Japan Events
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Hamamatsu International Mosaïculture
The Hamamatsu Flower Park in Japan makes way for the International Mosaïculture exhibition, a spectacular garden display that puts regular topiary to shame. Green-fingered artists sculpt giant…
The greatest Sumo wrestlers in Japan, and therefore the world, meet at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center for the November Basho, one of the year's six Grand Tournaments. Crowds cheer as meaty men…
The small town of Chichibu, near Tokyo, is the annual venue for fireworks, traditional performing arts and a gorgeous action-packed parade of huge, illuminated floats in one of Japan's most…
The lively Togo Shrine Markets occur once a month in Jingumae. From dawn onwards, locals browse through old plates, folk arts, traditional dolls, and junk, with the shrine as a backdrop. There…
Hundreds of dealers take over Boroichi-dori Street during Tokyo's lively antique flea market, Setagaya Boro-ichi. A rummage could reward discerning shoppers with an antique kimono, hidden…
Traditional performing arts have continuously been passed down since the 12th century at this elegant festival at the Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine. Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri highlights the…
Buy an authentic souvenir at this New Year fair in downtown Tokyo. Stalls cluster around the Senso-ji Temple selling ornamental hagoita. Decorated with silk or lacquer, these wooden paddles…
During the annual New Year Oga Namahage Festival, deities resembling demons go round visiting houses bringing good luck. They're also known for shouting out to children who are crying or…
Start the new year by casting away the past year's evil energy and making blessings of longevity at Kyoto's Okera-Mairi Festival. Held at the Yasaka-jinja Shrine, a ritual with Okera, the…
Achieving Zen in a tightly enclosed space is a Japanese spiritual achievement and really put to the test for O-Shogatsu, when Tokyo's inhabitants descend on their beloved temples en masse for…
The lively Togo Shrine Markets occur once a month in Jingumae. From dawn onwards, locals browse through old plates, folk arts, traditional dolls, and junk, with the shrine as a backdrop. There…
The ritual Wakakusa Yamayaki burning of the grass on Wakakusa Hill, Nara, during which the whole 342-metre hill is set ablaze, is surely one of the most stunning sights of Japan's festival year.
From hubcaps to spoilers, Tokyo Auto Salon can kit out your car with all the flashiest accessories and upgrades. The Makuhari Messe provides a sneak preview for all petrol heads of the latest…
If browsing flea markets is your thing, don't miss this opportunity to poke your nose around the Antique Jamboree. The Tokyo Big Sight is filled with stalls containing everything from trinkets…
Hundreds of dealers take over Boroichi-dori Street during Tokyo's lively antique flea market, Setagaya Boro-ichi. A rummage could reward discerning shoppers with an antique kimono, hidden…
Moja Okuri (Driving out the Devil)
The murky darkness of a cold January evening provides an ominous setting for two torch-bearing devils to tear around a twilight Sensoji Temple in this ancient ascetic ceremony.
Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling, still practised competitively, dates back to the 16th century. At the Grand Tournaments at Ryogoku Kokugikan, fascinating ring-entering rituals precede the wrestlers trying to…
The greatest Sumo wrestlers in Japan, and therefore the world, meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall for The January Basho, one of the year's six Grand Tournaments. Crowds cheer as meaty men…
The Togenuki Jizo Grand Festival makes the already bustling street of Jizo-dori even busier. Tokyo's elderly residents descend upon Koganji Temple to eat, gossip and browse the 200 market…
Not to be missed is the ritual burning of the grassy land in front of the Shiono Misaki Watchtower. Check out or, if you're brave enough, join the specatators walking through the fire as it…
