- 06/29/2015
- 02/25/2021
Cool off with Summer Festivals
By Richenda Elledge Despite the sweltering heat, summer is an exciting season in Japan. From catching gigantic beetles and tuning in to the cicadas’ last song, ?to relaxing on the beach digging into a kakigori (shaved ice flavored with syrup), it wouldn’t be a Japanese summer without watching a display of fireworks and attending a Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival). What better way to cool off from a summer’s day of sticky, muggy heat than to attend these events in the cool evening. The listing is given in chronological order. Tanabata Hiratsuka Festival, Jul 3-5 In its 65th year, Hiratsuka???s Tanabata is the biggest in the Kanto region. The colourful festivities will be centered around the shopping street on the north side of Hiratsuka station. The official event will continue until 9pm on Friday and Saturday and until 8pm on Sunday. http://www.tanabata-hiratsuka.com/ Mitama Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine, Jul 13-16 The hottest months of summer are traditionally when Japanese commune with and honour the spirits of the dead. One such festival based around this idea is the Mitama Matsuri at the politically complex Yasukuni Shrine. Along the sando ? the promenade leading to the main shrine ? 30,000 lanterns are strung from […]