Spring season in Okinawa arrives early in comparison to the Honshu (main island) of Japan where cherry blossoms usually bloom from late March into April. Okinawa experiences long summers and short spring, autumn and winter seasons as a result of the relatively small year-around temperature differences caused by its subtropical...

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Tori-no-ichi is a market held at Otori Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo. The “Ichiban-taiko” drums struck at midnight signaling the beginning of November’s day of “Tori” kicks-off the market held for a duration of 24 hours. Tori is the rooster in the twelve Zodiac signs (a sequence of animal names used...

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【UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage】The highlights of the Chichibu Yomatsuri are the floats and the fireworks. The six floats, representing each neighborhood of the city include intricate carvings and are decorated in gorgeous embroidery with gold threads, and can weigh up to 20 tons. There are over 150 to 200 men...

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The Hatsuichi Matsuri of Maebashi City is a nostalgic tradition that has been continued since the early 1600's. Over 600 shops sell Daruma (Dharma) dolls and other good-luck objects at this market that bustles with visitors late into the night. The Daruma doll is a round, appendage-less doll of he...

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There are roughly 400 shrines throughout Japan that contain the name Akiha.  The main Akihasan Hongu Akiha Shrine is the stage for this festival. Since the deity of this shrine is the famous protector against fire, companies in the fire-prevention and energy industries come from all over the country to...

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