In-home trespassing, public urination, and other bad manners bring an end to a local tradition.
festival
The energetic, dance-filled festival will make its grand outdoor return to the streets of Tokyo for the first time since before the pandemic.
If you’re in Tokyo, take a day to immerse yourself in the Edo period atmosphere during one of these events while enjoying the cherry blossoms.
One of Tokyo’s most scenic cherry blossom viewing spots has a lot more to offer than just space for a picnic!
Local resident reveals the secret spots you won’t want to miss during this breathtaking festival.
If approved, the new additions would join one dance already on the list under the collective title of “Elegant Dances.”
The PS5 is welcomed into the world at a Japanese shrine with a long history of protecting electronics.
The cutest product is definitely the goldfish-scooping set. Or maybe it’s the little pouches made to resemble shaved ice?
Filled with marvelous displays and breathtaking performances, this is one festival you won’t want to miss.
This “Festival of Tohoku Bonds” continues to pay homage to six of northern Japan’s most important annual festivals all at one time and one place.
In late November a four-day festival of music, food, fashion, and culture will be held, and anyone with a foreign passport will get some VIP treatment.
These days its hard to describe any music as “unique” but Aragehonji certainly fit that bill.
These Japanese idol fans at the 2016 Tokyo Idol Festival show us that, when it comes to being first to the front of the stage, all etiquette is thrown out the window.
Cloudy skies can’t keep these symbols of fertility down! Note: This post may not be safe for your workplace.
Though the Heian Period probably evokes more images of poetry and courtly love affairs than daring action, there was still plenty of work for the kebiishi, the peacekeepers of the time. Though the Heian court’s police force is now long gone, they remain a fixture of Japanese police history, and, in fact, served as the inspiration for the new uniforms to be worn by the Kyoto mounted police at this year Jidai Festival!
If the idea of your loved ones leaving this earth never to return again seems unfair, then you should consider the Japanese view of the afterlife. While nothing can change death itself, it is comforting to know that in Japan there is a special time of the year when the souls of the dead come back to visit the living. This is called Bon (or Obon using the honorific “o”) a holiday period from August 12-16 (exact dates may vary depending upon location), a time when the entire country takes a break to celebrate the “festival of the dead.” It’s a lively few days when the living and the dead can once again unite to eat together, drink together and share good times.
The Bon tradition gives the country some of the unique dances that Japan is so famous for. Tokushima’s Bon dance, called Awa Odori, for example, draws over one million tourists every year. Traditional Bon entertainment is so lively, colorful and intriguing that a Bon dance is a must-see on every traveler’s itinerary.
Today we’ll introduce you to a five things you should know about Obon. Needless to say, it’s a very exciting time to be in Japan as a tourist!
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