Author’s profile
Mao Goto is a Japanese freelancer who was born in Hayama, Kanagawa prefecture, and raised in Tokyo. Since 2016 she lives within the Taito Ward, house to a whole lot of Japanese tradition hotspots similar to Asakusa, Akihabara, and Ueno. She has been within the subject of English schooling of Japan and received her Grasp’s diploma in March, 2020. A lover of images, journey, sweets, and cross-stitch. Contact her through Fb.
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Regardless of the place you reside, spring is an excellent season. However Spring in Japan? Subsequent degree! Past the blooming flowers, cherry blossoms and lovely animals, spring in Japan additionally boasts a few of the glorious festivals. Japan’s spring festivals are sometimes overshadowed by the large festivals throughout summer time and winter, however spring is a particular time of 12 months. Cherry blossom festivals and different spring-related occasions are held throughout Japan and there’s no scarcity of enjoyable for locals and vacationers, alike.
Get able to discover the great thing about spring in Japan with our information to fifteen of probably the most enchanting spring festivals in Japan for 2025!
1. Jindaiji Daruma Doll Honest (Tokyo)
Jindaiji Daruma Market is a pageant held yearly on March third and 4th in Chofu, Tokyo, and is taken into account one of many “Three Nice Daruma Markets in Japan”, together with Bishamonten Taisai Daruma Market in Shizuoka prefecture and Takasaki Daruma Market in Gunma prefecture. The pageant has been occurring for the reason that Edo interval and is alleged to have a historical past of over 300 years already. About 100,000 individuals flock to this Daruma Market at Jindaiji Temple yearly! Contained in the temple, there are about 300 shops promoting daruma dolls of assorted sizes, and you may count on it to be crowded. For those who like daruma, Jindaiji Daruma Market is a should go to!
Dates: March third – 4th, yearly
Official Web site: Jindaiji Daruma Doll Honest
2. Otaue Rice Planting Pageant (Osaka)
Held yearly on June 14th at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, the Otaue Rice Planting Pageant is a particular springtime custom in Osaka. The phrase “Otaue” means rice planting, which is considered a vital occasion for Japan as an entire, with rice being the staple meals. The Otaue Rice Planting Pageant at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine is known for being greater than different rice planting festivals held nationwide, with many individuals from throughout becoming a member of yearly. Along with the precise planting of rice, there are numerous different occasions occurring such because the dance of the eight shrine maidens that can be extremely popular amongst guests.
Date: June 14th, yearly
Official Web site: Otaue Rice Planting Pageant
3. Beppu Hattou Onsen Matsuri (Oita)
Beppu Hattou Onsen Matsuri is a spring pageant held yearly on April 1st, in addition to the primary weekend of April. This pageant takes place at Beppu Scorching Springs in Beppu Metropolis, Oita Prefecture. The pageant began as a strategy to rejoice the richness of Beppu’s well-known scorching springs. Throughout the pageant lots of the metropolis’s scorching springs are open to the general public without cost, to not point out there are numerous different occasions similar to transportable shrines being carried round within the purchasing districts. Trying to calm down and celebration? That is the last word pageant.
Dates: April 1st – sixth, 2025
Official Web site: Beppu Hattou Onsen Matsuri
4. Ushibuka Haiya Pageant (Kumamoto)
Ushibuka Haiya Pageant in Amakusa Metropolis, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a standard Japanese pageant held yearly in mid April. It’s mentioned that the title “Haiya” comes from the south wind used to maneuver crusing boats, which was as soon as referred to as “Hae no Kaze” in Kyushu. These days, the pageant is large and spectacular with fantastic parades occurring all through town.
