Japanese festivals and fairs in and around Tokyo (2012)

Asakusa Yabusame Sept. 8		Asakusa Yabusame, horseback archery at Sumida Koen Park, Taito-ku, from 12:40 p.m. to 2 p.m. When it heavily rains, the event will be canceled. Website Access: The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. (G 19, A 18)
Omikoshi-Togyo & Rengo Mikoshi-Togyo or Kichijoji Autumn Festival Sept. 8 to Sept. 9		Omikoshi-Togyo and Rengo Mikoshi-Togyo, or Kichijoji Autumn Festival, is one of the biggest events in Kichijoji on the outskirts of Tokyo. Musashino Hachimangu Shrine's mikoshi (a portable shrine) and over 10 other towns' mikoshi are carried on Heiwa-dori Street and other main streets of the city, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the 9th. Access: The Keio Inokashira Line or the JR Chuo Line to Kichijoji Sta.
Grand Sumo Tournament Sept. 9-23		Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall, Sumida-ku. Dohyo-iri, the ring-entering ceremony by yokozuna (the grand champion), takes place around 4 p.m. daily. The main bouts by makuuchi rikishi (upper-rank sumo wrestlers) start after that. Advance tickets are sold at convenience store LAWSON, Ticket Pia, and so on or also at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall (tel: 0570-02-9310), all from Aug. 4th. Unreserved-seat tickets (on the 3rd floor) are available only on the day starting at 8 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall daily, each for 2,100. The number of the tickets is limited to 300 daily. Access: The JR Sobu Line or the Toei Oedo Subway Line to Ryogoku Sta. (E 12)
Dara-Dara Matsuri Festival Sept. 11-21		Dara-Dara Matsuri Festival of Shiba Daijingu Shrine, Minato-ku. The festival is also known as 'Shoga Matsuri' or Ginger Root Festival. Open-air stalls selling fresh ginger roots are set up around noon on the 15th, 16th and 17th. On the 16th, about 20 mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried in the neighborhood of the shrine from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Access: (1) The Toei Asakusa or Oedo Subway Line to Daimon Sta., ( A 09, E 20) and then walk 3 min.
Annual Festival Sept. 15-16		Annual Festival of Nezu Shrine, Nezu, Bunkyo-ku. Two kagura (Shinto dance with music), Urayasu-no-mai from 7 p.m. on the 15th and 16th, and Sanza-no-mai from 2 p.m. on the 16th, are performed in the precincts of the shrine. Open-air stalls are set up from noon to 8 p.m. on both days. Website Access: The Chiyoda Subway Line to Nezu Sta. (C 14) or Sendagi Sta. (C 15), or the Namboku Subway Line to Todaimae Sta. (N 12), and then walk 5 min.
Annual Festival Sept. 19-23		Annual Festival of Akagi Shrine, Akagi-Motomachi, Shinjuku-ku. On the 19th, Sato-Kagura (Shinto dance with music) is performed at the shrine continually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On the 22nd and 23rd, town's mikoshi parade through its town, and entertainments such as a music show and a comic chat are held in the daytime on both days. Access: The Subway Tozai Line to Kagurazaka Sta. (T 05)
Heiwajima Antique Fair Sept. 21-23		Heiwajima Antique Fair is held at Heiwajima Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Ota-ku, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (enter by 4 p.m. on the 23rd) daily during the period. A similar fair is scheduled for Dec. 14-16 this year. Access: The Tokyo Monorail Line to Ryutsu Center Sta.
Fukuro Matsuri Festival Sept. 22-23		Fukuro Matsuri Festival of Mitake Shrine, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku. On the 22nd, folk dancing and a music show by popular artists are scheduled on the makeshift stage in front of the JR Ikebukuro Station (West Exit) in the daytime. On the 23rd, a parade of mikoshi accompanied by taiko drumming is scheduled on the streets in the shopping area from 5:45 p.m. Access: The JR Yamanote Line to Ikebukuro Sta. (West Exit)
Annual Festival Sept. 22-23		Annual Festival of Yabo Temmangu Shrine, Kunitachi, on the outskirts of Tokyo. On the 22nd, a parade of horen (sacred palanquins) and people wearing ancient costumes starts from the shrine at 10 a.m., proceeds in the neighborhood, and comes back to the shrine at 1 p.m. On the 23rd, a parade of Mando, 12 poles decorated with artificial flowers and pictures, leisurely proceeds from Yaho Station to the shrine from noon to around 2 p.m. And then, Koshiki-Shishi-mai (traditional Lion Dance) from 3 p.m., and Kagura (Shinto dance with music) from 5 p.m., are performed at the shrine.Website Access: The JR Nambu Line to Yaho Sta. (North Exit), and then walk 3 min.
