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.
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!
Yukata 101
What's a 'yukata'? And more importantly, how do you put one on? Better find out before summer festival season arrives!
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.
Grab Hold of These Hanging Animal 'Furoshiki'
These fun, animal-print wrapping cloths can be used in a number of ways!
Navigating Japanese Umbrella Culture
The Japan Guy tackles an age-old philosophical question: 'What's the deal with umbrellas here in Japan?'
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.
9 Ways to Talk About the Weather
Since it changes so often, the weather is actually a hot topic in Japan—no pun intended! Find out nine ways to get in on this easy conversation-starter!
Light Festival in Kyoto's Shimogamo Shrine
Enjoy a brilliant light festival in 'Tadasu no Mori' at Shimogamo Shrine!
Charms That Will Keep Your Phone Safe!
These phone cases come embroidered with declarations of protection against ignored messages and low batteries.
Daimon-ji Festival & Floating Lantern Tour
Spend your summer the Kyoto way by participating in two traditional summer events with great cultural significance!
How Do You Bleach Kimono Fabrics? With Snow!
These stunning videos show how craftsmen keep their UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage practice alive during the coldest months of the year.
Witness the Fastest Hands in Japan!
'Mochi-tsuki' extraordinaire Mitsuo Nakatani risks having his hand crushed about four times per second while making this traditional Japanese snack.
Follow the Footsteps of Poet Matsuo Basho
Pack your hiking boots and get ready for an adventure as we take you to the most fascinating and beautiful spots of Japan's deep north by way of the poet Matsuo Basho.
Experience the Onbashira Festival—Safely!
This Nagano festival frequently results in deaths when it’s held every six years. Now you can experience the ride firsthand—and safely—at any time of year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
