippan Sanga, Imperial New Year's Greeting, Tokyo
On this day as well as the Emperor's Birthday (Dec.
23) parts of the Palace
Grounds that are usually closed to the public are opened
up.
Jan. 6 Dezomeshiki, New Year's Parade of Firemen at Harumi, Tokyo
Jan. 15-16 Setagaya Boro-ichi, Rag Fair, Kamimachi Station, Tokyo
Jan. 24-25 Uso-Kae, Old Lies for New, Kameido Tenji Shrine, Tokyo
Feb. 3 Setsubun, Bean-Throwing Ceremony, nationwide
Feb. 6-11 Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido
In many places around the city intricate snow and ice
sculptures are built
by teams and organizations from around the world.
The largest are
several stories tall. If you are planning to go to
Sapporo during the
festival be sure to make reservations for accommodations
well in
advance.
Mar. 3 Hina Matsuri, Doll Festival for Girls
Mar. 18 Jingen-e, Manifestation of ÅAsakusa Kannon, Sensoji, Tokyo
April 1-30 Miyako Odori, Cherry Dance in Gion, Kyoto
April 3-5 Ueki-ichi, Potted Plant Fair, Katori Shrine, Tokyo
April 14-15 Takayama Festival, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Mid-April Daido-Gei Festival, Street Performers Festival,
Hinodecho Station,
Yokohama
Apr. 25-May 5 Fuji Matsuri, Wisteria Festival, Kameido Tenji Shrine, Tokyo
May 3-4 Dontaku, Hakata, Fukuoka
May 14-15 Kanda Matsuri, Kanda Festival Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo
May 15 Aoi Matsuri, Hollyhock Festival, Kyoto
May 19-21 Sanja Matsuri, Sanja Festival, Asakusa Shrine, Tokyo
June 2 Kaiko Kinenbi, Anniversary of Yokohama Port Opening,
Yokohama Park,
Yokohama
June1-3 Yokohama Dontaku Festival, Yamashita Park, Yokohama
June 10-16 Sanno Matsuri, Sanno Festival, Hie Shrine, Tokyo
June 11 Torigoe Jinja Rei-taisai, Torigoe Shrine Grand
Festival, Torigoe Shrine,
Tokyo
July 1 Opening of climbing season, Fujinomiya City, Mt. Fuji
July 9-10 Hozuki-ichi, Ground Cherry Fair, Sensoji Temple, Tokyo
July 1-15 Hokata Yamagasa, Floats in Fukuoka
July 20 Sumomo Matsuri, Plum Festival, Okunitama Shrine, Tokyo
July 20 International Fireworks Display, Yokohama Port, Yokohama
July 24-25 Tenjin Festival, Tenmangu Shrine, Osaka
July 29 Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, Sumida River Fireworks, Asakusa, Tokyo
Early Aug. Ningyocho Setomono-ichi, Chinaware Fair, Ningyocho, Tokyo
Early Aug. Yokohama Summer Night Festival, Yokohama Port
Aug. 1 Kanagawa Newspaper Fire Festival, Yamashita Park, Yokohama
Aug. 1-7 Nebuta Matsuri, Aomori
Aug. 4 Hashi Kuyosai, Memorial Mass for Old Chopsticks, Hie Shrine, Tokyo
Aug. 5-7 Kanto Balancing Festival, Akita
Aug. 6-8 Tanabata, Star Festival, Sendai
Mid-Aug Obon, nationwide
Aug. 16 Great Bonfire at Mt. Nyoigadake, Kyoto
Aug. 26 Samba Festival, Asakusa, Tokyo
Late Aug. Honmoku Jazz Festival, Honmoku, Yokohama
Sept. 13-15 O-Sanno-miya, Autumn Festival, Hie Shrine, Yokohama
Sept. 23 Yokohama Carnival, Yokohama Station, Yokohama
Oct. 1-10 Festival in Chinatown, Yokohama
Early Oct. Dai Ginza Matsuri, Grand Ginza Festival Ginza, Tokyo
Oct. 7-9 Okunchi Festival, Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki
Oct. 9-10 Takayama Festival, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Oct. 13 Oeshiki Ceremony, Nichiren Memorial Service,
Okegami Honmoni
Shrine, Tokyo
Mid Oct. Soba Matsuri, Buckwheat Noodle Festival, Jindaji Temple, Tokyo
Oct. 17 Autumn Festival, Toshogu Shrine, Nikko
Oct. 22 Jidai Matsuri, Festival of Eras Kyoto
A parade march through the city of Kyoto. The participants
are dressed
in period costumes representing historical and legendary
figures
throughout the history of Japan.
November Tori-no-ichi, Rooster Fair, Otori Shrine, Tokyo
Nov. 15 Shichi-go-san, Children's Shrine Visit Day
Girls age 5 and boys age 3 and 7 go to the shrine to
get blessings and
protection from the god.
Dec. 2-3 Yo-Matsuri, Lanterns and Floats, Chichibu
Dec. 14 Gishi-sai, Loyal Retainers Festival, Sengakuji Temple, Tokyo
Dec. 16-17 On-Matsuri, Kasuga Shrine, Nara
Mid Dec. Toshi-no-ichi, Year-end Market, Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo
Local ward newsletters and TIC (03-3502-1461) are good source4s of information about these and other festivals as well as local times and places for widely held events such as dancing at Obon (Bon-odori). Most local festivals are popular with children of every nationality.