Dates: April 18th – twentieth, 2025
Official Web site: Ushibuka Haiya Pageant
5. Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)
For those who’re on the lookout for a style of Japan’s Heian interval, Kyoto‘s Aoi Matsuri is simply what you’re on the lookout for! This pageant is held yearly in mid Might at Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. Folks gown up in conventional Japanese clothes and stroll alongside an eight kilometer lengthy highway, as if they’ve slipped again in time to the Heian interval. For those who just like the ambiance of the Heian interval or are simply involved in Japanese historical past generally, it’s best to undoubtedly give this pageant a go to!
Date: Might fifteenth, yearly
Pageant Data: Aoi Matsuri
6. Nagahama Hikiyama Pageant (Shiga)
The Nagahama Hikiyama Pageant is a spring pageant in Nagahama of Shiga Prefecture. One of many principal points of interest of the pageant is “The Kids’s Kabuki,” carried out on floats by boys between the ages of 5 and 12. Their performances are mentioned to be so superb that even the adults are in awe.
Dates: April ninth – seventeenth, 2025
Pageant Data: Nagahama Hikiyama Pageant
7. Hakata Dontaku (Fukuoka)
Hakata Dontaku is a pageant held yearly on Might third and 4th in Hakata of Fukuoka Prefecture. It’s mentioned to have a historical past of about 830 years. There’s a ceremony held on the harbor in addition to a dance efficiency you can’t miss. In fact, there may be additionally an enormous parade that may hold you entertained for the better a part of two days! The parade and dance performances together with the colourful costumes will certainly be a memorable expertise.
Dates: Might third – 4th, yearly
Official Web site: Hakata Dontaku
8. Kanda Matsuri (Tokyo)
Kanda Matsuri is a significant pageant held at Kanda Myojin Shrine, which will be reached on foot from Ochanomizu Station. It is without doubt one of the three main festivals of Edo (Tokyo), together with the Sanno Pageant and the Fukagawa Pageant. This pageant is particular in the way in which that the occasions of the pageant change yearly relying on whether or not it’s held on a fair or odd numbered 12 months. When the pageant is held on an odd-numbered 12 months, it’s referred to as “Honmatsuri” and is held in a really lavish method.
Quite the opposite, when the pageant is held on an even-numbered 12 months, it’s referred to as “Kage Matsuri”, which is shorter and fewer grand than the odd-numbered years. Nonetheless there may be nonetheless rather a lot occurring like meals stalls you’ll be able to eat at and Noh performs you’ll be able to get pleasure from watching. For those who like large festivals, Kanda Myojin on an odd-numbered 12 months is nice. For those who choose a smaller scale pageant, an even-numbered 12 months may be the higher possibility for you!
Dates: Mid-Might (precise dates TBA)
Official Web site: Kanda Matsuri
9. Naha Hari Pageant (Okinawa)
Okinawa, some of the standard vacationer locations in Japan, additionally has an enormous pageant celebrating spring, referred to as the Naha Hari Pageant. It’s often held for 3 days yearly in the course of the Golden Week holidays. The most important occasion is the “Hon-Bari”. On this occasion, individuals from Naha, Kume, and Tomari gown up in conventional Okinawan clothes and get on a ship and race out on the ocean. It’s actually an incredible sight to see as the whole venue is filled with individuals fired up and cheering them on.
Dates: Might third – fifth, 2025
Official Web site: Naha Hari
10. Seihaku Pageant (Ishikawa)
The Seihaku Pageant is a well-known pageant held at Ōtokonushi Shrine in Nanao Metropolis, Ishikawa Prefecture. There are three large floats that deliver pleasure to the local people. Of the three, there may be one referred to as “Dekayama” which is a big float that’s 12 meters excessive, weighs 20 tons, and its wheels have a diameter of two meters, making it the most important float in all of Japan! This pageant is a whole lot of enjoyable for everybody when you ever have the prospect to make it out to Ishikawa prefecture within the spring.