Kangen-sai or Court Music Festival Sept. 30		Kangen-sai or Court Music Festival at Hie Shrine, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku. The festival is associated with the mid-autumn full moon. Bugaku (ancient court dance), gagaku (court music), and kagura (Shinto dance with music) are performed in the precincts from 6 p.m. to around 8:30 p.m. Admission is ¥3,000. Tickets are sold at the shrine. Access: (1) The Ginza or Namboku Subway Line to Tameike-sanno Sta. (G 06, N 06)
Festivals around other areas of Kanto Tourist Information Center, Japan National Tourist Organization Festivals around Toky
Kisogawa Ukai June 1-Oct. 15		Kisogawa Ukai, Kiso River, Aichi Pref. Reservation: Please call 0568-61-0057 (Kisogawa Kanko) in Japanese, or reserve through major travel agencies. Website Access: The Meitetsu Inuyama Line to Inuyama-Yuen Sta., and then walk 2 min.
Ujigawa Ukai June 16-Sept. 23		Ujigawa Ukai, Uji River, Kyoto Pref. No reservation is necessary unless you charter a boat for a group. Access: (1) The Keihan Uji Line to Keihan Uji Sta., and then walk 5 min. (2) The JR Nara Line to Uji Sta., and then walk 10 min.
Arashiyama Ukai July 1-Sept. 17		Arashiyama Ukai, Oi River, Arashiyama, Kyoto. Tickets are on sale on the day from 30 min. before the departure time. No reservation is necessary unless you charter a boat for a group.Website Access: The Keifuku Arashiyama Line to Arashiyama Sta., or the Hankyu Arashiyama Line to Hankyu Arashiyama Sta., and then walk about 15 min.
Kashima Go-Jinko Festival Sept. 1-2		Kashima Go-Jinko Festival of Kashima Jingu Shrine, Kashima, Ibaraki Pref. On the 1st, the highlight of the festival, Chochin-machi in which worshipers hang hundreds of paper lanterns with the 18 tall bamboo trees each, and bring them all, one by one into the sacred fire kindled in the precincts of the shrine, is held from around 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. And then, mikoshi (a portable shrine) proceeds from the shrine for okariya (a portable shrine resting place). Access: The JR Kashima Line to Kashima Jingu Sta., and then walk 10 min., or 2 hours by bus from Tokyo Sta. (South Exit on Yaesu Side) to Kashima Jingu-mae Bus Stop, and then walk 5 min.
Hinoemata Kabuki-no-Yube Sept. 1-22		Hinoemata Kabuki-no-Yube, one-night performance of local kabuki handed down generation to generation in a rustic village called Hinoemata in Fukushima Prefecture, is held in the precincts of Chinju Shrine from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 1st, and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the 22nd. Admission is ¥1,000. The guests of local accommodations in the village on the night are invited for free admission. Access: The Yagan Railway Aizu-Kinugawa Line to Aizu-Kogen Sta. (Oze-guchi Exit). From there, 90 min. by bus to Hinoemata-chuo Bus Stop. (3 hrs. by Tobu Railway's Rapid Train and the Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line from Tobu Asakusa Sta. to Aizu Kogen Sta.)
Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival Sept. 1-3		Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival at Yatsuo-machi, Toyama, Toyama Pref. Owara-machi-nagashi or a parade of folk dancing to the tune of the music of shamisen (three-stringed musical instruments), Japanese flutes and drums, is held on the town's main streets from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the 1st and the 2nd, and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the 3rd. Website Access: The JR Takayama Honsen Line to Etchu Yatsuo Sta.
Tsuruga Matsuri Festival Sept. 1-4		Tsuruga Matsuri Festival, Tsuruga, Fukui Pref. The festival is held simultaneously with an annual festival of Kehi Jingu Shrine. A parade of six floats is scheduled in the city from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 2nd, and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 4th. On the 3rd, the highlight of the festival, go-horen, a procession of a sacred palanquin and Shinto priests in traditional costumes on horseback, is held on the city's main streets from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and mikoshi (portable shrines) parade through the city from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Website Access: The JR Hokuriku Honsen Line to Tsuruga Sta., and then walk 15 min.
