A very Special and unique fireworks festival is held at Hida Takayama (飛騨高山) of Gifu-ken today. To drive ill fortune away this festival is performed along the Miyagawa river from 7:30pm. Fireworks are set off in handheld bamboo cylinders (手筒花火) by 40 “shooters” who get showered by sparks from the fireworks. About 100 shots are expected. The festival is held eve… Read more

Summer Heat continues .... Hottest spot today was Tajimi-city, Gifu-ken, 39.7 deg C. Shirarahama Beach, Tanabe, Wakaya-ken (和歌山県白良浜海水浴場)… Read more

Every year this time a big fireworks festival is held along Lake Biwa shore One of the biggest fireworks festivals in Kansai region is held today at Lake Biwa, Shiga-ken from 7:30pm The sight of fireworks bursting in the sky reflected in the surface of the lake makes the display even more beautiful. If the fireworks are reflected in Lake Biwa, you’re undoubtedl… Read more

The ceremony of cleaning the image of the Great Buddha - in the Great Buddha Hall, " Daibutsu-den " of the Tôdai-ji Temple. It's called "Ominugui " and will be performed every year today on August 07th at Tôdai-ji, Nara-ken. As the cleaning priests must step on the sacred image of the Buddha, the ceremony of taking out the spirit of Buddha will be performed first. The priests clad in white will take off some dozen bucketfuls of dust. Nara was 36.2C hot today, the hottest point in Japan was… Read more

Tanabata festivals (七夕祭り), also known as "star festivals", are held across Japan on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when, according to the legend, the two stars Altair and Vega cross paths. Due to differences between the lunar calendar and the solar calendar, modern tanabata festivals take place either in July or August. The Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, held every year on August 6-8, is one of the largest and most famous tanabata celebrations in Japan. Together, with Aomori's Nebuta Matsuri and Akita's Kanto… Read more

Ikaho Onsen (伊香保温泉) is a hot spring town located on the eastern slopes of Mount Haruna. Known for its reddish brown, iron-laden thermal waters, Ikaho Onsen joins Kusatsu, Minakami and Shima Onsen as the 4 most famous hot spring resorts of Gunma-ken. The atmospheric old town area of Ikaho centers around the 300 meter long stone stairs which lead up through the middle of town and are lined by ryokan, old fashioned game arcades and shops. It was another hot day today. Hottest in the country was Hita-ci… Read more

Kawaba Village (川場村), Tone-gun, Gunma-ken is a naturally rich farming and mountain village with a small population of 3,700, spreads to the southern foot of Mt. Hotaka (武尊山2,158m) situated within 2 hours train or car ride from Tokyo. Its tranquil rural landscape has been called "Japan's spiritual home". Approximately 83% of its area is covered by forests, and five rivers (the Tashiro, Sakura, Tazawa, Usune, and the Mizomata) flow through the village. Kawaba, meaning "the place of the rivers" is thought to be named after… Read more

Kyoto, Japan It was a hot day 37.1C in Kyoto City (Even hotter was nearby Sonobe, Nandan-city recorded country's hottest 37.5C).… Read more

Numata Festival, August 03 - 05. At Numata-city, Gunma-ken Each of the various communities in Numata has its own portable shrine (mikoshi) which are brought out for the festival. The mikoshi from the Suga and Haruna shrines are especially impressive. The highlight of the festival is to see the giant tengu (long nosed goblin) mask which is carried by only women. The unique goblin mikoshi was first introduced to the Festival in 1972 to pray for road safety. One of the 2 mikoshi is made of paper and dedicated to Mou… Read more

The Kanto Matsuri (竿燈まつり, "pole lantern festival") is a Tanabata related celebration in Akita City, held every year from August 3 to 6. The highlight of the festival is an impressive display of skill in which performers balance kanto (long bamboo poles) with arrays of paper lanterns attached to the end. The Kanto Matsuri together with Aomori's Nebuta Festival and Sendai's Tanabata makes up the three great festivals of the Tohoku Region. The kanto poles come in different sizes with the largest measuring 12 meters, weighing… Read more

Oze (Nikko) Marshland now A beautiful hiking course… Read more

Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭り) is a big summer festival being held in Aomori on August 02 until 07th. (2014 Panasonic Float) The highlight of the festival is the daily parade of enormous lantern floats* called "Nebuta", flanked by large taiko drums, musicians and dancers. The Nebuta Matsuri together with Akita's Kanto Matsuri and Sendai's Tanabata make up the Tohoku Sandai Matsuri (Three Great Festivals of the Tohoku Region).( * C h i l d r e n's floats x 15, large floats x 15 ) http://blog-imgs-87.… Read more

A Girl in "Yukata" "Yukata"(浴衣=ゆかた) is a Japanese garment, a casual summer "kimono" usually made of cotton or synthetic fabric, and unlined.… Read more

Hundreds of firework festivals are held every year everywhere in Japan during the summer holidays. There is a variety of fireworks, in different colors, patterns and shapes. The fireworks festival in Yokohama is one of the breathtaking summer events. The largest out of 15,000 bursts will be 480 meters. http://blog-imgs-87.fc2.com/s/k/b/skbjkjsk… Read more

A Girl in Yukata (浴衣)… Read more

Futarasan (二荒山) is not the most impressive shrine, but is the source of its religious importance in Nikko. It is a place where the religions(Shinto and Buddhism) of Japan meet ... Futarasan Jinja (Shinto Shrine) was founded by the Buddhist monk (later became Saint) Shodo Shonin (勝道上人 735-817). During the eighth century he explored the area of Nikko and founded the temple of Rinno-ji (Buddhism Temple) and Futarasan Jinja (Shinto Shrine). From this period remains the bridge "Shinkyo=神橋", the sacred br… Read more

Japanese Girls's Summer Yukata is nice… Read more

Long ago a nine headed dragon lived at the bottom of Lake Ashi (芦の湖) and terrorized the lakeshore villages. A monk tamed the b e a s t and it now serves as the protector of residents, travellers, and visitors to the area. The Kosuisai (湖水祭) Festival and week of celebrations (July 31 to August 05) is a continuation of this long tradition and has become one of Hakone`s largest festivities. Held on the shores of Lake Ashi, in Moto-Hakone, there are foodstalls, music, traditional Japanese arts, and finishes with… Read more

Sumida River Fireworks Display is held today July 30 along the banks of the Sumida River, which flows through east crowded low land part of Tokyo, and 20,000 fireworks are set off every year. While watching the fireworks, people enjoy the summer evening eating and drinking with their f a m i l y or friends. Many people try to find a good spot to view the fireworks and spread out a sheet somewhere beside the river. Others ride boats on the river. On the day of the display the whole area is crowded with spectators.… Read more