Gaido Japan

Roast Battle Tokyo - New Faces
2022-07-15 20:00 - 22:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Ever since Roast Battle Tokyo started, it’s brought to the city’s comedy fans a succession of riotous sold out shows, entertaining them as Tokyo’s best comedians have traded body-blows with jokes as savage as they’re hilarious. July 15th sees the first New Faces show, bringing to the stage of the recently opened Tokyo Comedy Bar comedians who have been performing for some time, but who are new to Roast Battle. We know they’re funny when they’re nice, but can they bring it when they’re mean? Nothing is sacred, and no holds are barred, as the next generation of brutal battlers vie to join the top league of insult comedy bruisers.

The Kokura Gion Festival
2022-07-15 15:30 - 2022-07-17 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Kokura Gion festival is a frenzy of mid-summer community drumming in northern Kyushu and is held annually over three days from the third Friday through Sunday of July. Kokura Gion Festival Report In the middle of July, I took the night ferry from Matsuyama to Kokura, a district in the city of Kitakyushu. When I planned my trip, I wasn’t aware that I’d be landing a slap bang in the middle of a major taiko drum festival. In fact, it wasn’t until the afternoon that I became aware of this. I’d spent a very pleasant morning in Mojiko and was making my way back into Kokura when I came upon some men in a car park wearing festival clothes. They were standing around a decorated wagon with drums on it. This was the first hint that something was afoot. Since the men looked fairly exhausted, I asked one of them if they were packing up after a festival. No, he assured me, they were getting ready for the last night. Shortly after, I became aware of a general throbbing of drums from the direction of Kokura Castle where I was heading. As I was eating a late lunch of ramen, what should pass by the window but a marching band of the brave armed forces of Japan, led by a troupe of pretty girls in yukata. The band was great. They were playing Japanese pop hits with a swaggering marching tempo. I dashed out of the ramen shop to follow them just as they broke into a traditional English number that I recognized. The band headed on towards Kokura castle which sits in a large, grassy park. There, laid out around the perimeter and along each path were row upon row of stalls selling tasty snack food and children’s toys that break after 24 hours. Everywhere there were festival juggernauts with drums on them, being pulled this way and that. There were some within the castle walls too, sitting in front of the shrine. The shrine itself was packed with people who were watching a traditional drama with heroes clad in bright kimonos and ferocious masks, sword-fighting in slow motion to the sound of drum and flute. I took a seat near one of the industrial-strength fans that were set up to cool the audience and watched until the end of the show. I had time to enter the castle and enjoy the spectacle of the festival from high above. As evening fell, groups of drummers assembled, setting up a couple of taiko drums on simple stands. Each group, men, women, and children, represented a single city community. They were dressed in identical leggings, jikatabi, and a happi coat with the local crest. They all began drumming, with the rhythm set by someone playing tiny, piercing cymbals. As the evening wears on, something of a frenzy takes hold, and the drummers take turns on each side of the drum, switching places with a flourish. The sound is hypnotic, not because the drumming is monotonous but because there are so many variations – the people of Kokura collectively have a huge repertoire of rhythms. Forgive me if I was a bit lyrical here, but I found it moving to witness community solidarity in the form of mass cultural participation and creation. There was also a group of foreigners from all over the world putting on a very creditable performance. The atmosphere was nothing if not inclusive. The drumming continued after dark. As I wandered the streets I came across a small urban park where one of the groups was sitting quietly under a tree in the dark drinking beer, with their drum wagon parked on the street. It seemed a perfect expression of the local community.

Miyagawacho Beer Garden
2022-07-15 - 2022-08-31
The Miyagawacho Beer Garden is a rare occasion where you can enjoy beer, daily specialties served by neighboring restaurants, and Classical Japanese dance by the Maiko (apprentice geisha) of Miyagawacho Kabukai. Miyagawacho Kabukai is one of the five famous groups of maiko and geiko along with Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Pontocho, and Kamishichiken. It is held at a specially-prepared tented hall adjacent to the main building of the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo for a month. Four maikos wearing yukata, a casual cotton kimono for summer, attend the beer garden and show traditional dance performances. They walk through the aisles to greet each of the visitors and hand them their name cards or small uchiwa-shaped stickers with their names on them. It is held twice a day: from 18:00 to 19:30 and 20:00 to 21:30. Entry is limited to 100 visitors for each period and reservations are required at Miyagawacho Ochaya Kumiai (phone: 075-561-1151). It may be difficult to make a reservation on weekends. The charge is 5,000 yen including a free drink and hors d’oeuvre.

