Inventory of traditional festivals not to be missed when traveling in Japan (2)

Many people will choose to travel to Japan, so what traditional festivals can you participate in when traveling to Japan? This is a question that many people are concerned about. Let’s take a look at the inventory of traditional festivals that cannot be missed when traveling to Japan ( 2), welcome to read.

1. Gion Festival, Kyoto

The Gion Festival is an annual festival held in Kyoto, Japan. It is considered to be one of the largest and most famous festivals in Japan. The entire Gion Festival lasts for a month, and a large-scale parade will be held on July 17. Each of Kyoto's 29 districts will design a gorgeously decorated sedan chair to participate in the parade.

2. Todaiji Temple’s Fire Festival, Nara

Todaiji Temple is famous for the giant Buddha in its center. It is 14 meters high and is one of the largest bronze sculptures in the world. From the balcony of the nearby Gekidai, you can watch the Todaiji Temple Fire Festival at dusk.

Although the temple hall is made entirely of wood, the monks of the temple will parade with torches on the balcony of the temple, and then scatter the ashes to the people below the balcony. It is said that those who are thrown into the ashes can be purified and protected.

3. Japan’s Kamakura Fireworks Festival, Kamakura

The Kamakura Fireworks Festival is a traditional folk festival in Japan. Held in midsummer every year, it is one of the most unique fireworks festivals in Japan. Across the world, traditional fireworks are basically launched directly from land into the air. However, in Japan, the fireworks fired at the Kamakura Fireworks Festival first put the fireworks bombs into the water, and then watch the fireworks on the water, which is unique. .

On the festival night, tens of thousands of people stood on the coast, waiting to watch this wonder of the world. At this time, the people setting off the fireworks sat on several fast-moving boats and released the fireworks into the water on the Kamakura Sea. The flames shot directly into the water 30 centimeters deep and then exploded rapidly. There are many colorful sparks. The largest "flower" can be 250 meters high and 250 meters in diameter. The scene is very spectacular. In recent years, the Kamakura Fireworks Festival has attracted more and more domestic and foreign tourists to watch it.

4. Sapporo Snow Festival, Sapporo

The Sapporo Snow Festival is a traditional festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Started in 1950, it is held every year in the first week of February, the coldest and snowiest month, and lasts for 5 days until Sunday.

On February 6, 2017, the Sapporo Ice and Snow Festival in Japan opened, with famous buildings, celebrities, cartoon characters and other snow sculptures vying to appear first. Various characters from "Star Wars" have transformed into giant snow sculptures to attract attention! The Ice and Snow Festival will last for a week and is expected to be visited by 2.5 million people.

5. Shuri Castle Spring Festival, Okinawa

Shuri Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Naha City, Japan, which is very different from many other cities in Japan. Its cultural traditions are deeply influenced by Chinese culture.

6. Jidai Festival, Kyoto

The Jidai Festival was held in 1895 (Meiji 28) to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of Emperor Kanmu’s safe move to the capital, and imitated the 1,000-year extension to Meiji. The procession ceremony started based on the custom.

This ceremony was preceded by the procession of King Uishinkyin, who was accompanied by drums and flutes. The procession of about 2,000 people traveled 2 kilometers, showing the style of the times dating back to the Enryaku period.

7. Awa Odori, Tokushima

Awa Odori is a dance in Japan. "Awa" is the former name of Tokushima, and "Odori" is a dance. The origin of Awa dance can be traced back to more than 400 years ago. It is held from August 12th to 15th every year. Awa Odori usually consists of dozens of people dancing in a company on the street. Men and women usually form small groups to dance to the rhythm of 2 beats in front, with accompanists following behind. The musical instruments basically include shamisen, Taiko drums, gong drums and transverse flutes, etc.

The origin of the Awa dance is not very clear. It may have been transformed from other religious forms of dance. The more common theory is that in 1587, the then lord of the Tokushima Domain, Hachisuka Kasei, celebrated the Tokushima Domain. When the island city was built, they held a banquet in the city and said to the people below the city, "To celebrate the city's completion, let's dance as you like."