Gujo Odori Sept. 1- 8		Gujo Odori, or a folk dance meet, open to all, Gujo, Gifu Pref. This is one of the most popular folk dancing events joined by thousands of people in yukata, to the accompaniment of festival music at several sites in the town. It is held from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the 1st, and from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the 2nd and the 8th. Website Access: The Nagaragawa Tetsudo Line from Mino-Ota Sta. to Gujo-Hachiman Sta. From there, 5-10 min. by taxi to the site.
Hanamaki Matsuri Festival in Hanamaki Sept. 7-9		Hanamaki Matsuri Festival in Hanamaki, Iwate Pref., with a 420-year history, features parades of beautifully bedecked 12 floats, and 140 mikoshi (portable shrines) at Omatsuri Hiroba daily during the period. On the 7th, a parade of Gongen-mai (Shinto dance) by people in groups is held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Shishi-Odori (people wearing deer head's hoods and dancing with drums, native to Iwate Pref.) is held under the torch from 8:15 p.m. on the 7th, and from 2:50 p.m. on the 8th. On the 9th, Hanamaki-Bayashi folk dancing by 1,000 people is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Website Access: (1) The JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line to Shin-Hanamaki Sta. From there, 15 min. by bus to Hanamaki Bus Stop. (2) The JR Tohoku Honsen Line to Hanamaki Sta., and then walk 10 min.
Okinawa Zento Ei-sah Matsuri Festival Sept. 7-9		Okinawa Zento Ei-sah Matsuri Festival, Okinawa, Okinawa Pref. Ei-sah is a traditional folk dancing native to Okinawa main island, and is performed to the accompaniment with drumming. Groups of young people from all over Okinawa Pref., parade dancing Ei-sah on the street in the Goya-Jujiro area from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 7th, and at Okinawa-shi Koza Undo Koen Park from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 8th and 9th.Website Access: (1) Take bus No. 111 from Naha Airport to Okinawa-Minami Interchange Bus Stop, and then walk 3 min. (2) Take bus No. 123 from Naha Airport to Sonda Bus Stop, and then walk 10 min.
Setomono Matsuri Sept. 8-9		Setomono Matsuri, Ceramic Fair in Seto, Aichi Pref. About 200 open-air stalls are set up along the streets near the Seto River from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 8th, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the 9th. Website Access: The Higashiyama Subway Line from Nagoya Sta. to Sakae Sta., and then walk to Sakaemachi Sta. on Meiteysu Line. From there, take the Meitetsu Seto Line to Owari Seto Sta.
Katakai Matsuri or Annual Autumn Festival Sept. 9-10		Katakai Matsuri (Fireworks Display) or Annual Autumn Festival of Asahara Shrine, Ojiya, Niigata Pref. Katakai Hanabi or a spectacular fireworks display with a 400-year history is held on the hill behind Asahara Shrine from 7:30 p.m. to 10:20 p.m. on both days (15,000 fireworks in total, including the world's largest one).Website Access: The JR Shin'etsu Honsen Line to Nagaoka Sta. From there, 30 min. by bus for Katakai to Ninomachi Bus Stop., or 20 min. by bus from Ojiya Sta. on the JR Joetsu Line.
Kazusa Junisha Matsuri Festival Sept. 13		Kazusa Junisha Matsuri Festival at Tamasaki Shrine, Ichinomiya-machi, Chiba Pref. The festival has a 1,200-year history and is known as 'Hadaka Matsuri,' a naked festival. The highlight of the festival is Jinkosai, in which nine mikoshi (portable shrines) carried by hundreds of loin-clothed youth, are rushed along to Tsurigasaki Beach, where the mikoshi are jostled with each other from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Then all the mikoshi return to the shrine at around 7 p.m. Access: The JR Sotobo Line to Kazusa-Ichinomiya Sta., and then walk 5 min. to Tamasaki Shrine.