Lavender Season at the Tambara Lavender Park
2022-07-15 - 2022-07-31
Japan’s most well-known summertime lavender fields are likely to be those at Furano in Hokkaido, but there are numerous other options to enjoy a sea of purple across the country. One such option is at Gunma’s Tambara Lavender Park, which is typically at its best from early July through until late August. Along with the array of floral beauty to enjoy, the park has a range of lavender-infused products available for purchase, such as soaps, face toners, and hand sanitizer gels. For the foodies out there, don’t miss the lavender soft serve ice cream, soba noodles, or lavender scones!

Windmill Sunflower Garden
2022-07-15 - 2022-08-15
From Saturday, July 10th until Sunday, August 1st, Chiba’s Sakura Furusato Square will host a Windmill Sunflower Garden event. Approximately 15,000 sunflowers will be in full bloom during the event dates, including the Vincent sunflower variety named after none other than the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Admission to the event itself is free, but bring some coins if you want to pick some sunflowers — it’ll set you back 100 yen for 2 flowers from the picking area.

Natsu Biraki Music Festival, Tokyo
2022-07-15 - 2022-07-24
Natsu Biraki Music Festival in Tokyo will be held at the Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tachikawa. Hugely popular, mid-July music event held over three days has grown immensely over the last decade. The festival features many of Japan’s most engagingly independent artists and is based on the idea that suburban locations can be attractive to everyone. Parents with children are very much catered for with nursing and changing rooms available as well play areas and activities like yoga and painting for the whole family. Making it easier on parents, the organisers have wisely made it free for children under 12 years of age. With single and multiple day passes available, please check the official website for pricing details.

Introducing Noh & Kyogen
2022-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Over 700 years old, noh theatre interspersed with the comic performances of kyogen, is the world’s oldest theatre art. Enigmatically beautiful, both theatre styles maintain their appeal with a unique combination of cultural story, dance, music and costume. The National Noh Theatre in Tokyo, established in 1983, is one of the nation’s major traditional theatre halls and hosts performances of both the stylised drama of noh and the comic relief of kyogen. Both monthly regular performances and special performances are held here as well as unique ‘dissemination performances’ where various noh and kyogen plays are introduced and commentated on. Various On May 14th, the theatre will be staging a Dissemination Performance to help promote the art with commentary of the kyogen play, Fuji Matsu (The Fuji Pine) and the noh play Kosode Soga (The Soga Robe). Fuji Matsu, performed by the Izumi School, is the story of the humorous tit-for-tat desperation of a less than witty master trying to get his hands on his servant’s lovely potted plant and the servant’s attempts to prevent that. Kosode Soga, performed by the Kanze School, is part of the revenge story of the famed Soga brothers as they visit their mother to mend a family rift. The theatre has seating for 627 guests with tickets available from JPY3,000 (discounts available for students). A bonus for visitors is that both English and Japanese subtitles are available on the backs of each seat, making such dissemination performances a great way to experience one of Japan’s truly unique cultural treasures. Please refer to the National Noh Theatre website for more information.

Noda Tsukumai
2022-07-14 - 2022-07-31
In the Tone River area, every summer in just a few towns acrobats performs a curious centuries-old ritual that is sure to astound locals and visitors alike. This is Tsukumai, a rite meant to invite rains to bless agriculture. Noda City begins its summer festival season in the city center with this acrobat dance ritual. In the evening, participants assemble at Atago Shrine for a blessing and then proceed to the parking lot at Kikkoman headquarters. Here, a tall pole is prepared, and costumed acrobats climb the pole, perform a ritual of firing arrows, do some amazing moves, and slide down a rope from the pillar to conclude the rite. Long before the Tone and Edo Rivers were tamed, the courses were unpredictable and caused feast and famine. The performers wear distinctive costumes and frog masks on their heads said to harken back to a legend of a giant frog who swallowed flood waters and gushed water in droughts. This spectacular rite remembers those times and the legendary creature.

