The Chichibu Spring Flower Festival Close to Tokyo<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>The Jewel of Shonan: Winter Illumination Paradise of Enoshima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>8 Million Reasons to Visit Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Celebrating the Local Matsuri Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>An Afternoon at the Hamochi Festival on Sado Island<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
The Jewel of Shonan: Winter Illumination Paradise of Enoshima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>8 Million Reasons to Visit Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Celebrating the Local Matsuri Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>An Afternoon at the Hamochi Festival on Sado Island<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
8 Million Reasons to Visit Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Celebrating the Local Matsuri Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>An Afternoon at the Hamochi Festival on Sado Island<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Celebrating the Local Matsuri Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>An Afternoon at the Hamochi Festival on Sado Island<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
An Afternoon at the Hamochi Festival on Sado Island<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Festival in Snow: Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Join the Local Wind Bell Festival at the Pottery Village in Imari<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Sado Island and Its Traditional Culture: Yoi No Mai Festival and Noh Theater<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nFestivals<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\nMany of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\nThere are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div><\/a>Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nNational Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\nYou should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text]<\/a>Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a>What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nOther Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\nMany Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\nIn fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]<\/a><\/div>Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/a><\/div>Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
There are festivals around Japan year-round though many of the most famous festivals occur in the summer and fall, which are months of harvest in ancient times. Festivals are community events for Japanese people, a chance to gather and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Many festivals have roots in religious ceremonies from Shinto or Buddhism, though those connections are often more traditional than spiritual in modern times.<\/span><\/p>\n Many of the most accessible festivals occur in August, which is Obon, the period to honor one’s ancestors. Obon is celebrated with dancing, so many neighborhoods host their own small festivals where people can dress in their summer yukata and enjoy festival foods like yakitori (<\/span>\u3084\u304d\u3068\u308a) <\/span>chicken skewers, chocolate-covered bananas, and the refreshing kakigori (<\/span>\u304b\u304d\u6c37)<\/span>, shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it. Locals and foreigners alike can participate in the dances, which range from very simple to incredibly challenging.<\/span><\/p>\n There are also unique or rare festivals that take place in various cities around the Japanese countryside. Fire festivals, snow festivals<\/span><\/a>, and even fighting festivals<\/span><\/a> are some of the lesser-known festivals held in Japan. No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, you will likely find a festival that you can attend.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text] There are 16 official national holidays in Japan, which spread throughout the year. Visitors should take note of two periods of holidays when visiting Japan is not ideal. Golden Week<\/b> is a cluster of 4 national holidays in 7 days occurring at the end of April and beginning of May. Japanese people often use this time to take a week-long holiday, making popular destinations crowded and more expensive to visit. The New Year holiday<\/b> traditionally takes place from January 1st to 4th. Many small shops and restaurants are closed during this time, as well as some tourist attractions, so be cautious when scheduling a visit to Japan during this time if your agenda is not flexible. <\/span><\/p>\n You should also be aware that museums and public attractions are often closed on Mondays, but if the Monday is a national holiday, it will be open that day and closed the next day (Tuesday).<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text] Many Western holidays have recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, though unofficially. Halloween is the most popular of the imported holidays, attracting crowds so large in some neighborhoods like Tokyo’s Shibuya, that police have recently prohibited the consumption of alcohol for safety reasons. Christmas is another popular unofficial holiday, but unlike Christmas in the west, it is considered more as a date night for couples (like Valentine’s Day).<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, the celebration of Western holidays in Japan can be very different from what you are used to in weird but often enjoyable ways. So don’t be afraid to venture out on a Western holiday in Japan to see how locals celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_text_separator title=”Dance Festivals” title_align=”separator_align_left”][fancy_box box_style=”default” icon_family=”none” image_url=”69627″ color=”accent-color” border_radius=”5px” image_loading=”lazy-load” link_url=”https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?tag=dance-festival\/” min_height=”200″ link_text=”Dance Festivals”][\/fancy_box]Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Experience the Snowy Secchu Hanamizuiwai Festival<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>
Iizaka Kenka Matsuri – A Rare Fighting Festival in Fukushima<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n
National Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hina Matsuri: A Day of Celebration For Girls<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div>
What is Kodomo no Hi? Children’s Day in Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”4%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n
Other Holidays<\/span><\/h2>\n
Tenjinbashisuji Arcade in Osaka: Enjoy the Longest Shopping Street in Japan Like a Local<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Takayama, an Enduring Landscape of Authentic Japan<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
What To Do on a Family Trip to Senshu, South of Osaka?<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Sado Island: Niigata’s Island of Nature, Tradition, History, and Community<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>
Noboribetsu Onsen: When Hot Spring Paradise Meets A Steaming Hell in Hokkaido<\/a><\/h3><\/div><\/article><\/div>