6 Winter Festivals in Japan

Saidaiji Eyo, which has continued for 500 years, is one of the most representative of the many naked festivals in Japan. Every year on the third Saturday of February, as many as 10,000 naked men compete in the extreme cold for the “shingi” (two sacred wood sticks). The winner of the shingi will be named Fukuotoko (a man of good fortune) and promised a year of happiness.

The highlight of the festival is the fierce battle for the shingi between the men dressed in loincloths. The excitement is so great that steam rises from the heat. It is open to the public, but advance registration is required. Women can participate in the Onna Eyo, in which they purify themselves by entering the water dressed in white.

If you are in Japan in the winter, why not experience a world of ice? In Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival is held in extremely cold temperatures close to minus 20 degrees Celsius. Buildings and caves made of ice are illuminated to create a fantastic atmosphere.

The reflections of colored lights on the ice are breathtaking and there are also a lot of hands-on events to enjoy in the cold weather, such as ice climbing, tube sliding, and having a drink at a bar counter made of ice.

Like India's Holi and Spain's Tomato Festival, the Sumitsuke Tondo is a Japanese festival where everyone gets painted with color. The women of each family bring out black ink and go around putting ink on people's faces, which supposedly repel evil spirits. It is said that a person who gets inked will not catch a cold or get in trouble at sea for a year.

The most enjoyable part of the festival is the great excitement caused by the ink. Mihonoseki is a district deeply associated with ancient Japanese mythology. This festival is recommended not only for those who want to join the locals and experience local customs but also for those who want to learn the original Japanese landscape based on mythology.

The Aoshima Naked Man Festival is held on the beach next to Aoshima Shrine. Over 400 men and women of all ages gather on the beach in loincloths (women wear white) to perform “misogi” (purification) to cleanse their bodies and souls, and then visit Aoshima Shrine. The origin of this festival is an ancient story of a god enshrined at the shrine who suddenly returned home from the sea god, and the villagers, who had no time to put on clothes, welcomed him naked.

This naked pilgrimage in Miyazaki, a tropical land, has a somewhat cheerful atmosphere. Participants run along the beach and enter the sea while saying “wasshoi.” Even though it is a warmer region of Japan, the water is still cold during this winter event. In Japan, there is a word “naked socializing,” which means a genuine and honest relationship without any pretense. Why don't you join us and start “naked socializing” with the locals?

The Chichibu Night Festival, registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is a winter float festival with a history of over 300 years. The highlight of the festival is the magnificent Hikiyatai float, which transforms into a stage for Kabuki performances. The festival reaches its climax when fireworks are shot into the clear winter sky, adding to the decorations on the floats.

The sounds, colors and smells, such as the squeak of the wooden wheels of the floats and the glow of the lanterns lit by candles instead of light bulbs, create the sensation of stepping back in time. This festival is a must for those who want to experience history and are interested in Japanese beauty and craftsmanship.

The Shinobu Sanzan Akatsuki Mairi is a festival in which people carry huge “waraji” (straw sandals) up a mountain and dedicate them to a shrine. The origin of this festival, which prays for good health, a good harvest, and safety in the home, is said to date back to ancient times when waraji were made to fit the feet of a large Buddha statue enshrined at Haguro Shrine and dedicated to the shrine.

The highlight of the festival is the sight of 100 white-robed bearers carrying the 12-meter-long straw sandals. For those who want to get moving, there is also a 1.3-kilometer mountain road race with a 300-meter climb gain and prizes for the top finishers. The road race is open to families as well. This festival is recommended for both active athletes and those who wish to pray for good health.