Dates: Might third – fifth, yearly
Official Web site: Seihaku Pageant
11. Sanja Matsuri (Tokyo)
Asakusa’s Sanja Pageant is a three-day pageant held yearly on the third Saturday of Might, however begins on that Friday and ends on Sunday. This pageant takes place in Asakusa, the place the Edo ambiance nonetheless stays sturdy. It attracts about 1,800,000 individuals yearly! There are transportable shrines carried all through the Asakusa space, which finally kind a parade alongside Nakamise Road. You gained’t need to miss out on this three day occasion as a result of it is without doubt one of the most enjoyable instances of the 12 months to go to Asakusa.
Dates: Might sixteenth – Might 18th, 2025
Official Web site: Sanja Matsuri
12. Nikko Toshogu Shrine Annual Grand Spring Pageant
Nikko is without doubt one of the most well-known sightseeing spots in Tochigi Prefecture, the place Nikko Toshogu, the image of Nikko, holds a spring pageant yearly. One of many principal highlights of this pageant is the “Yabusame Shinji”, archery on horseback. You additionally don’t need to miss the “Hyakumonozoroe Senninmusyagyōreu”, parade of a thousand individuals. It is a thrilling reenactment of the parade of Tokugawa Ieyasu when he was reburied in Nikko from his unique burial place at Kunouzan in Shizuoka prefecture. Lots of of individuals gown up as samurai or aristocrats and make their strategy to the shrine as a big group. This pageant is beloved by the locals because it holds a deep feeling and historical past of Japan.
Dates: Might seventeenth and 18th yearly
Official Web site: Nikko Toshogu Shrine Annual Grand Spring Pageant
13. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Pageant (Aomori)
Whereas a lot of Japan celebrates peak sakura season in late March and early April, Hirosaki’s 2,600 cherry bushes, together with the enduring Somei Yoshino and chic weeping varieties, maintain out till late April, making it an ideal vacation spot for individuals who missed the sooner blooms. The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Pageant, often working from April twenty third to Might fifth (although dates could shift barely relying on the blooms), is a spectacle value ready for. Stroll via the park in the course of the day, admiring the varied cherry tree varieties, and remember to return at evening when the illuminated bushes and chateau create a very magical ambiance. It’s no marvel this pageant attracts enormous crowds wanting to expertise one in all Japan’s prime hanami spots.
When: April 18th – Might fifth, 2025
Web site: Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Pageant
14. Hina Pageant in Inatori Onsen (Shizuoka)
Past its stress-free scorching springs, Inatori hosts a fascinating Hina Matsuri pageant that lasts till late March. You may see a wide ranging spectacle at Susanoo Shrine, the place a whole lot of exquisitely dressed Hina dolls adorn the 118 stone steps resulting in the shrine. The enchanting show continues at Inatori Cultural Park and Hina Corridor Mukai-an, the place you’ll be able to discover conventional Hina doll displays and admire delicate, hand-made hanging ornaments.
When: January twentieth – March thirty first, 2025
Web site: Hina Pageant in Inatori Onsen
15. Ikazaki Kite Battle Pageant (Ehime)
Ehime is aware of learn how to rejoice Kids’s Day with the Ikazaki Kite Battle Pageant in Uchiko! This 400-year-old custom, held yearly on Might fifth, transforms the Oda River right into a vibrant battleground. Folks flock to the riverbank to observe over 500 colossal Japanese paper kites, piloted by expert groups, battle it out. Outfitted with razor-sharp “Gagari” blades, these kites slice via the sky, vying for dominance. Past the breathtaking battles, the pageant additionally celebrates new life, with big kites bearing the names of newborns as a want for his or her well being and happiness. This designated Intangible People Cultural Asset of Ehime Prefecture gives a novel and unforgettable expertise, effectively value a go to when you’re within the space throughout Golden Week.
When: Might fifth, yearly
Web site: Ikazaki Kite Battle Pageant
Spring in Japan is pure magic. From the northern reaches to the southern suggestions, vibrant festivals bloom alongside the cherry blossoms, every a novel celebration of the season. With good climate for exploring, these vigorous occasions supply unforgettable experiences to expertise spring in Japan!
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