Mitama Festival
2022-07-13 10:00 - 2022-07-16 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The Yasukuni Shrine is notable for many things: its history, its purpose, and the intense political controversy surrounding it. For a few nights each summer, however, many people put aside their political stances and enjoy the wonderful Mitama Festival. “Mitama” is a respectful word that means “the soul of a dead person” in Japanese, and this “Soul Festival” honors just that. The Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to honoring of the souls of those who gave their lives to defend Japan, and this festival is an early step towards the Japanese holiday season of Obon, during which Japanese people honor their deceased ancestors. The festival is held yearly from July 13 to July 16, which can be somewhat problematic when those dates fail to fall on a weekend. It began in 1947 and remains one of Tokyo’s biggest Obon celebrations. During the day, there are numerous performances on a stage set up in the shrine area, including dancers and taiko drumming. There are also many staples of Japanese festivals, such as a long line of food stands (which I think is a bit more comprehensive than at most other festivals), some carnival-style games for prizes, and even a haunted house. A team of dancers leads the audience in a simple dance around another circular stage. The best part of the festival comes alive at night, however, when the more than 30,000 yellow lanterns lining the main road of the shrine are lit up in spectacular fashion, creating a feeling as if you were walking in a dream. Teams carry portable Shinto shrines called mikoshi through the dense crowds, chanting and cheering. A marching band performs a stirring rendition of the Japanese national anthem. And, at the height of the excitement, two spotlights form a criss-cross through the large torii gate at the shrine’s entrance. There is a very unique feeling at this event that I have never experienced at other Japanese festivals – one of intense pride and respect for the people and country of Japan. It is simultaneously festive and meaningful. Though perhaps not the most exciting festival in terms of activities, the Mitama Festival has an atmosphere of something very uniquely Japanese that is a must-do for those who want an authentic experience.

Nagoya Grand Sumo July Tournament
2022-07-10 10:00 - 2022-07-24 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Sumo is lauded as the national sport of Japan and six times every year, around Japan, tournaments (honbasho) are held in various parts of the country. The Nagoya-basho is held in July at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, located right next to Nagoya Castle. Each honbasho lasts 15 days. During this period, wrestlers fight in a round-robin style organized by the sumo guilds. It’s a chance to see some of the best Japanese sportsmanship the country has to offer! Event Report Sumo’s first tournament of the new Reiwa era saw a number of fascinating stories, but perhaps none more so than the surprise victory by the young wrestler, Asanoyama. The first rank-and-file wrestler in almost 60 years to win a tournament, Asanoyama will be looking to justify his success with more of the same in the Nagoya tournament in July. Freshly promoted ozeki, Takakeisho, is on the rebound from his injury-forced withdrawal in Tokyo while the ever-popular Georgian wrestler Tochinoshin will be breathing a sigh of relief after overcoming some controversial judging in his successful bid to reclaim sumo’s second-highest ozeki rank. Along with newly energized wrestlers like Abi and Ryuden who have surged up the rankings, the ever enigmatic behemoth Ichinojo and Hakuho, the greatest sumo wrestler of all time, July’s Nagoya tournament is shaping up to be another must-see event in Japan. Check the official website for ticketing information.

Mizudome-no-mai
2022-07-10
Mizudome-no-mai is a traditional spiritual event that is known to “stop rain”, which has been around for about 680 years. It takes place after the rainy season is well and truly over, which heralds the beginning of summer. People at Mizudome-no-mai blow a conch shell and wear the mask of a lion as they dedicate their dance to the dragon god.

