Festivals and Events for September 2013 in Japan
September is generally a good time to travel in Japan with clear skies and cooler mornings and evenings after the hot summer months. There are quite a few traditional cultural festivals happening around this time of the year.
Here are a few of the most popular September festivals in Japan.
Gujo Odori
Gujo Odori in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Prefecture will finish on September 7th. It is one of the three most important traditional dance festivals in Japan.
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri in Osaka
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is from September 14 to 15 and is a fun high octane festival. 35 elaborately hand-carved Danjiri festival floats are pulled through the streets of Osaka. Each float is pulled by a team of up to 1,000 people and represent a different district of the city.
Grand Sumo Tournament Tokyo
The Grand Sumo Tournament Tokyo starts on September 15 and lasts until September 29. It is the fifth out of six tournaments held every year and lasts for 15 days.
Respect for the Aged Day
Respect for the Aged Day or Keiro no Hi in Japanese is a National Holiday on September 16. It is a day in Japan to respect our elders and celebrate longevity.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Matsuri in Kamakura
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Matsuri held at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura features displays of yabusame, which is Japanese archery on horseback.
Tsukimi Moon Viewing
Tsukimi Moon Viewing takes place in mid-September and is a time to appreciate the bright full moon against the clear Autumn sky.
Autumn Equinox
Autumn Equinox or Shubun no Hi in Japanese is a National Holiday on September 23.
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/
