|
 1st - 7th
Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Aomori from the 2nd to 7th noon, and Nebuta
Matsuri Festival in Hirosaki from the 1st to 7th are spectacular summer
festivals televised nationwide. Enormous, illuminated papier-mache dummies set
on floats parade the streets in the evening.
Early August
Waraku Odori, Nikko, Tochigi, is one of the most popular folk dances
performed in Japan during the Bon season. Thousands of people dance to the
accompaniment of gay music.
3rd - 6th
Kanto Matsuri Festival in Akita features a parade of men vying in their
skills at balancing Kanto or long bamboo poles, hung with many lighted
lanterns, on their shoulders, foreheads, chins or hips.
6th - 8th
Tanabata or Star Festival in Sendai is the largest and brightest of its
kind. The main streets are decorated with numerous colored paper streamers and
banners.
6th - 9th
Hanagasa Festival in Yamagata Pref. features a dance parade through the
streets by more than 10,000 townspeople wearing Hanagasa, a low, round
straw-hat, adorned with brightly colored artificial flowers.
12th - 15th
Awa Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima. The entire city resounds with
singing and dancing, day and night, and visitors are encouraged to join this
joyful dancing parade.
16th
Daimonji Bonfire on Mt. Nyoigatake in Kyoto. A spectacular bonfire in the
shape of the Chinese ideograph meaning big can be viewed from downtown Kyoto
| 