Festivals and Events for July 2014 in Japan
July 2014 sees summer in full swing and is one of the best times to experience one of Japan’s many festivals. There are quite a few traditional cultural festivals and events happening with an array of summer festivals and fireworks around Japan. This is one of the best times of year to experience all that Japanese culture has to offer.
11 May to 15 October 2014
Event: Gifu Ukai (Cormorant Fishing)
Location: Nagara River in Gifu City
Time: Starts from 7:30 pm
Price of Admission: A fee applies for the viewing boat
Cormorant Fishing or ukai in Japanese is a major summer attraction on the Nagara River in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Ukai is a traditional fishing method that uses trained cormorants to catch river fish. The art has been practiced along the Nagara River in Gifu for more than 1,300 years. It has a very long history in Japan and is mentioned in many ancient chronicles.
1-15 July 2014
Event: Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
Location: Fukuoka
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka is held from July 1 to 15 with the climax at Kushida Jinja Shrine on the 15th. The festival is believed to have originated in the 13th century. The festival features two kinds of festival floats with the larger decorative Kazariyama floats at over 10 meters tall and two tons. The smaller Kakiyama floats are about 5 meters tall and one ton, and are used for the race on the 15th. The race is held over a 5km long course with the participants carrying the Kakiyama floats.
7 July 2014
Event: Tanabata Star Festival
Location: All Over Japan
Tanabata also known as the “Star Festival” takes place every year on the 7th day of the 7th month. The Japanese festival originates from Chinese legend, and celebrates the meeting of two stars, Altair and Vega. According to the legend, the Milky Way, a river of stars that crosses the sky, separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies depending on the region of Japan and is usually held at either July 7th or August 7th. The celebration is held at night and colourful Tanabata Festivals are held across Japan.
Read more about Tababata on Japan Australia
Mid July to Early September 2014
Event: Gujo Bon Odori
Location: Gujo Hachiman
Time: 8 pm to 10:30 pm (11 pm on Saturdays)
Price of Admission: FREE
The Gujo Bon Odori is one of Japan’s largest traditional folk dance festivals. It is held at the picturesque Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, a place that is often called “Little Kyoto”. The Bon Odori is held to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. The dance festival is held over a period of 33 nights during the summer, climaxing with 4-nights of all night dancing during “Obon” in the middle of August.
14 July 2014
Event: Nachi no Hi Fire Festival
Location: Wakayama
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
This Nachi no Hi Fire Festival is held at the famous Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine in the World Heritage Kumano mountains of Wakayama Prefecture. It is one of the three largest fire festivals in all of Japan. Portable shrines (mikoshi) designed in the image of the sacred Great Waterfall of Nachi are brought down from the mountain, and are met by groups bearing 50-kg flaming pine torches.
21 July 2014
Event: Umi no Hi (Marine Day)
National Holiday
Umi no Hi or Marine Day is a Japanese National Holiday on the third Monday of July. The holiday was established to appreciate and celebrate the ocean and to consider the importance of the ocean to Japan as an island nation. Many people take advantage of this holiday and summer weather to visit the beach.
17 July 2014
Event: Gion Matsuri
Location: Kyoto
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The Gion Matsuri held at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto is one of Japan’s most famous festivals. The highlight of the festival is the procession of huge festival floats on July 17 that are paraded through the streets of Kyoto. The festival floats are truly impressive and are up to 25 meters tall and close to 12 tons. The festival dates back to 869 as a religious ceremony to appease the gods.
24-25 July 2014
Event: Tenjin Matsuri
Location: Osaka
Time: Times vary according to the event
Price of Admission: FREE
The Tenjin Matsuri is held at Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka and is regarded as one of Japan’s three biggest festivals. The main celebrations are held on the second day with a procession through the streets of Osaka of portable shrines (mikoshi), and people dressed in traditional costumes. At night, there is a river procession with a huge fireworks display. The festival first started in the 10th century and is a one of the must see festivals in Japan.
26 July 2014
Event: Chunichi Shinbun Gifu Fireworks
Location: Gifu
Time: 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm
Price of Admission: FREE
The Chunichi Shinbun Gifu Fireworks is one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks displays in all of Japan. Held along the banks of the famous Nagara River in Gifu City with Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle as a backdrop, the skies above the river are set ablaze with colour.
26 July 2014
Event: Sumidagawa Fireworks
Location: Tokyo
Time: 7:05 pm to 8:30 pm
Price of Admission: FREE
The Sumidagawa Fireworks is an annual fireworks festival held over the Sumida River near Asakusa in Tokyo. The festival is a taikai (competition) between rival pyrotechnic groups who try and out-do each other leading to a spectacular showcase of Japanese fireworks. The festival can trace its origin back to 1732.
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/