July Grand Sumo Tournament (Nagoya)
2022-07-10 - 2022-07-24 | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Japan
Held every July, this is the fourth of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments, known as honbasho. With sumo rankings released a few weeks before, it’s a chance to see the traditional sport up close and personal. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day, complete with cushion-throwing and cheers. Seating is divided into box seating – tatami areas seating four people which start at about ¥38,000 and arena seats which start from around ¥3,800.
Sumo matches take place throughout the day and you can leave to grab food before returning. The busiest times are as you may expect—weekends and towards the end of the tournament.
If you’re not here during a tournament but still want to see some sumo action, here are a few ways to make it happen in Tokyo.
(JC Team)
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Miraikan Anniversary Free Admission Day
2022-07-09 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
To celebrate their anniversary, the Museum of Emerging Science and Technology (Miraikan) opens their doors for free on July 9th. They have a few different free entry days based on age, but this one is open to everyone. Note that if this day falls on a Tuesday (their regular closing day) it won’t take place. The other days are:
Free entry for everyone on the Friday and Saturday of Science Week (April)
Free entry for everyone on the Saturday of Education and Culture Week (Nov)
Free for under 18s every Saturday and on Children’s Day (May 5th)
Free for over 65s on Respect the Aged Day (Sept 18th)
Regular admission is ¥620.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Slug Festival
2022-07-09 | Nakatsugawa-shi, Gifu-ken, 683 Kashimo, Nakatsugawa-shi, Gifu-ken, Gifu, Gifu, 508-0421, Japan
Japan has great festivals ranging from fight festivals and firework festivals to ones celebrating fertility and scaring children into being good. In the little sleepy village of Kashimo in Nakatsugawa is one about slugs. Yes, slimy slugs. Though it is not a wildly famous festival nor does it garnish much attention except locals and within the prefecture, it has a story that captures the imagination. To me, it is just a great story. Between the Heian and Kamakura Periods, Kashimo’s northern district of Ogo, what locals call ojatta-mura, had a small garrison of soldiers with the duty of protecting the sacred forest and Japanese cypress used for building palaces, castles, temples and shrines from the surrounding daimyo of Takayama and Naegi. Moritoo Endo, a soldier stationed in Kashimo had fallen in love with his friend’s wife, Kesa-gozen. He approached her and began to win her affection. He wanted to have her for himself eventually convincing her to go to him. But to do that they would need to remove the husband, Moritoo’s friend. One day Kesa-gozen said, “come to my house at midnight of July 9th (old calendar). My husband will be sleeping alone so you can kill him. Then I can be with you.” Moritoo went to the house, snuck in, and cut off the head of his sleeping friend. But the next day, news came that someone had killed his friend’s wife! Kesa-gozen had tricked Moritoo and taken her husband’s futon. She had sacrificed herself to save her husband. To atone for his sin, Moritoo became a monk and later became the priest of high virtue known as Mongaku-shounin. After Moritoo died, a slug began appearing on the evening of July 9th; the day Kesa-gozen died. They say the slug is the reincarnation of Kesa-gozen. This was denoted by the black line on the back which is said to be the sword scar. Moritoo had served his apprenticeship, therefore, his sin was forgiven by Kesa-gozen. Zoom forward to the present; on the evening of the festival, the street is lined with torches and stalls selling festival fare. Taiko drums play and people are jovial. The current monk, a young man in his mid-thirties from the main temple now located in the center of the community, walks up to the tomb and the people bow in silence as a prayer is said. As he speaks, slugs led by one large slug wearing a long black mark on its back climb all over the tomb while people scramble to see this mystery of nature. I have attended this festival a dozen times. The sleepy little hamlet is transformed into a field of lanterns and all the people come out to commune. But most amazing is the slugs; no one collects them to spread, they just appear there every year on that day to be with the forbidden love.

