Discover The Festivals In Japan During May

Fireworks From Japanese FestivalJapan is a great country that you will want to travel to, but if you know about some of the festivals that happen in the country you will start to understand why the Japanese people always seem so happy and full of life. We have already covered the festivals that happen in Japan during April and you can find that information here. However, we also know that their are more months that are in the year and you may want to travel to Japan during different times of the year. So we are now going to cover the festivals that happen in Japan during the month of May. Then you can start to explore these festivals to see if one of these is the festival that you would want to go to and have a great trip in Japan by exploring some of the local culture that is present with the festivals that happen.

How Did We Narrow Down Our Festivals On The List? 

The list that I have here is not going to cover each of the festivals in Japan in depth. I am going to have a list of the festivals that I know about at the end, minus the ones that I did not cover. However, the list is going to be a labor of love that I have worked hard to complete so you can have a great and complete list and as I get time I will have cover more of the festivals in depth on their own page. So you will have a chance to learn even more about the Japanese culture.

Kakeuma Shinji

This is a festival that will last five days. However, it is a festival that you are going to like because it is involving a shrine, very important in[popup_product] Japanese culture[/popup_product], before the capital was moved to Kyoto in the year 794. Yes, you read that right the year 794, which for a lot of people is mind boggling as to how long the country has been around that the capital has been moved several times and this shrine that the festival is being held at is well before the time that most people would think about and it is still standing.

What really is going to take the cake for this festival will be the priest and all of the actions they are doing, but if you are patient for the festival you will love the fifth day of the festival. That is because you will get a trick horse riding show. Now this show, is not meant to detract from the rest of the festival, but it does have a tendency to do that because it is action oriented and is a lot more intriguing than watching some of the other activities that happens. The other activities will provide you with quite a bit more of the cultural experience, but you need to realize the horse riding portion of the event is the best part for people if they want to have some great interaction and experiences.

Fujiwara Festival

The Fujiwara Festival is a festival that you are going to fall in love with. This is a festival that actually takes place over five days again like the first festival that we covered. This is a festival that you will enjoy because it is the Spring festival that happens in the Fujiwara region and it is going to allow you to have the elegance and pleasure that you would like to have and expect in a festival in Japan. So this will make it easier for you to have a great time viewing the festival and be able to enjoy the time that you are going to enjoy.

When you are at this festival you will find they are typically going to keep the local folk arts and folk culture in lace. However, you will find the festival is going to focus on the temples in the region mainly the amusements put on in the culture way will be found at Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji Temples. The main attraction that you are going to like with the festival is the fact that it is going to allow you to have fun by seeing the recreation of the entrance of Hiraizumi into the the protection of Fujiwara Hidehira.

Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri

The Tarui Hikiyama Matsuri is a decent festival if you like floats and seeing people having a great time. However, what you will really like is the festival floats are perfectly decorated and this is going to make it easier for you to get to see the beauty of the floats. What else is nice, is the school kids that are in the region are going to make it easier for you to get the picture of what is going on and this will make it easier for you to get the sense of the pride the kids are going to have in the region because the kids are the ones that are going to be doing the performing on the floats and this makes it easier for you to see the beauty of the festival.

Yokohama Port Festival

Yokohama is one of the main ports in Japan now, but what you need to realize is the place did not used to be a major port city. With that being the case, the city is one that is very proud of the port and how it has grown to the places that it is going to be seen in the world. This being the case, you will like the fact the Yokohama Port Festival is one that is going to celebrate the opening of the port in a lot of different ways. The festival is one that you will enjoy because you are able to see quite a few different boats, experience a fireworks show, and get a chance to see the beautiful Yokohama Port in some of the different ways that you never thought possible.

Hakata Dontaku

If you are looking for a festival that is going to go back and have some of the best history behind it then you will love the Hakata Dontaku. This is a festival that has been going back for over 800 years and this will make it easier for you to enjoy the beauty and the pageantry, but also know the location has not been changed a lot over the centuries that it has been going on. Overall, this is a great festival and one that you will love to attend because you can enjoy this pageantry, but also the colorful parades and all the music that goes on in the middle of the downtown region will make this festival a must attend.

