Kanamara Matsuri / かなまら祭り PAGE MENU >> Information • Transport • Links • All articles The Shinto Kanamara Matsuri (かなまら祭り, "Festival of the Steel Phallus") is an annual Japanese festival held each spring at the Kanayama Shrine (金山神社, Kanayama-jinja, map) in *Kawasaki. The exact dates v [.....]

Sapporo Snow Festival / さっぽろ雪まつり PAGE MENU >> Information • Transport • Links • All articles The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり, Sapporo Yuki-matsuri) is a festival held annually in Sapporo, over seven days in February. *Odori Park (map), Susukino (map), and Tsudome (Sapporo Community [.....]

Suwa’s Onbashira / 式年造営御柱大祭 PAGE MENU >> Information • Transport • Links • All articles Onbashira Festival (御柱祭, Onbashira-sai, map) functions as a symbolic renewal of the shrine's buildings. The Mihashira or Onbashira  are four wooden posts or pillars that stand on the four corners of [.....]

Awa Odori / 阿波踊り PAGE MENU >> Information • Transport • Links • All articles The Awa Dance Festival (阿波踊り, Awa Odori) is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the *Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku. Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima Prefecture, and o [.....]

Gujo Odori / 郡上おどり PAGE MENU >> Information • Transport • Links • All articles Gujō Odori (郡上おどり) is a *Bon Festival held every summer in Gujō, Gifu. The dance festival — Gujō Odori — started over 400 years ago and continues today; it has been designated an *Important Intangible Folk C [.....]