Springtime is a time of change, new beginnings and renewal. The school year ends end in March and the new year begins in April. Companies also follow a similar calendar. The spring is a very important time for farmers to make preparations for planting rice. It's also a time where many events and festivals are held throughout the country. Such as sakura or cherry blossom events and the Haru Matsuri, haru means spring and matsuri means festival. Many springtime festivals are about wishing for a good fall harvest or to celebrate the survival of the winter season. This is the perfect time to visit Japan, the weather is starting to warm up, the air is clear and the bright pink cherry blossoms are blooming.
Takaosan Hiwatari
The Festival happens at the Yakuoin Buddhist Temple, it is located near Mt. Takao that is also known to give a great view of Mount Fuji. The festival itself is very unique for it is a fire walking festival, where the trained monks walk on top of smoldering and still slightly burning area. The festival is very popular so be prepared for a lot of people.
Date
Around middle of March
Address
2177 Takaomachi, Hachioji-shi, Takaosan Yakuoin Temple
Access
5 min walk from Takao Yamaguchi Station on Keio Line
Nikko Yayoi Matsuri
This traditional spring festival is over 1200 years older. There are large beautiful festival floats going around. The festival is full of ceremonies between the close by towns which has stayed for hundreds of years.
Date
April 13th to April 17th
Address
321-1431 Tochigi-ken, Nikkō-shi, Sannai, 2307
Access
20 min walk from Tobu Nikko Station to Nikko Futarasan-Jinja Shrine
Odawara Godai Matsuri
This festival is a must see to those who are interested in history and samurais. This festival is about the warring states era of Japan. When armies of Samurai fought each other to see who would be ruling over the land of the rising sun. At the festival people at the parade are dressed as Samurais and warlords. This is a true specular and because of this the festial is very crowded.
Date
May 3rd
Address
250-0014 Kanagawa-ken, Odawara-shi, Jōnai, 3
Access
Near and at the Odawara Station
Price
500yen
Sanja Matsuri
This is one of the biggest festivals in Tokyo and a sight to see, the festival is 3 days long and interesting all around. For more info about the festival please check this link
Date
May 16th to May 18th
Address
Sensō-ji, 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tōk
Access
10 min walk from Asakusa Station
Kanama Matsuri (Festival of the steel phallus)
Yes, it is just as it sounds, it is a celebration of a steel dick, from a old Japanese tail about demons and blacksmith, not getting more in to the story itself. The festival is actually held for a good cause, it is held to rise awareness about sexual transmitted diseases and money for HIV research. It is a very interesting and original festival, so you might want to check it out if you are around.
Date
First Sunday of april
Address
2-13-16 Daishi Ekimae, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture 210-0802
Access
Take the Asakusa line till Keikyu Kawasaki Station and from there the Keikyu line to Kawasaki-Daishi Station and walk 3 min to Kanayama shrine.
Kanda Matsuri
One of the biggest festivals in Japan is only held in odd number years. At the festival 300 people carrying portable shrines and different kinds of floats. This is a huge festival and has a lot of people around, but there should be no problem of seeing it still.
Date
Saturday or Sunday in the mid of May
Address:
2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō
Access
5 min from Ochanomizu station or 10 min from Akihabara station
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