The Japanese Festival Year

A month by month guide to the Japanese festival year. A rare opportunity to see the Japanese really let their hair down and join in the revelry.

January - March

• January - The domain of the shinenkai or Japanese New Year party. These go on throughout the month to welcome in the new year with friends, family, and colleagues. There are no other major events as January is dominated by Oshogatsu, perhaps the most important cultural event on the Japanese calendar.

• February - Drive out evil spirits by joining in the bean throwing Setsubun festival. Sensoji temple is one of the best places to do this in Tokyo. Don't forget the international favorite of Valentine's Day, although there is a slight twist to this celebration in Japan.

• March - The Hina Matsuri on March 3rd is girls day in Japan. Unlike Kodomo no Hi, this is not a national holiday, but it is a day packed with traditional meaning. Also in March is White Day, the sister day to Valentine's Day in Japan.

April - June

• April - The beginning of April sees the Japanese cherry blossom bloom and hanami, or cherry blossom festival, in full swing. Where are the parties? In parks, gardens, just about anywhere really where you can find a cherry tree in Tokyo. April 29th sees the beginning of Golden Week, a time when the whole of Japan seems to be on the move. Be prepared for packed trains, huge traffic jams, and expensive prices during this traditional holiday.

• May - Two of the three largest Tokyo festivals take place during May. The Kanda festival occurs annually around May 15, while the three day Sanja Matsuri takes place in Asakusa on the third weekend of the month. It is also the month of Mother's Day in Japan.

• June - Rainy season descends and the humidity rises. Welcome to the Tokyo climate! The Sanno Festival, the last of Tokyo's big 3, takes place around June 15th in Chiyoda-ku at the Hie shrine.

July - September

• July - Tanabata, or the star festival, is first in July. Then it's on to hotter things as the temperature rises and summer matsuris begin with yukatas and fireworks in abundance. The largest Tokyo fireworks festival takes place at the end of this month.

• August - Hanabi festivals continue from July into August and are an amazing spectacle to see. An average show has around 10,000 fireworks - the larger events can have anything up to 22,000 or more. The Asakusa Samba Festival and Azabu Juban matsuri in Tokyo are carnival affairs. Expect crowded streets, food stalls selling a variety of local delicacies, and good humor all around. Also in August is the more historical Obon holiday in honor of family members who have passed away.

• September - A time to relax as the Tokyo temperatures start to fall. Although this is not technically one of the Japanese festivals, September 1 is the annual Disaster Preparation Day in remembrance of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Tokyo knows it has to be prepared. A major earthquake here could have enormous worldwide, as well as local consequences.