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From March To May - Experience Japan's Spring Festivals And Events

 Spring Festivals And Events



 The Japanese archipelago, for the most part, belongs to the temperate zone and its climate is characterized by four distinct seasonal changes. This climatic feature has long been a great source of enjoyment. Above all, the festivals of Japan may well be one of the country's greatest sources of enjoyment. Festivals take place virtually every day throughout the year, somewhere in Japan. Listed here are only some examples of major Japanese festivals from a list that is almost uncountable.

SPRING — The plum and cherry trees burst into bloom

There are many traditional festivals and events in Japan all year round, and spring is no exception. 

Spring arrives in Japan as the cold winter eases up, the sunlight starts to glisten, and the plants and trees start to bloom. The Japanese refer to this as haruranman (spring in full bloom) and view it as a positive season full of hope. Let’s take a look at the spring festivals and events in Japan.

From the first days of March, when flowering plum blossoms debut, to the last days of May, when the last flowering cherry blossoms fall from the trees of northern Japan, spring is a time for rebirth in the name of nature and human celebration throughout the land. Springtime in Japan literally means flowers, in a stunning rainbow panoply of varieties and shapes. Particularly plentiful are blossoms of camellia, iris, lotus and mustard. Numerous flower festivals are everywhere.

Let’s take a look at the spring festivals and events in Japan. 

Omizutori

Omizutori, which is held for two weeks from March 1st every year at Nara’s Todai-ji Temple’s Nigatsu-do Hall, is a rite in which you confess your sins in front of the Buddha and pray for world peace and bountiful harvests. It is an old rite which has not ceased since the eighth century and is known as the “rite which foretells the coming of spring” since it begins to get warm by the time Omizutori ends.
Omizutori Nara, Japan

Omizutori reaches its climax at midnight on March 12th (around 1:30 AM on the 13th). A large kago-taimatsu cedarwood torch (*1) is lit, and a ceremony is held in which okozui (water taken from a well called Wakasai in order to be offered to Kannon bodhisattva) is drawn up.
It's a dynamic event and well worth seeing, but keep in mind it will be very crowded on this day and admission is limited to a certain number of people. Even before the 12th, however, you can enjoy the majestic atmosphere of the torches being lit up every night at 7 PM along with the large bell being rung. Those who just want to watch should check this out, too.
*1 Kago-taimatsu: a torch about 1m in diameter, with roots cedar leaves and shingle or cedar sheets woven into a basket-like shape onto the tip of a roughly 6m long bamboo. Torches commonly refer to a light source created by bundling bamboo, Japanese nutmeg and dead leaves and lighting the tip.

Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri
Held on March 3rd, Hinamatsuri is a rite in which people wish for the healthy growth of girls. Households with young daughters usually set up a multi-tiered display decorated with showy dolls wearing traditional aristocratic clothing. These Hina dolls represent the Imperial family and court of the Heian era. The house is decorated with peach blossoms in addition to the Hina dolls, and special drinks and dishes including shirozake (*2), chirashi-zushi (*3) and soup with clams are enjoyed by the family.
At Hokyoji Temple, known for its “Temple of Dolls”, items such as dolls owned by female royals are displayed every year from March 1st to April 3rd. On March 1st (11:00 to 11:30), Japanese dances as well as playing of the biwa (Japanese lute) and singing are presented in the main hall decorated with dolls.
*2 Shirozake: sweet white sake, an alcoholic drink made by preparing alcohol such as shochu with steamed glutinous rice and malted rice, then letting it mature for about a month, and lightly grinding it to a viscous liquid; it has an alcohol content of about 9%.
*3 Chirashi-zushi: sushi made by sprinkling ingredients such as kinshi-tamago (finely sliced strips of scrambled egg), shrimp, anago (grilled conger eel), and other ingredients over vinegared rice.


Flower Viewing

In late March, a wave of warm weather called sakurazensen, (meaning cherry blossom front,) comes in from the south, letting people know that it is time for the cherry trees to bloom. Having a hanami, or cherry blossom viewing party, is the event of the season. The blooming season of these pink flowers lasts for only a few days, which means that popular cherry blossom spots will be exceptionally crowded with groups of people wanting to enjoy the fleeting beauty of these blossoms with co-workers, friends and family.

For instance, Daigo-ji Temple in Fushimi, Kyoto is a temple known for the Daigo-no-hanami: in the spring of 1598 the great warlord Toyotomo Hideyoshi held a grand party with over 1000 of his vassals on this site. To this day, the Hotaiko Hanami Gyoretsu is held every year on the second Sunday of April. Various kinds of cherry blossoms bloom inside the grounds of this World Heritage site.

Festivals and Events
Takayama Mitsuri
March 1-14    Omizutori or Water-Drawing Festival of Todaiji Temple, Nara.     A solemn rite performed in the flickering light of pine torches reaches its peak on the night of the 12th. 
March 3   Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival throughout the country. Festival for girls celebrated at home by decorating and displaying miniature dolls.
March 15 Otaue Matsuri (Festival) of Kasuga Shrine in Nara stages a 1,000-year-old classic dance.
Mid -March ( for 15 day s )    Second Sumo Tournament, Osaka.
April 1-30   Miyako Odori or Cherry Dance, Kyoto. Japanese dances presented by "Maiko" apprentice entertainers.
April 8  Hana Matsuri or Floral Festivals in all Buddhist temples, in commemoration of Buddha's birthday
April 14-15  Takayama Matsuri of Hie Shrine in Takayama, with a parade of gorgeous floats.
April 16-17    Yayoi Matsuri of Futarasan Shrine in Nikko, featuring a parade of decorated floats.
May 3-4    Hakata Dontaku in Fukuoka features a parade of legendary gods on horseback.
May 3-5    Kite Battles, in Hamamatsu. Competitors fly huge kites to try and cut strings of their opponents' kites. 
May 5   Children's Day throughout the country. Noted for colorful flying carp streamers rippling in the spring wind.
May 11    Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River, Gifu.
 (Until October 15)
May 15   Aoi Matsuri or Hollyhock Festival in Kyoto features a magnificent pageant. 
Mid-May (for 15 days)    Third Sumo Tournament, Tokyo
Mid-May   Kanda Matsuri of Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo (held every odd-year). Dozens of Mikoshi portable shrines are on parade.
May 17-18   Grand Festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. Highlighted by a spectacular procession of over 1,000 armor-clad men.
3rd Sun. of May    Mifune Matsuri on the Oi River, Kyoto, featuring a parade of ancient boats.
3rd Sun., previous Fri. & Sat. of May    Sanja Matsuri Festival of Asakusa Shrine, featuring a parade of 3 large portable shrines and more than 100 smaller ones. 
Aoi Matsuri

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