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Fireworks are a huge deal in Japan and during the summer there are Japanese fireworks festivals practically every weekend. In Japan, they are called Hanabi festivals (Hanabi meaning fireworks).
Practically all the major Japanese firework shows take place in July, August, and September. The annual extravaganza is a long-standing tradition which is very popular with locals.
Niigata Prefecture, located in the Chubu Region and skirting the Sea of Japan, is well known for its quality rice, summer fireworks, winter skiing, and year-round onsen. The prefecture’s capital, Niigata City, represents the largest port on the nation’s Japan Sea coast, home to more than 800 thousand people.
One of Niigata’s most famous landmarks is the six arches of the Bandai Bridge. The bridge was completed in 1929. It is illuminated at night and supports 20,000 dancers during the annual daiminyonagashi, or Folk Dancing Parade. The bridge represents just one of the sights that Niigata has to offer.
Natural hot springs, beaches, mountains, and scenic coasts. This is just a taste of what the Izu Peninsula has to offer. Located conveniently near Tokyo and the Mount Fuji area, this resort area is the perfect getaway during your next trip to Japan. Start planning your vacation today using this helpful guide.
Across Japan, you will encounter celebrations called matsuri. Matsuri are festivals, ranging from Shinto shrine festivals to government holidays to food festivals. They may celebrate the changing of the seasons, a historical event, or traditional culture. In this travel guide, we will focus on a specific type of matsuri: the food festival.
When traveling abroad, sampling traditional cuisine is one of the best ways to experience the authentic culture. Said cookbook author Ronni Lundy, “If you read between the lines of recipes, you can often find the things unspoken, the clues to their lives, the keys to discovering what they value. You see what’s important enough to make for a celebration…it’s all there, just between the lines.”
No trip to Japan is complete without a relaxing dip in an onsen. What is an onsen? Onsen are natural hot springs, fueled by volcanic activity, as well as the resort atmosphere that has emerged around many such springs.
Japan offers around 2,300 onsen to choose from, many of them included in ryokan (traditional inns). We’ve compiled a list of ten of the best onsen in Japan. No matter what region you’re traveling to, you’ll be able to unwind. Reaching the onsen is simple and affordable when you use Japan Railways and the Japan Rail Pass.
Japan is an incredible country to visit but it’s pricey. If you’re traveling on a budget or you miss the last train and find yourself in need of accommodation, you can stay at a capsule hotel.
Capsule hotels (also known as pod hotels) have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years and more and more of them continue to pop up in Japan’s cities. They are like normal hotels but instead of a normal-sized room, you sleep in a small cubicle.
The Obon festival (also known as Bon festival) is an annual Japanese holiday which commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit their relatives.
Chochin (paper) lanterns are hung to guide the spirits and Obon dances (bon odori) are performed. Families have reunions and visit the graves of their relatives and make food offerings at altars and temples.
Japan is famous for its four distinct and breathtaking seasons. Though the cherry blossom in the spring is probably the most iconic, for many the fall is just as beautiful.
As temperatures dip after the scorching summer, the colors of the leaves change into vibrant shades of orange, red, yellow, and brown. It’s a magnificent sight which has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
The Japanese cherry blossom, or sakura, has long been adored by people across the globe. It is regarded as a symbol of renewal, vitality, and beauty. During the spring season of each year, thousands travel to Japan to view the wondrous spectacle of these white or pink flowers blooming en masse.
Update: The latest forecast has been released (April 12)! Blooming dates have arrived ahead this year. Please check again for updates on the 2019 forecast in many major cities of Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
Tanabata, also known as the ‘Star Festival’, is a Japanese celebration which takes place on the seventh day of the seventh month. According to Japanese folklore, this is the only day of the year when the two stars, Altair and Vega, can meet.
At this time of the year, it is tradition to write Tanabata wishes (known as tanzaku) on colorful strips of paper and hang them on Tanabata trees made from bamboo branches. People also decorate their houses and public spaces.
