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It may not be cherry blossom season, nor summer when all the Bon festivals are on, but Autumn brings with it i's own special event: the Aki Matsuri, or Autumn festival. Autumn festivals are held throughout Japan, most celebrated to either pray for a good harvest or to celebrate the local Shinto gods. In October, the weather is cool and it's the perfect time to be outside all … [Read more...] about Autumn Festivals in Japan

If you are in Japan Sept. 23rd-25th then you are in for a real treat. Perhaps in your home country the Autumn Equinox passes by barely noticed. But in Japan, this day in September with equal lengths of day and night, is cause for celebration. The Autumn Equinox is a national holiday and in parks all over Japan people will gather for moon viewing, an activity called … [Read more...] about Moon Viewing in Japan

The hot Japanese summer is the perfect time for something even hotter: fireworks. Where in the U.S. and Australia buying fireworks is either illegal or strongly discouraged, in Japan you can buy your fireworks at the convenience store. All summer long you'll see Japanese of all ages setting off fireworks in any open space from a vacant parking lot to larger displays with family … [Read more...] about “Fire Flower” Festivals

If you spend any time at all on the Tokyo subway (and surely you will), you will quickly conclude that the major difference between Japanese clothes and clothes in the United States or Europe is. . . well, that there is no difference. Except that cell phones tend to be accessories like belts rather than tools to communicate. But we digress. Hyper-trendy Japanese women once … [Read more...] about Japanese Clothes: All Hail Tradition And Obi

The Obon period, from Aug. 13-15 is one of the most exciting times to visit Japan. O-bon, or the Festival of the Dead, is the time of year Japanese people worship their ancestors, and everyone and their dog returns to their ancestral home to pray, take care of the family graves, and dance the Bon dance. As this is a nationwide holiday, trains, busses and ferries will be … [Read more...] about Bon Dances