Festivals and Events for December 2013 in Japan
2-3 December 2013
Event: Chichibu Yomatsuri
Location: Saitama
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The Chichibu Yomatsuri is one of Japan’s ‘Big Three’ float festivals and is held in Saitama near Tokyo. The festival is held at night and features gorgeous festival floats against a backdrop of mountains and fireworks. The fireworks last for around two and a half hours and are a rare chance in Japan to see fireworks in winter.
14 December 2013
Event: Gishi-sai Festival
Location: Sengakuji Temple, Tokyo
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The The Gishi-sai festival held at the Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo honours the famous 47 ronin who in 1703 avenged their masters death by killing his enemy. The story is one of Japan’s best loved tales and here at Sengakuji Temple you will find the graves of the Lord and his 47 loyal servants who are buried there. The festival features traditional dances and a warrior procession (Gishi Gyoretsu) of volunteers dressed as the 47 ronin, who parade through the streets.
15-18 December 2013
Event: Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
Location: Wakamiya Jinja Shrine, Nara
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The On-Matsuri is held at Wakamiya Jinja Shrine in the precincts of the Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine in Nara. It was first held in the 12th century to pray for the end of epidemic plague and for a rich harvest. The festival goes for 4 days with the 17th the main day with the Jidai Gyrotesu (Procession of the Eras). It features costumes from the Heian Period to the Edo Period (9th Century to 19th Century).
23 December 2013
Event: The Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno no Tanjobi)
National Holiday
The Emperor’s Birthday is celebrated on December 23 which is a National Holiday in Japan. The date is determined by the reigning Emperor’s birth date. The current Emperor, Akihito was born on this day in 1933. A public ceremony takes place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, where the gates of the palace are opened for the public.
31 December 2013
Event: Oga no Namahage Festival
Location: Oga Peninsula, Akita
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
Held on New Year’s Eve around Oga City in Akita Prefecture. The festival features Namahage, a strange deity resembling a demon, known as oni in Japanese. It is an ancient folk tradition where young men dress as the Namahage and visit the homes of children to warn them not to be lazy in the coming new year.
John Asano is a blogger, travel writer and travel advisor living in Gifu, Japan. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, he has lived in Japan now for over 15 years. John loves nothing better than picking up his camera and exploring all the amazing sights and attractions that Japan has to offer. He writes about the must see sights and attractions in Japan at Japan Travel Advice, as well as about Japanese culture and modern life on his blog Japan Australia. You can read more of his work at http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/