Hiratsuka Tanabata
2022-07-08 10:00 - 2022-07-10 20:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Hiratsuka Kanagawa, Hiratsuka JR Station Takarachō 1-1 Hiratsuka Kanagawa 254 - 0034, Kanagawa, 254 - 0034, Japan
This is a celebration of the Tanabata legend, which originated in China. There are several interpretations of the legend but this is how the story is commonly told in Japan: Orihime, the daughter of the Emperor of the Universe Tentei, was a talented weaver, but after years of working hard to please her father she realized that she had been so busy weaving that she hadn’t had time to meet a lover. After seeing how sad his daughter was, the Emperor arranged for her to marry Prince Hikoboshi from the other side of the great river, made by the Milky Way. Orihime and the prince fell deeply in love, but Orihime started to neglect her weaving. The Emperor became infuriated with his daughter and banished Hikoboshi back to the other side of the river, but after seeing how sad his daughter was without the prince by her side, he decided to let the couple meet once a year, on the night of July the 7th. This would be the night each year that they, the two stars, could meet. However, on the night of their first reunion, Orihime realized that she could not cross the river by herself. A flock of Magpies heard her cries and formed a bridge for her to cross. It is said that if there is rain on the night of 7th July, the magpies can’t help Orihime, so the lovers cannot meet for another year. Each July people hope for clear skies. Japanese people celebrate Tanabata by making offerings and writing their own wishes onto strips of colored paper, before tying them to bamboo branches. Traditionally these branches were sent down the river at the end of the festival period, but Tanabata has grown so much over the past few years that this tradition has been stopped in favor of cleaner water. Event Report I step out of the train station to the smell of grilled seafood skewers, takoyaki, and teriyaki batter baking with its sugary sweet bean filling. Sellers cling on to clusters of bobbing Hello Kitty and Anpan-man balloons, and the usually quiet streets are overflowing with festival-goers. Music blares from each of the street-facing bars, while in contrast, traditional Japanese singing floats down from the loudspeakers. Sellers call out to the passers-by with infectious energy and enthusiasm. From the busy street, I look up at the streamers of luminous yellow, pink, gold, and blue, filling the sky as they blow in the wind. The decorations hang from every streetlight, rooftop, and overhead line, each competing to be the biggest and most colorful on display. This year it is hot and the streets are full of people in high spirits after a long day spent eating and drinking in the sun. Families have gathered and are filling up on meat skewers and sugary treats. Children fish for prizes while each moment is caught on camera. Couples and friends have met to eat and drink, on the streets full of life, pausing to write their wishes, before adding them to the streams of other people’s hopes and dreams. I spoke to a local bar owner, Senri Miura, who also runs a website for the festival. “Many people here look forward to seeing the decoration of the festival each year, with their hero from sports or drama, traditional motifs like Samurai and Kabuki, and current events or political relations such as Hayabusa’s return. Local people look forward to the festival’s food and drink. I especially like the nighttime illuminations, which are so romantic and beautiful.” This tradition is the perfect excuse for an early summer celebration. It’s a time for people from miles around to set out in their summer yukata and take to the streets in high festival spirits. Hiratsuka Tanabata is a festival of fun, sentimentality, and optimism, all in eager anticipation of the approaching festival season.

Narita Gion Matsuri
2022-07-08 10:00 - 2022-07-10 17:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Narita, Chiba, Narita, Chiba 286-0023, Chiba, 286-0023, Japan
For three days in July, for the last 300 years, the people of Narita and surrounding towns have gathered in the plaza in front of Shinshoji Temple in Narita to celebrate summer planting and ask for blessings from the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai. This festival is of course solemn in parts, but exuberant and boisterous day and night. The festival begins after midday on the first day with a blessing ceremony and a rally of the festival float bearers before they parade around the city. The festival floats are spectacular – exquisite woodwork, sumptuous draperies, and a company of musicians, bearers, and dancers in colorful costumes accompany each. The festival continues into the evenings, with lights on the floats and participants bearing lanterns. Each day has traditional dance and processions. Be careful not to get crushed by the floats in the steep and narrow streets of Narita, and make a way when you hear the chants and drums. If you need a breather, retreat to Naritasan Park where the fountains and ponds are tranquil and cool. During the festival street food is abundant. If you prefer a proper meal, don’t miss the local specialty, grilled eel served in many shops and best represented by Kawatoyo, a popular restaurant on the main road.

Immersive Museum
2022-07-08 - 2022-10-29
There’s no doubt that the evolution of technology has presented new opportunities in the art world. Tokyo-based favorites like TeamLab Borderless and TeamLab Planets are just a couple of examples of immersive, technology-based art exhibitions, and this summer there will be a new addition to the city’s repertoire. The Immersive Museum is scheduled to run from July 8th until October 29th, and the event incorporates technology to bring works by Impressionist painters to life.
Photo: Immersive Museum Executive Committee
Some of the artists whose works will be digitized include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas, and part of the event’s philosophy is changing art from something to be appreciated into something that should be experienced. Event tickets are estimated to be available from June, and admission is priced at ¥ 2500 for adults, ¥ 1500 for junior high, high school, and university students, and free for those elementary-aged and below.

Animage and Ghibli Exhibition
2022-07-08 - 2022-07-10
Animage is an influential anime magazine that began publication in 1978. One of the early editors was anime producer Toshio Suzuki, who collaborated with Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki on articles and manga for the magazine.
The subtitle of the exhibition is “The single magazine from which Ghibli began”, so a major part of the exhibition looks at this connection between Animage and Studio Ghibli.
The adult admission price is ¥1,300 on weekdays and ¥1,500 on weekends. There is also an early-bird “pair ticket” for ¥2,000 which admits two people—or one person twice.
Tickets are on sale through Lawson Ticket, Ticket Pia, e+, Seven Ticket, and ARTNE Ticket.
After leaving Fukuoka, the exhibition will move to Hiroshima from July 16th until September 4th, then Fukushima from September 17th to December 11th.

