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Setsubun is a traditional Japanese festival celebrated on February 3rd, marking the end of winter and beginning of spring. It is also considered as the start of the Japanese lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated by throwing roasted soybeans, called “mamemaki,” to ward off evil spirits and welcome good luck. Families gather to perform the[…]

Hanami is a traditional Japanese custom of viewing cherry blossoms during springtime. The practice of hanami, or flower viewing, typically involves visiting parks or other areas where cherry blossom trees are in full bloom and admiring their beauty while enjoying picnics, drinks, and food with friends and family. This custom has been celebrated in Japan[…]

Aoi Matsuri, also known as Hollyhock Festival, is one of the oldest festivals in Japan held annually on May 15th in Kyoto. It is held in honor of Kamo-no-Matsuri, the Shinto deity of the Kamo-gawa river. The festival features a procession of participants dressed in ancient Heian-period costumes, including courtiers and noblewomen, as they carry[…]

Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrated annually on July 7th, in which people write their wishes on small pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo branches. The festival is said to have originated from a Chinese tale about two star-crossed lovers, the Weaver Star (represented by Vega) and the Cowherd Star (represented by Altair),[…]

Omizutori is a Japanese Buddhist festival held annually at the Todai-ji Temple in Nara. It is held in early March and is a significant event for the temple’s Hond? and its local community. The main highlight of the festival is the “mizutori” or “drawing of water,” which involves priests carrying sacred water from the temple’s[…]

Gion Matsuri is one of Japan’s most famous festivals, held annually in the city of Kyoto during July. It is a traditional festival that has been held for over a thousand years and is dedicated to the Yasaka Shrine. The festival lasts for the entire month of July, with various events and parades held throughout[…]

Japan is home to many traditional festivals, or “matsuri,” which are an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. These festivals are often tied to the seasons, religious beliefs, and local traditions, and they serve as a way for communities to come together and celebrate. New Year’s Festivals: At the start of the year, many[…]