Unforgettable Japanese Festivals To See This Year

A sense of identity, vivid arts and unmatched cultural values are some of the best elements that define Japan. Tourists from across the globe visit Japan, not just to explore the astounding landscape but also for cultural encounters.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, this ultimate festival guide will be of great use. Let’s talk about the most popular Japanese festival that can surely make your trip unforgettable.

• Dosojin Fire Festival: Dosojin is a deity in the Hokuriku Shinestu region. Every year on January 15^th, the locals of Nozawa onsen village gather around to celebrate the fire festival.

It is one of Japan’s biggest fire festivals and a must-watch attraction for tourists who are visiting Nozawa especially for exploring the culture. During this festival, men of age 42 and 25 years defend a tall shrine from villages that tries to approach it with flaming torches in hand. The shine is made after months of preparation and this festival march continues for more than three hours. It is a great event for tourists who are visiting Japan for the first time. Tourists are most likely to study the Nozawa snow forecast to have a memorable skiing holiday and this fire festival makes it a truly unforgettable experience.

• Wakasuka Yamayaki: When you are done with your skiing holiday in Nozawa, you can travel towards the Nara prefecture to attend the truly exciting fire festival of Wakasuka Yamayaki. Colourful fireworks and grass set ablaze on Mt Wakasuka is truly a delight to the eyes. The fire festival is organized every fourth Saturday of January, so you can easily plan your itinerary from Nozawa to Nara. A lot of competitions begin in the day and at the time of dusk, fireworks shows begin which are followed by the burning of the mountain grass.

• Oto Matsuri fire festival: Move towards Shingu in Wakayama prefecture to carry the spirit of the Nozawa Onsen fire festival. The fire festival of Oto Matsuri is an ancient ritual that is held on February 6 every year. The festival is organized at Kamikura Shrine which is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

During this festival, a purification ceremony is organized which transformed into a lively fire festival. During this annual fire festival, over 2000 participants perform purification rituals with prayers. Prayers are made for good harvest and purification of mind and soul. Locals of the area climb the shrine in the day and when the ceremony begins they light up their torches and climb down the 538 stairs. The torches of locals transform the stairs of the shrine into a river of fire. It is definitely a sight to behold.

Apart from the above mentioned fire festivals, there are many other attractions in Japan that are held throughout the year. Some of them are Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri and Sanja Matsuri. All these and many more festivals are organized in the month of May. If you are planning your vacation around the snow season then the above listed top three fire festivals can easily fit into your itinerary.

Bottom Line

There is no shortage of a large procession, traditional apparel, enthusiastic faces and ancient stories in Japan. Plan your visit around any of the above listed fire festivals to have an unforgettable time. Tourists’ favourite is the Nozawa Fire Festival. Plan your visit around the dates of this renowned fire festival to make the most out of your time in Japan. Visit Stay Nozawa to get comprehensive vacation solutions inone place. Their team has the wealth of local knowledge. They can be your Nozawa onsen guide to manage crucial things like accommodation, ski rentals, transfers and more.