{"id":5874,"date":"2016-04-04T00:47:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-03T15:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=5874"},"modified":"2024-11-25T23:37:49","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:37:49","slug":"japan-festival-matsuri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japan-festival-matsuri\/","title":{"rendered":"Dance, eat and dally at one of Japan’s festival, Matsuri!"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n When people think about activities they could do in any of the cities within Japanese archipelago, a pretty clear and evident list pops into mind. Trying sushi in the country that bore and developed the culinary art; visiting old temples full of history set in beautiful landscapes; enjoying shopping and the technology offered in each city. Another piece of heritage are matsuri, festival events that gather hundreds and even thousands of people over the whole country and during almost every week of the year. Each has a different origin and meaning that varies according to the region and the time of the year when they are held.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These festivals in Japan are of such quantity and diversity that listing every one of the cities where and dates when they are taking place is almost useless. It’s recommended to plan your trip in such a way that you can witness the most important festivals: the Gion Matsuri<\/em> (held in the city of Kyoto in July), Awa Odori<\/em> (a festival in Tokushima related to dance, in August), Kanda Matsuri<\/em> (in Tokyo in the middle of May), Yuki Matsuri<\/em> (the snow festival in Sapporo) and Nebuta Matsuri<\/em> (the torch festival in the city of Osaka in August). Beyond the particulars of each festival, all of them share certain rituals and activities that form a complete part of the Japanese culture, unique to your enjoyment of Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n Matsuri festivals are huge. It’s obvious that if you attend a festival in some small town or city it won’t attract a lot of people. However, when we think about the big metropolis, there are streets filled with people and shopping galleries full of locals alongside tourists that don\u2019t want to miss out the experience. When you plan your trip schedule, consider that a matsuri festival can take more time than you are planning in the first place. This is especially important when getting back to your hotel (check the metro and urban train times).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A lot of these festivals have traditional and religious roots. That\u2019s why, on the main street, you’ll find a parade of people with folkloric clothes or with tunics that describe a particular group (job, neighborhood, club, etc.). In matsuri where dancing is fundamental (the Odori), hundreds of people prepare throughout the whole year for the parade. They create their clothes, prepare and rehearse the choreography that will be played along live music and over hundreds of meters. Such parades can last for hours so it’s advisable to prepare accordingly and look for a good place to experience it. <\/span><\/p>\n