Annual Festival Sept. 13-17		Annual Festival of Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Pref. On the 13th, Kagura (Shinto dance with music) is performed at the shrine from 3 p.m. On the 16th, the highlight of the festival, Shinko-sai is held through the city from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in which mikoshi (four portable shrines) followed by Shishi-Kazari dancers wearing lion-head's hoods, zuibyo (thousands of armored warriors) and 68 kazari-uma (horses adorned with ornaments) proceed on the main streets in the city. More events are held during the festival period.Website Access: The JR Kyushu Shinkansen Line to Kumamoto Sta. From there, 5 min. by Kumamoto Dentetsu bus to Fujisaki Hachimangu-mae Bus Stop.
Annual Festival Sept. 14-16		Annual Festival of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref., an one-hour train ride from Tokyo Sta. On the 15th, Yaotome-no-mai (Japanese dances) are performed at maiden (a dancing stage) in the precincts of the shrine at 10:30 a.m., and a parade of mikoshi is scheduled on Wakamiya-oji Street from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. On the 16th, yabusame (horseback archery) is held in the precincts from 1 p.m. to around 3 p.m. Access: The JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura Sta., and then walk 10 min.
Morioka Aki Matsuri Dashi & Annual Autumn Festival Sept. 14-16		Morioka Aki Matsuri Dashi and Annual Autumn Festival of Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, Morioka, Iwate Pref., features 10 dashi (elaborate floats) parading in the city daily. On the 14th, a parade of mikoshi accompanied by the floats, starts from the shrine at 1 p.m., through the city until 4:30 p.m. On the 15th, a parade of the floats starts at 6 p.m. from the Morioka Castle site, and proceeds on the main streets in the city until 7:30 p.m. On the 16th, Yabusame (horseback archery) is scheduled in the precincts of the shrine from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Website Access: The JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line to Morioka Sta. From there, 13 min. by the Chuo-junkan bus to Hachimangu-mae Bus Stop.
Ishioka Matsuri Festival Sept. 15-17		Ishioka Matsuri Festival of Hitachinokuni Soshagu, Ishioka, Ibaraki Pref., is noted for its horojishi, or floats each drawn by a man wearing a huge and vigorous lion headgear. On the 15th, mikoshi accompanied by 13 floats and 25 Horojishi parade from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. On the 16th, many events are scheduled, such as sumo tournaments from 10:30 a.m., Kagura (Shinto dance with music) from 1 p.m., a parade of the Horojishi floats from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the 13 floats from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. On the 17th, the mikoshi, the floats and the Horojishi parade through the city from 2 p.m. and return to the shrine at 4 p.m. Website Access: The JR Joban Line to Ishioka Sta., and then walk 10-15 min.
Tono Matsuri Festival in Tono Sept. 15-16		Tono Matsuri Festival in Tono, Iwate Pref. Performing arts such as Shishi-Odori (folk dancing by people wearing deer head's hoods), kagura (Shinto dance with music), taiko drumming and folk dancing, all native to the Tohoku region are demonstrated on the city's main streets, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. on the 15th, and from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the 16th. The festival coincides with an annual festival of Tono Hachimangu Shrine, in which a parade of mikoshi is held from around 9 a.m. both on the 14th and 15th, and Yabusame (horseback archery) and local performing arts are scheduled from 12:30 p.m. on the 15th. Website Access: 1 hr. by the JR Kamaishi Line from Shin-Hanamaki Sta. on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line, and then get off at Tono Sta.
Johana Mugiya Matsuri Festival Sept. 15 to Sept. 16		Johana Mugiya Matsuri Festival at Johana, Nanto, Toyama Pref., features Mugiya-Odori or Japanese folk dancing on Nishimachi-dori Street from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 15th, and at Johana Betsuin Zentokuji Temple from 2 p.m. to around 10 p.m. on the 16th. Mugiwara-Odori dancing is also performed at Johana Dento Geino Kaikan, 'Johana-za' (Hall) from 2 p.m. to around 8 p.m. on both days. Admission is ¥500. Website Access: The JR Hokuriku Honsen Line to Takaoka Sta. From there, take the JR Johana Line to Johana Sta., and then walk 10 min to the Zentokuji temple, or walk 15 min to Johana-za.
Danjiri Matsuri Festival Sept. 15 to Sept. 16		Danjiri Matsuri Festival, Kishiwada, Osaka Pref., is known as one of the most powerful and exciting festivals in Japan in which men wearing happi coats pull about 30 beautifully-bedecked floats on the city's main streets from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the 15th, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the 16th. The floats are lit up with lanterns from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both days. Website Access: The Nankai Railway to Kishiwada Sta., and then walk 15 min.