Sea Bream Netting Festival

This is a festival that the fishermen are going to love, but also the people that are looking to learn about how fishing used to be done. While you may think the fishing is going to be something the kids think is going to be the same all the time, they need to realize this is not the case. This is a great festival that will allow you to have a great time because it is a floating festival on the boats, but also you are brought out to the festival on the boats. Overall, this is a great festival for you to have a chance to learn about the different ways that fishing used to be done and how it has changed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ568ijS4Wg

 

Additional Japanese Festivals In May

Nozaka Mariri

Shimonoseki Straits Festival

Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri

Kamezaki Shiohi Matsuri

Giant Kite Festival

Togyu Taikai

Hamamatsu Festival

Hiroshima Flower Festival

Kutani Chawan

Seihakusai

Shio No Michi Festival

Okinohata Suitengu Festival

Ageuma Shinji

Yabusame Matsuri

Sagami Giant Kite Festival

Kotohira-gu Shugiku

Nihon Dowasai

Nagashino Kassen Nobori Festival

Kanda Festival

Takigi Noh Performance

Johana Hikiyama Festival

Otabi Festival

Sanjo Matsuri

Aoi Festival

Kurofune Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Kobe Matsuri

Tosho-gu Grand Festival

Aoba Festival

Kawawatari Jinkosai

Mifune Boat Festival

Uchiwa Maki

Mikawa Okaeri Matsuri

Mikuni Festival

Aioi Peiron Festival

Hanazono Shrine Festival

Nanko Matsuri

Bakemono Matsuri

Yushima Tenjin Matsuri

Soga no Kasayaki

 
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Author

  • Yin-Le Wang

    Yin-Le Wang is a distinguished author and cultural connoisseur, renowned for her profound expertise in Japanese travel and traditions. Born into a family passionate about exploration and the rich tapestry of global cultures, Yin-Le embarked on her first journey to Japan as a young girl, an experience that ignited a lifelong love affair with the country's diverse landscapes, ancient rituals, and the subtle artistry of daily life. With an academic background that marries the humanities with Oriental studies, Yin-Le has spent decades traversing the length and breadth of Japan, from the snow-capped peaks of Hokkaido to the tropical beaches of Okinawa. Her writing, characterized by vivid storytelling and deep cultural insights, serves as a bridge between the East and West, inviting readers into the heart of Japan's most sacred spaces and bustling urban centers alike. Yin-Le's works include a series of critically acclaimed travel guides, cultural essays, and photographic journals, each piece a testament to her immersive approach and meticulous research. A fluent speaker of Japanese, she has formed enduring relationships with locals across the country, granting her access to hidden gems and stories often overlooked by the casual traveler. Beyond her writing, Yin-Le is a sought-after speaker at cultural festivals and academic forums, where she shares her nuanced understanding of Japan's evolving identity in the global landscape. Her blog and social media channels are treasure troves of travel tips, culinary recommendations, and philosophical musings on the Japanese way of life, followed by a global audience of travel enthusiasts and culture vultures. Yin-Le Wang is not just a guide to Japan's geographical marvels; she is an ambassador of its soul, offering a lens through which the world can appreciate the intricate beauty and enduring traditions of this enchanting land.

    View all posts

By Yin-Le Wang

Yin-Le Wang is a distinguished author and cultural connoisseur, renowned for her profound expertise in Japanese travel and traditions. Born into a family passionate about exploration and the rich tapestry of global cultures, Yin-Le embarked on her first journey to Japan as a young girl, an experience that ignited a lifelong love affair with the country's diverse landscapes, ancient rituals, and the subtle artistry of daily life. With an academic background that marries the humanities with Oriental studies, Yin-Le has spent decades traversing the length and breadth of Japan, from the snow-capped peaks of Hokkaido to the tropical beaches of Okinawa. Her writing, characterized by vivid storytelling and deep cultural insights, serves as a bridge between the East and West, inviting readers into the heart of Japan's most sacred spaces and bustling urban centers alike. Yin-Le's works include a series of critically acclaimed travel guides, cultural essays, and photographic journals, each piece a testament to her immersive approach and meticulous research. A fluent speaker of Japanese, she has formed enduring relationships with locals across the country, granting her access to hidden gems and stories often overlooked by the casual traveler. Beyond her writing, Yin-Le is a sought-after speaker at cultural festivals and academic forums, where she shares her nuanced understanding of Japan's evolving identity in the global landscape. Her blog and social media channels are treasure troves of travel tips, culinary recommendations, and philosophical musings on the Japanese way of life, followed by a global audience of travel enthusiasts and culture vultures. Yin-Le Wang is not just a guide to Japan's geographical marvels; she is an ambassador of its soul, offering a lens through which the world can appreciate the intricate beauty and enduring traditions of this enchanting land.