Spring Festivals in Japan: 2019 Cherry Blossom Tour Guide

The appearance of cherry blossoms in March can only mean one thing: spring festivals in Japan are just around the corner! Start planning now for a trip to Japan where spring is the ideal time to snap selfies with sakura and join locals in welcoming a new season. Some of the most popular spring festivals in Japan take place in Tokyo, but other celebrations, like the ones in Kyoto and Kawasaki, attract epic crowds as well.

1. Welcome spring during hanami at Daigoji temple in Kyoto

When is hanami in Japan? March and April

Hanami is a celebration of the coming of spring, and it is signified by a wave of warm weather and the blossoming of sakura, or cherry blossoms, that begins in the southern regions of Japan and quickly works its way north. The new season is known as sakurazensen, or “cherry blossom front,” and crowds gather at some of Japan’s most popular attractions and temples to view the pink blooms.

One of the most notable spring festivals in Japan, however, takes place at Daigoji temple in Kyoto. Known as the “Temple of Flowers,” this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been celebrating hanami since 1598. The spring celebration known as Hotaiko Hanami Gyoretsu takes place on the second Sunday of April.

Top things to do in Kyoto during spring

• Arashiyama
• Kiyomizu-dera
• Kinkaku-ji
• Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Nijo Castle
• Gion geisha district

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2. Celebrate Kanda Matsuri for 6 days at Kanda Shrine in Tokyo

When is Kanda Festival 2019? May 11 and 12 (held on odd-numbered years)

Every two years locals gather at Kanda Shrine (Kanda Myojin) to celebrate Kanda Matsuri, one of the largest Shinto festivals in Japan. The main celebration takes place during the weekend closest to May 15, but the entire festival lasts for six days. One of the feature attractions of Kanda Matsuri is the Shinkousai, or the parade of a portable shrine, through Kanda and the surrounding districts of Nihonbashi, Akihabara and others.

Attractions near Kanda Myojin in Chiyoda

• Imperial Palace
• Edo Castle (Fushimi-yagura Keep)
• Yasukuni Shrine
• Ueno Park
• The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Kokyo Higashi-gyoen)

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3. Join 2 million people for the Sanja Festival at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo

When is Sanja Festival 2019 in Tokyo? May 17 to 19

Beginning on the third Sunday in May, Sanja Festival lasts for three days and attracts more than two million festivalgoers annually. The event features massive amounts of Japanese street food, traditional games and lively performances at Asakusa Shrine, near Senso-ji temple. Sanja Festival honors the three founders of Senso-ji, who are enshrined in Asakusa Shrine. During the festival, the deities of the three founders are paraded through the streets on portable shrines to bring good luck to the neighborhood, local businesses and residents.

Things to do near Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo

• Kaminarimon historic neighborhood
• Hanayashiki Amusement Park
• Amuse Museum
• Edo Downtown Traditional Crafts Center
• Escape Game Nazobako Tokyo

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4. Party in the dark for Kurayami Matsuri at Okunitama Shrine in Tokyo

When is Kurayami Matsuri in Tokyo? April 30 to May 6

Meaning the “dark night festival,” Kurayami Matsuri takes place at night and has reported crowds of more than 700,000 visitors during the weeklong celebration at Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu. The popular event has been called a Folk Cultural Treasure in Japan because of its traditional festivities, parades, horse riding exhibitions and lantern hanging contests. The main events take place from May 3 to 6, but locals begin preparing for the event on April 30.

Attractions near Okunitama Shrine in Tokyo

• Kyodo-no-More folk museum
• Fuchu no Mori Park
• Tonogayato Garden
• Traffic Playground
• Fuchu Art Museum

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5. Follow a royal procession for Aoi Matsuri at Kamo Shrine in Kyoto

When is Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto? May 15

One of Kyoto’s three most famous festivals, Aoi Matsuri welcomes spring with a parade fit for royalty. The procession begins at Kyoto Imperial Palace, where 500 participants dress in Heian period aristocratic clothing adorned with hollyhock leaves and make their way to Kamo Shrine (Kamigamo-jinja). Aoi is the Japanese word for hollyhock, and the tradition began in the 7th century.

Attractions along the route of the Aoi Matsuri parade

1. Kyoto Imperial Palace: the parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the southern gate.
2. Kamo River: the parade travels across the scenic Kamo River via Aoibashi Bridge.
3. Shimogamo-jinja Shrine: pausing at 11:15, parade participants take part in a two-hour ceremony at Shimogamo-jinja Shrine.
4. Kamigamo-jinja: the head of the parade arrives at Kamo Shrine about 3:30 p.m. The procession lasts about one hour.

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6. Celebrate diversity during Kanamara Matsuri at Kanayama Jinja in Kawasaki

When is Kanamara Matsuri 2019 in Kawasaki? April 7

Quickly gaining notoriety after being dubbed Japan’s “Penis Festival” or “Festival of the Steel Phallus,” Kanamara Matsuri derived from a sacred event that revolved around fertility, marriage and business prosperity. However, in recent years, the event has evolved into a celebration of diversity and global gathering for the LGBT+ society. Events take place at Kanayama Shrine. According to legend, the shrine was where maids and prostitutes used to pray for safety and protection from diseases. In more modern times, locals suffering from sexually transmitted diseases would pray at the shrine, but only at night. Parishioners eventually eased the stigma at the shrine by initiating a festival, which was open to everyone and took place during the day. Today, Kanamara Matsuri attracts more than 30,000 visitors, and more than half of them come from overseas.

Most popular things to do in Kawasaki

• Yomiuri Land amusement park
• Fujiko F Fujio Museum
• Nihon Minka-en open-air museum
• Ikuta Ryokuchi Park
• Kawasaki Daishi temple
• Todoroki Ravine Park
• Kodomo no Kuni
• Mitsuike Park cherry blossoms

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