Hydrangea Festival at Jupia Land Hirata
2022-07-01 - 2022-07-31
Each year during Japan’s rainy season, Fukushima’s Jupia Land Hirata is home to an impressive hydrangea festival which also coincides with a variety of colorful lilies in bloom. There are a number of paved walking paths through the grounds where visitors can appreciate the blooms up close. As is the case for any flower festival, the dates can fluctuate slightly from year to year depending on blooming conditions. Based on last year’s event, plan for the first few weeks of July – but do check the official website for updates closer to the season. Adult admission to the event is 500 yen – junior high school-aged children and below receive free admission.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa
2022-07-01 - 2022-07-15
Hakata Gion Yamasaka is a festival with a 750-year history that features fundoshi (that ever-popular festival garment) clad men racing elaborately decorated floats that weigh in at 1 ton.
The event is one of Fukuoka’s largest with approximately 1 million spectators expected to observe the festivities.
The main processions take place on the 10th, 11th, and 14th of July. The closest station is Tenjin Station, but JR Hakata Station is also within walking distance.

2022 Gion Festival
2022-07-01 - 2022-07-31 | Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
The Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) is a month-long festival that takes place in Kyoto in July each year. The name comes from the neighborhood of Gion, which is home to some of the more traditional parts of Kyoto—including the geisha quarter.
Although there are processions throughout the month, the highlights of the festival are the parades called Yamaboko Junkō on the 17th and 24th of July (canceled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In the three days that lead up to each parade (known as yoiyama days), the central city streets are closed to vehicular traffic. Lining the streets are stalls selling a variety of traditional festival food such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakitori. The floats in the Yamaboko Junko parade are huge and can weigh up to 12 metric tonnes.
Apart from the parades and the other festivities, the festival is also known as an opportunity to snap pictures of geisha or maiko—but you’ll have to be on the lookout!
Access
Kyoto is well served by a metro line, trains, and a flat-rate bus network, which makes getting around easy and affordable. There is a one-day bus pass available for ¥500. If you’re traveling from Tokyo, these are your top transport options.
Accommodation
Staying in Kyoto during the Gion Festival is a challenge, to say the least—it’s almost as busy as cherry-blossom season. More affordable options disappear fast, but there are a few good hotels to keep an eye on. In Kawaramachi, The Millenials offers capsule-like pods. In a similar vein, the Karasuma branch of First Cabin has airline-inspired part-capsule part-room options for a few thousand yen a night. On the other side of the river, in the Gion district itself, Ryokan Hostel Gion has a more traditional hostel feel but with a modern design, starting at a couple of thousand yen a night.

Hachioji Summer Market
2022-07-01 - 2022-07-05
ust a few minutes’ walk from Hachioji Station’s north exit is a summer market that’s got it all. You can peruse the stalls selling famed local goodies—from morning glory flowers, to Edo-style wind chimes, to tasty street food. And since it’s that time of year (hot), you’ll see lots of folks dressed in yukata (colorful light kimono). You can also take a ride in a rickshaw during the festival—another throwback to the Edo Period.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, many events have been canceled. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

Aizen Festival
2022-06-30
The Aizen Festival is touted as the first major summer festival in Osaka of the year. Along with the Tenjin Festival and the Sumiyoshi Festival, it’s also known as one of the three big Osaka festivals.
Known colloquially as “Aizen-san” (the other two big festivals get the same treatment) Aizen festival takes place in and around the temple, Aizendo. One of the big draws of the festival is the Hoekago Parade in which a “geisha” (a beautiful young woman — not the elaborately made-up figure you’re imagining) is carried aloft in a basket. “Hoekago” literally means “blessed treasure basket.” Parade participants chant “ho-e-ka-go” while carrying the young woman aloft.
The parade will be held on the first day of the festival.

