Gion Matsuri: A Party Worthy of the Gods
Held throughout the entire month of July, Kyoto's Gion Matsuri is the most famous festival in all of Japan.
Dance All Night at Gifu's Gujo Odori
Held every summer in the picturesque riverside town of Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, Gujo Odori is one of Japan’s largest and most famous traditional folk dance festivals.
Tohoku's 3 Great Summer Festivals
Summer Festivals Tohoku Resorts
Head to northern Japan this summer for huge glowing floats, giant poles covered in lanterns and streets festooned with positive wishes for the future.
Seasonal Beauty in South-Central Tokyo
In addition to its historical art objects, the Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art offers a garden that's worth a look in itself!
4 Lesser-Known Tohoku Summer Festivals
Summer Festivals Tohoku Resorts
Head north to see hundreds of riders in samurai armor recreate 1,000-year-old training techniques!
Survival Japanese for Concerts & Events
So you've decided to attend an event from your favorite idols or artists, but how ready are you really? Here are some often-used terms you should check out to navigate your way!
Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival
Located in Aichi, the Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival is one of Japan’s three largest and most famous Tanabata Festivals, celebrating the one day a year when the celestial lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet.
Top 10 Tastiest Japanese Festival Snacks
Japanese Food Summer Festivals
Some might come to summer festivals to immerse themselves in tradition and culture, but a large part of that is the tasty, tasty food you can find during festival season!
Ofusa Kannon Wind Chime Festival
Feel cool in the summer heat at this unassuming temple in Nara.
Hang This Doll to Pray for Clear Skies
While many believe the tradition of making 'teru teru bozu' dolls can be traced back to a bald-headed monk, history suggests it may have begun with a small girl.
Toro Nagashi: Floating Lanterns for the Dead
'Toro nagashi' is a ceremony in which paper lanterns are released into the water, typically floating down rivers to guide the spirits of the dead back to the other world.
Tokyo’s Major Train Stations Illustrated
This illustrator creates astounding renderings of Tokyo’s major train stations by hand!
What is Tanabata?
Also known as the Star Festival, Tanabata is traditionally held on the seventh day of the seventh month of the old lunar calendar, celebrating the legend of the one day of the year when the deities Hikoboshi and Orihime are allowed to meet.
Yukata 101
What's a 'yukata'? And more importantly, how do you put one on? Better find out before summer festival season arrives!
Japan's 3 Great 'Bon Odori' Dance Festivals
Summer is the season of the festival in Japan, and these three celebrations will have you literally dancing in the streets.
Light Festival in Kyoto's Shimogamo Shrine
Enjoy a brilliant light festival in 'Tadasu no Mori' at Shimogamo Shrine!
6 Traditional Japanese Tabletop Games
Stuck inside on a rainy day? Play these classic Japanese tabletop games while listening to the relaxing sound of the drops outside!
What is Obon?
Obon is a summer event during which people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. It's considered Japan’s most significant occasion next to New Year’s, but the customs followed can vary considerably by region.
Daimon-ji Festival & Floating Lantern Tour
Spend your summer the Kyoto way by participating in two traditional summer events with great cultural significance!
Learn Japanese on Instagram?!
If you're trying to learn Japanese but always on the go, this Japanese Instagram account might be just for you!
