This traditional autumn festival has roots dating back to the beginning of the Edo period and is held…

Fire-festival held on 22 October each year famous for its procession of men bearing huge flaming torches, some…

Jidai Matsuri (時代祭, “Festival of the Ages”) celebrates the foundation of Kyoto and is held on the 22…

Shoin Jinja in Setagaya Ward is a shrine built to honor the spirit of Yoshida Shoin, one of…

2-day festival held around Koenji Station with participating restaurants and shops, a stamp rally, and other events.

If you know a little about the history of Japan then you’ll have heard of the “Five Routes”…

The Yosakoi Festival originated in Kochi prefecture in 1954 as an event to reinvigorate the region because it…

The Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival (“Mount Takao Momiji Matsuri”) is held throughout the month of November every…

The White Heron Dance (白鷺の舞) has roots in a scroll which depicted scenes of a parade praying for…

Open-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…

Open-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…

Open-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…

Open-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…

The Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival (長崎帆船まつり, Nagasaki Hansen Matsuri) is one of a kind in Japan. It was…

One of Japan’s greatest hikiyama (float) festivals, the Chichibu Yomatsuri is held 2-3 December every year and attracts…

Hanatoro (花灯路, Hanatōro) is a 10-day long illuminations that takes place in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District in March and…

The story of the 47 ronin is one of Japan’s most celebrated and famous. While in English it…

The legend goes that foxes from all regions would gather under a large tree on New Year’s Eve…

The traditional New Year greeting by the Imperial Family from the long balcony of the Chowaden Hall. Members…

The New Year Firefighter Ceremony—officially called dezome-shiki (出初式)—is a display of acrobatics and other skills organized by the…

Dondo-yaki is the ritual from the Heian era typically held on the 15 January. New year ornaments, amulets, and…

Daruma are hollow, round, traditional Japanese dolls that are usually weighted at the bottom so no matter which…

The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival (野沢温泉道祖神火祭り, Nozawa Onsen Dōsojin Hi-matsuri) is held on 15 January every year and…

Due to Kanda Myojin’s association with wealth and good fortune (it is after all home to two of…