Actively enjoying 8 Japanese Spring Festivals

Hot spring is one of the popular travel purposes in Japan. Beppu Onsen boasts the largest amount of hot spring water in the world, and there is a festival held to appreciate its rich blessings.
During the Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival, approximately 100 shared hot springs in the city are opened free of charge. In addition to drums and traditional dance stages and parades, you can see the lights up of the hot water rising at night and the flames of the Ogiyama Fire Festival that burns the surface of the mountain.
The climax is the last day after all. "Hot Water Bukkake Festival" is held in Beppu Ekimae Odori. Mikoshi of the hot spring shrine and the mikoshi of the surrounding area gather. 60 tons of hot water is released toward the mikoshi. There are tubs and bowl on the roadside, allowing the audience to pour hot water, and all the mikoshi and spectators are in a frenzy of drenching.
Whether you like hot springs, water festivals or festivals. Let's enjoy bathing in the whole body while carrying Mikoshi.

Sakura (Cherry blossom) is a special flower for Japanese people. When spring begins and cherry blossoms begin to bloom, people enjoy viewing flowers everywhere.
The Hirosaki Sakura Festival, which takes place in Hirosaki Castle Park, is one of Japan's largest cherry blossom festivals with approximately 2 million visitors.
The highlight is a 300 meter cherry blossom tunnel. The night is lit up, and it is breathtaking beauty.
The Tsugaru district in Aomori Prefecture, where Hirosaki is located, is one of the nation's leading snowfall areas. For the locals, seeing cherry blossoms means going past long and hard winter and finally enjoying the spring.
It is an experience that you can not forget just by looking at the cherry blossoms, but there are also stalls, matcha green tea, “Wafune” traditional boat tour with a boatman, Sakura bar seat (Tsugaru Shamisen and local sake and dishes), and more. Goza (Japanese carpet made by herbs) is also rented, you can experience Japanese cherry blossom viewing in a traditional way.
This festival is also recommended for those who want to see the spectacular scenery and those who want to experience Japanese cherry blossom viewing and culture.

There are various folk songs all over Japan, but it is said that their roots are "Ushibuka Haiya".
Women were born in honor of the many seafarers who made a call in the deep sea that prospered in shipping and fishing. It is a hilarious dance like in a tropical country and a cheerful dance that expresses the movement of a fisherman.
At this festival, 5000 dancers gather. You can see the total dance of the masterpiece, or you can take a class and attend. In addition, you can see the fishing boat group Sea Parade, taste delicious seafood, etc., at a seaside town.
Recommended for those who want to experience dance, and those who are interested in ethnic dance and music culture. It is a festival where you can know Japanese ethnic culture more deeply.

"Hikiyama" is a similar thing as a portable miniature shrine that you can see or carry during a festival. It is considered to be a mark of God's place, and it is decorated with luxury. It's very big wheels on it, and a lot of people join forces to pull it. In 2016, 33 Japanese Hikiyama festivals were registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
There is a festival that you can participate and pull the cultural heritage festival floats. At “Seihaku Festival” in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, three festival floats, 12 meters tall and 20 tons in weight, which participants can pull and enjoy.
The highlight of the festival is so big festival float in the narrow streets will go through the poles and the wires. When Hikiyama turns the narrow corner dynamically, exclamation voice and applause occur.
There are not many festivals where you can pull, carry or see closer cultural heritages. If you want to have an exciting experience, participate in the Mikoshi and Hikiyama Festival, or want to experience traditional events, this is the festival you'd love to visit.

"Haarii" is a race of dragon boats (Harusen = Dragon Boat). Rower, bell, helm, flagman and a large number of seamen aboard on a traditional ship with dragon decoration and compete for speed.
Naha dragon boat race is Okinawa's largest event, and over three days, over 130 teams of schools and work teams have a hot compete. At the same time, Eisa (Okinawa’s folk dance), live concerts and fireworks are also held, so you can enjoy at any time of the day.
Before the last and most important race "Honbari" between the port’s historic teams, a ritual called Uganbari is performed the last day. Uganbari is a ceremony for pray to the god of the sea for the safety of the voyage, great fishing, and the development of the region. On the other hand, Honbari is a serious final game for teams from three areas in Naha city. Wear each traditional costume and compete to determine the winner of the year.
Tourists also have experience of dragon boat riding. Those who like watching sports, as well as those who want to experience Okinawa culture, are highly satisfied festivals.

Hakata District, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture has always flourished as a port, and it has been a city where various cultures have come and gone. The Hakata Dontaku Minato Festival is one of the largest festivals in Japan, attracting two million people. In addition to the traditional folk performing arts procession called Hakata Matsubayashi, and also various performances can be seen.
It originated 400 years ago in celebration of the exchange between Fukuoka castle town and Hakata town’s people. In history, the Dutch word Zondag (Zontak = holiday) is the source of the word Dontaku. The highlight is the excitement of the colorful parade.
Matsubayashi is a folk event that originally celebrates the New Year and is characterized by dancing with the “shamoji” (wooden spoons used for scooping rice).
It is possible to participate in the "Sou-odori Dance" performed on the night of the second day. If you like the glamorous parade, it's a fun two days full of energy.

Have you ever seen a traditional Japanese Kite? Traditional kites are depicted with heroic pictures of samurai and mythical characters. The main purpose is a success from a high rise and, also a rough way of flying, such as kite fight (bumping and dropping each other's kites).
Shirane Kite battle festival is one of the biggest kite festivals in the world. It has a history of 300 years, and 300 giant kites dance wildly. A large kite of about 40 m² is raised from both sides of the Shinano River, which is about 80 m wide. Drop it into the river and pull it until the other person's kite rope is cut.
Visitors can watch from the riverside or boat, also jump in and pull ropes. There is no doubt that it will be a wonderful experience and interaction if you join the local people and help.
It is recommended for those who want to participate in the festival and get excited, those who like the exciting festival, and those who want to interact with it.

Yukata is a simple kimono made of cotton. It was originally used as nightwear, and now it is standard to wear casually at the summer festival.
This festival is a feature of Hiroshima's early summer, wearing yukata and enjoying various events. Held at the same time of Toukasan Grand Festival as the festival of Inari Daimyojin (guardian deity of Toukasan Temple in Hiroshima City). Since this festival was famous as the "First Yukata Festival", it began to make Yukata more familiar.
The highlights are parades, fashion shows and bon odori dances in yukata. You can buy a yukata or rent and wear. Once you wear a yukata, you can enjoy walking around the city, join the bon odori dance and commemorative photo shoots.
It is an event recommended for those who wear yukata for the first time, those who want to know how to enjoy yukata, and those who like Instagram for fashion lovers.