Izawanomiya Otaue Festival
2022-06-24
This festival takes place on June 24th each year at Izawanomiya (Izawa Shrine) – one of the 123 shinto shrines that makes up the giant Ise Grand Shrine complex in Mie Prefecture. Additionally, it’s yet another officially recognized intangible cultural asset and one of three major “Otaue” festivals in Japan each year. The others happen in Chiba Prefecture in April and as part of the Sumiyoshi Festival in Osaka.
If you’re struggling with the name, you could use the nickname that the locals use for it – “Omita”.
“Otaue” means rice planting and sowing the rice plants is one of the shinto rituals performed in order to ensure a good harvest.
Aside from the ritual planting, a large blue bamboo pole is put at the bottom of the muddy field. Teams of men in fundoshi (loin cloths) scramble through the mud to grab the pole and carry it off. It’s believed that the successful pole grabbers will be provided with safety while at sea.
The mythology of the festival involves an ancient visit by 7 sharks that swam up the Nogawa (No River) to visit the shrine. The sharks are purported to visit even now so that local fishermen suspend their fishing – presumably so that the sharks aren’t accidentally caught. An added bonus is that they get to scramble through the mud after the talismanic bamboo pole.

Wonderful Nature Village Hydrangea Festival
2022-06-17 10:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | Kamiyotsugi, Akiruno, Shiraiwa 600, Kamiyotsugi, Akiruno, Tokyo 197-0832, Tokyo, 197-0832, Japan
Wonderful Nature Village is located in Akiruno, in the western part of Tokyo. They’ve been hosting an annual hydrangea festival for over 45 years now, and the event showcases the beauty of around 15,000 flowers in an impressive 60 varieties. The main drawcard here is a hillside filled with several thousand Annabelle snowball hydrangeas, which are known for their fluffy white flower clusters. Because of the hilly nature of the venue, visitors are recommended to wear comfortable footwear to the event. Admission to the festival is priced at ¥850 for adults; those who are elementary school age and under receive free admission.

Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival
2022-06-17 06:34 UTC
An annual festival taking place on the final weekend of July, this event finishes with a display of fireworks launched from a ship in the bay. The nearby beach provides a great vantage point and there are plenty of food stalls, games, and festival ceremonies to enjoy if you can make it for the weekend. This year there will be no citizens regatta as the pier was damaged in last year’s typhoon. The fireworks will be held on the evening of the 28th.

Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:29 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
Compared to other festivals around the country, with only 3,000 fireworks, the Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival seems relatively small. Despite this, the scenic location of the event and its proximity to Nagoya attract a spectator audience of approximately 370,000 people.
This festival usually takes place in mid-July, but in 2021 it was rescheduled for October to avoid a clash with the Olympics and in the hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted but was eventually canceled anyway.

Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:25 UTC
Take a seat on the Miyakawa river in Ise for one of the three biggest fireworks festivals in Japan. There are over 10,000 fireworks to be launched and pyrotechnicians from across the country attend to show off their skills. This is a competition, so you’ll be sure to see their best efforts! There will be shuttle busses running from Uji-Yamada and Ise-shi stations in the evening too. The display begins at 7.15 pm and will be done by 9 pm. If the weather is bad enough to cancel the event, it will be held on the 14th instead.
(Lily Crossley-Baxter)

All Japan Selection Nagara River Chunichi Fireworks Display
2022-06-17 06:24 UTC
One of two huge fireworks displays on the riverbanks each summer, the All-Japan Selection is a competition between pyrotechnicians from across the country. They have entries from the Fireworks Artists Association and there is a Creative Starmine contest too. The displays from both events are considered to be the best in Japan, and there are displays during the day (from 12pm) as well, so spend your afternoon enjoying the festive atmosphere before settling down for the show. The best seats are on the Nagara riverbank between Nagara-bridge and Kinka-bridge. You can catch a bus from JR of Meitetsu Gifu Station to Nagara-bashi or Ukai-ya.

2022 Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival
2022-06-17 06:24 UTC
We are yet to confirm the dates and details of this event.
Also known as the Toyohira River Fireworks, this fireworks festival is regarded as Hokkaido’s most popular fireworks festival.　Over the course of the evening, approximately 4,000 fireworks will light up the night sky over Sapporo. The venue for the festival will be along the Toyohiragawa river between Horohirobashi and Minamioohashi. In the event of persistent rain, the event will be rescheduled.
