Summer in Japan means countless “matsuri” festivals, such as “mikoshi” parades, “Bon Odori” dances and “Hanabi” fireworks. While summer events are held throughout the country, especially during the Obon period from Aug. 13-15, the three traditional festivals in Aomori, Akita and Sendai in the Tohoku region (northern part of honsyu mainland), are particularly famous for their large scale and unique traditions.
Get into the summer spirit and head north for one or all of these great upcoming festivals!
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
(Photo Courtesy of Aomori Sightseeing Association)
One of Japan’s biggest summer festivals is in Aomori on Aug. 2-7. The matsuri features more than 20 large lantern floats depicting human figures parading through the city center streets. Mainly modeled after historical kabuki characters, the colorful papier-mâché and wooden lantern floats are painted beautifully and lit up from inside creating a fanstastic sight. The 6-day festival wraps up with six barges of nebuta sailing slowly on the dark sea surface off the Mutsu Gulf, while 10,000 fireworks explode in the sky.
Akita Kanto Matsuri
Akita holds its annual Kanto Matsuri, or pole lantern festival, Aug. 3-6 as a Tanabata-related celebration. During the festival, visitors can enjoy amazing view of hundreds of locals skillfully holding 15- to 50-foot-long bamboo poles bearing 24 to 46 lanterns (with real candles) in hopes of a good harvest season. Watch as the performers employ various techniques to balance these poles, including using their hands, foreheads, shoulders and hips. The parade also has cheerful drums, flutes and chanting “dokkoisho” throughout.
Video courtesy of Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan
Location: Kanto Street in Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Period: Aug. 3 – 6
Website: https://www.kantou.gr.jp/
Phone: 018-888-5602
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri
(Photo courtesy of Sendai Tanabata Festival Sponsorship Association)
To celebrate the reunion of the two lover stars, Vega and Altair, Sendai hosts a romantic Tanabata Festival from Aug. 6-8. Filled with fun activities, festival foods and games, it is considered one of the largest and most famous Tanabata celebrations in Japan. The arcades in the city center are decorated with countless gigantic, colorful sasakazari streamers, evoking an elegant and romantic atmosphere. Locals in schools, shops, arcades and community groups carefully handcraft their sets of three‑to-five‑meter‑long streamers using washi paper and bamboo, then hang them from 10‑meter bamboo poles along the arcades to celebrate the stars’ annual rendezvous. With countless colorful streamers, the city center and Sendai Castle are beautifully illuminated, while various live performances and evening events take place throughout the period. A fireworks display in the evening of Aug. 5 heralds the grand opening of the festival.