You’ve probably heard of festivals such as the cherry blossom season or the Sanja Matsuri (Three Shrine Festival), but there are many other celebrations that you may have missed. From the biggest to the smallest, here are five festivals and traditions that make Japan one of the most colorful countries in the world.
Also known as The Night of Seven Stars, this festival takes place on the seventh day of July every year. It’s said that if you write your wish on a piece of paper and hang it on a bamboo tree, it will come true. You can also write your wishes on small strips of paper, which are then attached to bamboo branches by people carrying lanterns. Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture (Hiraizumi) is the best place to see this event.
Nanakusa Matsuri – A Festival Of Seven Herbs
This festival is in May in Nara Prefecture, located in central Japan. It commemorates a visit by Prince Shoutoku Taishi (574-622) to an area called Yamato no Takiyama, where he discovered seven herbs growing wild together. This discovery prompted him to build a shrine dedicated to these seven herbs, and he also developed medicine from them which he used for treating his subjects’ illnesses.
The festival involves parades with floats decorated with flowers representing each herb, dancers dressed as phoenixes or dragons performing traditional dances accompanied by music played on flutes made from bamboo stems carved into musical instruments. The floats are then taken down from their mounts and carried through the streets by residents before being returned.
Bon Festival is a Buddhist holiday celebrating ancestors and family members who have passed away. It’s also known as Obon (meaning “returning home”) because it marks the return of spirits from hell to their earthly homes for one week each year. During Bon Festival, people remember their ancestors by holding memorial services at Buddhist temples and visiting grave sites with food offerings and incense sticks (known as o-bon-zake).
Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring and marks the end of the winter season on February 3rd each year. The word “setsubun” means “seasonal division,” and it’s celebrated by throwing beans at people. It’s believed that doing this drives away evil spirits from your home for good luck during the new season.
Hatsumode is New Year’s first shrine visit, and it’s one of the most critical days for Japanese people during this time of year because it’s believed that good fortune will follow you throughout the year if you start with a visit to a shrine or temple on this day. People also pray for their wishes to come true, like good health or success at school or work.
The Japanese take their festivals very seriously, so you should try to attend at least one if you get the chance. Undoubtedly, they will all be beautiful, fun, and unique in their particular way.