Things to do

Girl's Festival. Sagemon are handsewn ornaments which are displayed all over the city for this festival. When a baby girl is born, her mother and grandmothers sew Sagemon stitch by stitch wishing her to grow up healthy, and decorate them at both sides of ...

Cherry Blossom Festival. You can enjoy viewing of cherry blossoms at many spots in the city, such as Odawara Joshi Park, Shiroyama Park and so on. Schedule & Key events: ● daily 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 　Flowers are lit up in Odawara Joshi Park Location: Odawara ...

Cherry Blossom Festival. The period of light up is subject to change depending on blooming. Schedule & Key events: ● daily 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Cherry blossoms light up at Okazaki Park Location: Okazaki Park, Okazaki, Aichi Access: JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line to Toyohashi Sta. From there, ...

Festival designated as one of the National Important Intangible Cultural Properties, originates from a legend of the shrine having abated a serious epidemic in ancient times. The highlight of this festival is a procession of parishioners holding Hanagasa (big umbrellas decorated with flowers), devils ...

Annual Festival of the shrine, highlighted by a game of Kemari, played by the shrine priests, who loft a small ball with their insteps. Schedule & Key events: from 11:30 a.m.: Kemari game Location: Shiramine-jingu Shrine, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Access: (1) From JR Kyoto Sta., take ...

Requiem Parade. Procession of 25 priests wearing masks and special costumes of Bosatsu (Buddhist saint who is seeking a state of spiritual enlightenment) crosses a long bridge, which is believed to link this world with the Pure Land, leading people in fancy attire. Schedule & ...

One of the grandest festival in Japan, registered as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. 12 gorgeously embellished floats parade along the streets in the city, escorted by people in gay attire. The festival reaches its climax when all the floats lit up with ...

Hi-watari Shiki, rigorous religious practice of walking on burnt charcoals in the temple's ground. Schedule & Key events: from 11 a.m.: Ritual pray for protection from illness and disaster 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. Hi-watari Shiki Location: ...

Peach Blossom Festival. Tokasai Bugaku (ancient court dance with music) and Shin-Noh (traditional masked drama) performances are dedicated to the shrine. Schedule & Key events: ● April 15 from 5 p.m.: Bugaku performance ● April 16-18 ...

Annual Spring Festival of Mt. Takao featuring a procession of Yamabushi (mountain priests in their traditional attire) and a corps of fife & drum. Schedule & Key events: Procession on the mountain Location: Mt.Takao, Hachioji, Tokyo Access: Takaosan Yakuoin Temple: Keio Line to Takaosan-guchi Sta., and then walk ...

Annual Spring Festival. Daidai Kagura (sacred Shinto music and dance) to pray for a good harvest and a good health of the year is presented in the main hall of the shrine. Schedule & Key events: 2 p.m.- Location: Shinagawa-jinja Shrine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Access: Keikyu Line to Shin-Bamba ...

Masked priests perform sacred dances to the tune of drum music for driving away the bad luck and wishing a good harvest of the year. Schedule & Key events: 3 p.m.- Location: Tenso-jinja Shrine, Ota-ku, Tokyo Access: Tokyu Ikegami Line to Ontakesan Sta., and then walk 5 ...

Annual Spring Festival. Many traditional dance and martial arts performances are scheduled during the festival period. Schedule & Key events: Traditional performances Location: Yasukuni-jinja Shrine, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Access: Tokyo Metro Tozai, Hanzomon Line or Toei Shinjuku Subway Line to Kudanshita Sta. (T07, Z06, S05)(Exit 1), and then ...