Menkake Gyoretsu or a masked parade Sept. 18		Menkake Gyoretsu, a masked parade at Goryo Shrine, Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref. Kagura (Shinto dance with music), is performed in the precincts from around 1 p.m. Menkake-Gyoretsu, a parade of men wearing grotesque and comical masks, followed by mikoshi starts from the shrine at 2:30 p.m., and go through the neighborhood until 4 p.m. Access: 5 min. by the Enoden Line from Kamakura Sta. to Hase Sta., and then walk 3 min.
Heian Jingu Shin-en Muryo Kokai Sept. 19		Heian Jingu Shin-en Muryo Kokai, the Shin-en Garden attached to Heian Shrine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, is open to the public for free of charge only on this day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Japanese bush clovers are usually in full bloom in September. Access: 25 min. by municipal bus (Shibasu) No. 5 from Kyoto Sta. to Kyoto Bijutsukan-mae Bus Stop, and then walk 6 min.
Aizu Matsuri Festival in Aizu-Wakamatsu Sept. 21-24		Aizu Matsuri Festival in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Pref. The highlight of the festival is Aizu-han-ko Gyoretsu held on the 23rd, in which a procession in honor of a feudal lord of the Aizu domain and his 500 armored warriors comes out of Tsuruga-jo Castle and goes through the city, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also Takigi Noh (open-air Noh plays lit up with torchlight) are performed at Aizu Nohgaku-do Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the 23rd, rain or shine. Some more events are scheduled during the period. http://www.aizukanko.com/event/95/ Access: The JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line to Koriyama Sta. From there the JR Ban'etsu Saisen Line (Rapid Train) to Aizu-Wakamatsu Sta., and then 15-20 min. by bus to Tsuruga-jo Kita-guchi Bus Stop.
Annual Festival Sept. 21-22		Annual Festival of Seimei Shrine, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto. A lantern parade of children and Yudate-no-Kagura (Shinto dance with music) are held from around 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 21st. The main event of the festival is Shinko-sai, in which mikoshi (portable shrines) led by a traditional boys' drums & fifes band, the carriages of the halberds, girls in beautiful attire, and decorated horses, parade in the neighborhood of the shrine from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the 22nd. Website Access: 20 min. by municipal bus (Shibasu) No. 9 from Kyoto Sta. to Ichijo-Modoribashi Seimei Jinja-mae Bus Stop, and then walk 2 min.
Jingu Aki-no-Kagura-sai Sept. 21-23		Jingu Aki-no-Kagura-sai, Autumn Festival at Naiku (Inner Shrine) of Ise Shrine, Ise, Mie Pref. Jingu Bugaku or ancient court dance with music is performed on the makeshift stage in Shin-en of the Naiku, twice at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. daily during the festival period. Kyogen (Noh farce), noh (classical masked drama), and ohayashi (festival music), are performed in Sanshuden Hall during the period. When it rains, Bugaku will be performed in the Hall, only from 11 a.m. on the day. Website Access: (1) 1 hr. 30 min. by Limited Express train of the Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu) from Nagoya Sta. to Ise-shi Sta. From there, 15 min. by bus to Naiku-mae Bus Stop. (2) JR Rapid Train (Kaisoku) 'Mie' from Nagoya Sta. to Ise-shi Sta. From there, 15 min. by bus to Naiku-mae Bus Stop.
Ohara Hadaka Matsuri or the naked festival Sept. 22 to Sept. 23		Ohara Hadaka Matsuri or the naked festival of Ohara Shrine, Ohara, Isumi, Chiba Pref. On the 22nd, 18 mikoshi carried by men wearing loin-clothes jostle with one another in the sea at Kaisuiyokujo Beach from around 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. This is the climax of the festival called Shiofumi. And then all the mikoshi parade on the shopping streets of the town from around 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Access: The JR Sotobo Line to Ohara Sta., and then walk 20 min. to the beach.
