Events Japan

 Agenda

JANUARY
1st January: New Year.
6th January: New Year parade.
Mid-January: First sumo tournament in Tokyo.
Second Monday of January: Feast of adulthood, celebrated by boys and girls who have attained adulthood (20 years).

FEBRUARY
Early February: Snow festival at Sapporo.
3rd or 4th February:
Beans throwing feast in the main temples of the country.
Bonden festival at Yokote.
11th February: Founding of the nation.

MARCH
3rd March: Hina Matsuri. Feast of the dolls celebrated throughout the country. For this occasion, houses are decorated with miniature dolls.
13rd March: Kasuga Matsuri of the Kasuga sanctuary at Nara. Ancient traditional dances.
Mid-March: Sumo tournament at Osaka.
20th or 21st March: Vernal Equinox (Shunbun-no hi).

APRIL
1st to 30th April: Cherry trees dance at Kyoto.
8th April: Flower festival. Commemoration of the birth of Buddha.
14th and 15th April: Takayama Matsuri of the Hie Sanctuary at Takayama. Parade of chariots.
16th and 17th April: Yayoi Matsuri of the Futarasan Sanctuary. Parade of chariots.
29th April: Feast of Nature.

MAY
3rd to 5th May: Kite festival at Hama-matsu.
3rd May: Constitution Day.
5th May: Children's Day.
15th May: Hollyhock Festival at Kyoto.
Mid-May:
Sumo tournament at Tokyo.
Kanda Matsuri of the Kanda Myojin Sanctuary at Tokyo.
17th to 18th May: Grand festival of the Toshogu Sanctuary at Nikko.
3rd Sunday of May: Mifune Matsuri on the Oi river, at Kyoto. Parade of ancient ships.

JUNE
2nd Saturday of June: Feast of the horse at Morioka.
7th July: Tanabata (Feast of the Stars) all over Japan.

JULY
13th to 15th July: O Bon, festival of the dead. During this period, lamps float on lakes, rivers and the sea, signifying the return of the deceased from beyond.
Mid-July: Sumo tournament.
14th July: Fire festival.
16th and 17th July: Gion Matsuri, the most important festival in Kyoto.
3rd Monday of July: Tribute to the Sea.
Last Saturday of July: Fireworks on the Sumida river at Tokyo.
24th to 25th July: Tenjin Matsuri of the Temmangu Sanctuary at Osaka.

AUGUST
6th August: Peace festival, Hiroshima.
9th August: Remembrance Day, Nagazaki.
12th to 15th August: Ethnic dance festival, Tokushima.

SEPTEMBER
Mid-September: Sumo tournament, Tokyo.
23rd September 2005: Autumnal Equinox (Shubun no hi).

OCTOBER
7th to 9th October: Kunchi festival of the Suwa Sanctuary, Nagasaki.
Mid-October: Festival of the Nagoya town.
22 October: Fire festival of the Yuki Sanctuary, Kyoto.

NOVEMBER
2nd to 4th November: Okunchi of the Karatsu Sanctuary, Saga. Parade of coloured chariots.
3rd November: National Day of Culture.
Mid-November: Feast of the Rake at the Otori Sanctuary.
Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka.
23rd November: Kinrou-kansha-no-hi (Work Recognition Day).

DECEMBER
17th to 19th December: Feast of rackets at Tokyo.
23rd December: Birthday of the Emperor.
31st December: Namahage of the Oga peninsula.