What to do in August in Japan
Jul 26th, 2006 by Ad Blankestijn
August is hot and humid in Japan, the time expats fly out to cooler climes, but early August is also the month of the great (and wild) summer festivals - the Nebuta Festival in Aomori, the Awa Odori dance festival in Tokushima, and many others. The middle of August is the period of Obon, the Buddhist All-Souls Festival when the ancestors return for a few days to the earth. In every locality Bon dances are held and at the end of Obon the souls are sent off by floating lanterns in rivers and bonfires on hills, such as Daimonji in Kyoto. And, finally, in late August, there is a number of great fire festivals…
August 1-7, Chuzenji, Nikko: Tohai Matsuri (Pilgrim’s Festival), Futarasan Jinja
Midnight ascent of Mt. Nantai
August 1-7, Hirosaki (Aomori Pref): Neputa Matsuri
Giant lantern floats are paraded through Hirosaki to the sound of drums and hand-gongs.
August 2-7, Aomori: Nebuta Matsuri
Giant lantern floats, carrying images of warriors and fantastic creatures, make their way through the city to the sound of drums and flutes. Frenzied dancing in which everyone can take part.
August 5, Kyoto: Traditional Bon Dance
Okazaki park, 18:30-.
August 6, Kyoto: Nagoshi no Shinji
At Shimogamo Shrine (18:30-). Men in fundoshi jump in the water to grab talismans.
(Washing Yuzen textiles in the Kamo River)
August 6 & 7, Kyoto: Yuzen Nagashi
Washing of hand-dyed yuzen textiles in the Kamo River between Sanjo and Shijo.
August 5-7, Akita: Kanto Matsuri
Kanto are enormous poles with side beams on which numerous lanterns hang. More than 150 of such heavy contraptions are balanced by young men through Akita City.
August 6-8, Sendai: Tanabata
Main streets and shopping arcades in Sendai are festively decorated for the festival of the meeting of the stars of the Cowherd and Weaver girl. In other locations, Tanabata is usually held in July.
Early August, Kamakura: Paper Lantern festival at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine
On the eve of the first autumn day in the calendar, 400 paper lampstands are set up, decorated with poems or paintings. A beautiful sight at night, the lanterns are kept standing for 9 days.
August 7-10, Kyoto: Rokudo-Mairi and Pottery Fair
“Six States of Existence Pilgrimage” is held in the area of Rokuharamitsuji and Chinkoji. Vendors sell goods from stalls set up in the streets around the temple. In Chinkoji, worshipers visit the temple to ring the bell to call their ancestors back from the other shore for the Bon festival. In the same period, in Gojo-dori, a pottery market is held.
August 8-10 and 16, Kyoto: Manto-e in Rokuharamitsuji
Memorial services are held and wicks are lighted on dishes of oil representing the souls of ancestors being called back (evenings at 20:00). On Aug. 16, in contrast, the path to the other world is lighted back by the same ritual.
August 9-12, Kochi: Yosakoi festival.
Yosakoi teams with naruko clappers dance through the streets. Popular festival imitated by many other cities in Japan.
August 9-11, Shiga: Light-up of Konponchudo of Enryakuji on Mt. Hiei.
At 18:00 there is a shomyo service in the Konponchudo; at 19:00 the lanterns are lighted. The hall closes at 21:00. There may also be a mini-concert on an improvised stage.
Mid-August, Kyoto: Rokusai Nembutsu in Mibudera
Lion dances and pantomime for Obon.
August 12-15, Tokushima: Awa Odori
People clad in yukata dance in the streets of Tokushima to the music of shamisen and small gongs. This is Tokushima’s version of Bon Odori, the Bon Dance.
Aug. 13-16, Nationwide: Bon Festival
Buddhist festival in honor of the dead, celebrated every year between August 13 and 16 (a month earlier in the old calendar). It is believed that the souls of the dead return to earth during this period and visit their family home. The houses are cleaned for this occasion, and food and drink are set out in front of the family altar. Lanterns are placed everywhere in the evening, specially on the seashore and shores of lakes and rivers to welcome the dead. Dances are performed at local temples and shrines throughout rural Japan, which are referred to as Bon Odori. After the feast is over, the dead are conducted back to the spirit world. Sometimes bonfires are lit on hills, or lanterns are set adrift on rivers or the sea (toro-nagashi).
August 14, Hiraizumi (Iwate Pref.): Noh Performance
Noh in Chusonji.
August 14-16, Kyoto: Manto-e
Thousand of lanterns are lit on the graves in the huge Higashi-Otani Cemetery near Maruyama park (20:00-). The cemetery belongs to Higashi Honganji. Of the same nature is the Sennichi-mairi observance in Kiyomizudera.
August 15, Hanase (Kyoto Pref.): Hanase Fire Festival
In a dark field hundreds of small torches are lighted around a huge, central one called matsuage, which is finally set afire.
(Daimonji Bonfire in Kyoto)
August 16, Kyoto: Daimonji
Between 20:00 and 20:20 five fires are started on hills around the city: two in the shape of the character for Dai, Great (the best Dai character is on the hill above Ginkakuji); one in the shape of the boat (reminder of the voyage to China of Priest Ennin); a torii gate (symbolizing the Atago Shrine) and the characters for Myoho or Wonderful Law, pointing at Nichiren. It is difficult to see them all due to the many high buildings in Kyoto nowadays. Best places are in the northern part of Kyoto - for the Dai I advise the banks of the Kamo River. Later there are Bon dances at several locations in the town.
Aug. 23-24, Kyoto: Jizo Bon
Festival held in several Kyoto neighborhoods for Jizo, the guardian of children.
Aug. 26-27, Fuji-Yoshida (Yamanashi Pref.): Yoshida Fire Festival
At Sengen Jinja in Fuji-Yoshida, from 15:00 on the 26th.
Aug. 31, Dewa, Yamagata: Saito Matsuri of the Haguro Shrine
Fire festival to mark the end of a pilgrimage by yamabushi “mountain priests” in Haguro.
One Response to “What to do in August in Japan”
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Hey, that’s a great list! I can honestly say that I haven’t even heard of most of those festivals. That Daimonji thing in Kyoto sounds very cool, so maybe I’ll head out there this year. Thanks for the heads up!