Hagi Matsuri or the Japanese bush clover festival Sept. 22 to Sept. 23		Hagi Matsuri or the Japanese bush clover festival of Nashinoki Shrine, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto. Bush clovers are beautifully planted all over the precincts of the shrine. Several Japanese traditional performances are scheduled such as Japanese dance from noon on the 22nd and from 1 p.m. on the 23rd, kyudo (Japanese archery) demonstration from 1:30 p.m. on the 22nd, kyogen (noh farce) performance from 10:45 a.m. and gagaku (court music) from noon on the 23rd, and chakai (a tea ceremony) from around 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days (Fee: ¥800 or ¥1,500). http://www.nashinoki.jp/hagimaturi Access: 20 min. by municipal bus (Shibasu) No. 4, No. 17 or No. 205 from Kyoto Sta. to Furitsu Idai Byoin-mae Bus Stop.
Kokiriko Matsuri Festival Sept. 25-26		Kokiriko Matsuri Festival at Kaminashi, Nanto, Toyama Pref. Kokiriko means a field dance of the 13th or 14th century for the festivities of rice-planting, harvesting and other agricultural events. Kokiriko is performed by the villagers dressed in beautiful costume to the accompaniment of music played with Sasara (folklore musical instruments made of bamboo) in front of Kokiriko-kan Hall from noon to 9 p.m. on both days, and at Hakusangu Shrine from 5 p.m. on the 26th. Prior to this festival, Gokayama Mugiya Matsuri Festival, or Mugiya-odori local folk dancing is held at the Shimonashi area on the 23rd and 24th. Access: (1) The JR Hokuriku Honsen Line to Takaoka Sta. From there, take the JR Johana Line to Johana Sta., and then 30 min. by bus for Shirakawa-go and get off at Kaminashi Bus Stop. (2) 1 hr. 20 min. by bus for Shirakawago from Takaoka Sta., and then get off at Kaminashi Bus Stop.
Kangetsu-no-Yube or a moon-viewing party Sept. 28-30		Kangetsu-no-Yube or a moon-viewing party at Daikaku-ji Temple, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. Mid-autumn full moon-viewing on the boats adrift in Osawa Pond is scheduled from around 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the period. An admission ticket is sold at Chokushi-mon Gate, which is open from 4 p.m. on the day. When it rains heavily, boat-riding will be canceled. Website Access: About 1 hr. by municipal bus (Shibasu) No. 28 or Kyoto Bus No. 71, 74 & 81 from Kyoto Sta. to Daikaku-ji Bus Stop.
Yassa Matsuri Festival Sept. 29		Yassa Matsuri Festival at Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, Minakami-machi, Gunma Pref. The festival has a 400-year history. Youths wearing loin-clothes jostle each other in the precincts of the shrine, shouting "Yassa, Yassa," and then vie with one another climbing up the pillars for the bell attached to the top of the ceiling in the shrine, 7 p.m-9 p.m. Access: The JR Joetsu Line to Gokan Sta., and then walk 20 min. or 5 min. by taxi.
Uneme Matsuri Festival Sept. 30		Uneme Matsuri Festival is annually held on the night of the mid-autumn full moon (Chushu-no-meigetsu), Nara, Nara Pref. A procession of people drawing Hanaguruma or carriages with a big fan decorated with flowers, and with Miss Uneme Beauty Queens sitting inside, and a group of children in fancy attire, starts from JR Nara Sta. at 5 p.m. for Sarusawa Pond. Thereafter, colorfully decorated sacred boats are rowed out to the center of the Pond to the tune of gagaku (court music) from around 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Website Access: Walk 7 min. from Kintetsu Nara Sta., or walk 12 min. from JR Nara Sta.
Itoman Otsuna-hiki Gyoji Sept. 30		Itoman Otsuna-hiki Gyoji, Itoman, Okinawa Pref. A parade of 2,000 folk dancers is held on National Road No. 331 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Otsuna-hiki (tug of war), the main event, is held at the same place from 5 p.m. to around 6 p.m., using a rope of about 180 meters in length, 1.5 meters in diameter and 10 tons in weight.Website Access: By the monorail from Naha Airport to Akamine Sta. From there, 20 min. by bus to Itoman Bus Terminal.
Ukai Sept. 30		Ukai, cormorant fishing, is an ancient method of catching ayu (sweetfish or trout-like fish), handling trained cormorants. This takes place at night under the blazing torches fastened to the prows of fishing boats. It will be held every day during the period except on the night of the full moon. Reservation: Please call 058-262-0104 (Gifu City Ukai Kanransen Jimusho), or reserve through major travel agencies, like JTB. Website Website Access: The JR Tokaido Honsen Line to Gifu Sta. From there, 15 min. by bus to Nagaragawa-bashi Bus Stop.