Traditions
Area
Season
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Enjoy the rich history of Tokyo's Senju-shuku district with its traditional festival and the tale of Adachihime
This winter, the residents of Kita-Senju, Tokyo, will celebrate 400 years of history, tradition, and culture at a special event in the former post town of Senju-shuku.
The festivities will take place on December 18 and 19, 2024 at Jigenji Temple, Tokyo Arts Center, and rojicoya. Special programming for foreign visitors is available.
The main venue is historic Jigenji Temple. There, participants will enjoy martial arts, the sounds of koto zither and shinobue bamboo flutes, the glow of jiguchi andon lanterns, and impressive shishimai lion dances. Spend the day reveling intraditional performing arts and Senju's local charm.
At night fall, an opera based on the local legend of Adachihime will be performed. This historic tale will be brought to life on stage with song and dance to transport the audience into a world of fantasy.
A newly-developed Japanese tea beer, named ""Adachihime,"" will also be offered at this event. It is fermented with Japanese tea and has hints of cherry blossom flavor.
*Sales of Adachihime beer and samurai, koto, and tsugaru-shamisen programs are offered year-round at rojicoya (reservation required). -
Experience Edo period culture with nighttime cherry blossom viewing at Kinugawa Onsen
Nighttime cherry blossom viewing and hot spring banquets are a long-cherished pastime in Japan. Experience what life was like for the townspeople of Edo at Kinugawa Onsen's ""Kinugawa Kaleidoscope"" nighttime cherry blossom light display, or put yourself in the shoes of an upper-class samurai during Edo Wonderland's special nighttime hours.
Special seating will be arranged for the nighttime cherry blossom light display. Participants will also get the chance to carry a portable mikoshi shrine and play traditional hayashi music. At Edo Wonderland, participants can take a special ride on a yakatabune, a traditional Japanese pleasure boat used for dinner parties.
Shuttle buses and taxis run between the hotel, Kinugawa Onsen, and Edo Wonderland, so feel free to sit back and enjoy each event at your own leisure! Local sake will be provided at the banquet. -
Yokohama Sakura & Geisha Cruising
In Japan, there is a tradition of enjoying unique seasonal sights and sounds: cherry blossoms in spring, fireworks and cicadas in summer, colored leaves and the harvest moon in autumn, and snow in winter.
On this special tour, you will ride a traditional yakatabune boat with Yokohama Geisha to enjoy Yokohama’s spring pastime of viewing cherry blossoms at night.
The Ōoka River is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama, and is the perfect place for a cruise. In addition to the trees in full bloom, you can enjoy petals floating on the water’s surface and dancing in the wind like a snowstorm.
The cherry blossoms are not the only riverside sight. The nighttime view of the modern port city of Yokohama is bound to impress with its giant Ferris wheel, Marine Tower, Yokohama Landmark Tower, and other Minato Mirai waterfront structures.
The cruise will serve a unique blend of Japanese and Western cuisine that is befitting of Japan's first modern international trading port. The fresh seafood is sourced from Yokohama and other nearby fishing ports. Local alcoholic beverages such as Yokohama beer and wine will also be served.
Since the opening of Yokohama’s port, the Yokohama Geisha have served foreign guests and developed skills in foreign languages, Western dinner etiquette, and playing Western instruments such as flute and piano. They respect traditional culture but are not bound by it, thereby offering a unique blend of stylish Japanese and Western hospitality in this dinner party on a yakatabune boat. -
Experience shukubo, a temple stay, on the holy mountain site
One of the best ways to experience the true magic of Koyasan is to stay overnight at a temple. Known as a shukubo, a temple stay at Koyasan gives visitors the opportunity to relax, reflect and immerse themselves in the traditional practices of Shingon Buddhism.
Discover the day-to-day lives of Koyasan’s monks in one of 50 temples that offer the shukubo experience. With breakfast, dinner and comfortable overnight lodgings available, you can truly immerse yourself in this enriching cultural experience. Taste the traditional vegetarian dishes prepared by the monks and join them for morning prayers and meditation.
Clean and simple furnishings, including traditional tatami floors and sliding doors (fusuma) typify the temple lodgings at Koyasan and reflect the abundant peace and tranquility that define these sacred spaces. It’s important to remember, though, that rooms and meals vary depending on the temple. For further information, you can refer to our guide on temple stays. -
Mind-boggling paper statues dazzle at the Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2–7)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of the most popular in Japan. Every year, nearly 2.5 million people descend on Aomori City in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region to experience a spectacle found nowhere else.
The biggest draw and the festival's namesake are the Nebuta. These vast floats are adorned with paper mâché characters from myth and legend: colorful, snarling warriors, bizarre monsters and lifelike animals. Alongside the floats, traditional Haneto dancers whip up a frenzy driven by the music of Nebuta bayashi bands. Visitors can even join in the dancing provided they wear the traditional Haneto costume, which is available for rent.
The intricate floats that take over the streets of Aomori City are a work of exquisite craftsmanship. Each Nebuta takes a full year to construct, all in aid of this unique six-day event. At the end of the festival, visitors are awarded a two-hour firework display, illuminating the city's skies and providing a fitting climax to this special event. Away from the main festival, visitors can learn more about the historical roots of Aomori Nebuta at the Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE. -
An unforgettable evening with dazzling floats at Inuyama Festival
In Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, the annual Inuyama Festival will satisfy your desire for an authentic cultural experience woven into Japan’s unique cultural tapestry. Set in the historic city of Inuyama, this vibrant celebration was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity, and offers visitors a unique and authentic experience.
Traditionally held on the first weekend of April, this year on April 6 and 7 from 9 AM to 9:30 PM, the historic Inuyama Old Castle Town area hosts parades of three-tiered floats and doll performances using traditional Japanese puppets (known as “karakuri”) alongside flute and taiko drum performances. During the day, the thirteen floats parade through the cherry blossom-lined streets, but at night, all 365 lanterns decorating the 13 floats are lit, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Visitors can take in the dynamic energy of traditional floats adorned with stunning ornaments, witness captivating performances and partake in the local festivities that embody the heart and soul of Aichi’s heritage.