Eight Japanese Autumn Festivals

Shishimai is a traditional Asian celebratory dance in which dancers wear a wooden head made in the shape of a lion. Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan in terms of area, but it is a lion dance kingdom with about 800 lion dance groups. The Shishimai Kingdom Sanuki is one of the largest lion dance events in Japan, bringing together about 60 groups from the prefecture.

The lions of each group are gorgeous and unique in the color and shape of their lion heads, as well as in their yutan (the cloth used as the lion's body). The Lion Dance of Kagawa Prefecture is characterized by vigorous movements and the exotic sound of gongs. On the day of the festival, powerful lion dances are performed from morning to night, and visitors can touch the tools at the exhibition corner and make their own cardboard lion heads at the workshop.

The Sendai Otsunahiki Great Tug-of-War is a festival in which participants pull a 365-meter, 7-ton rope against each other. Its history dates back to the 1600s as a way to boost the morale of soldiers heading off to battle. The festival begins in the morning when 1,500 locals gather to weave together 330 ropes, working half the day to create a giant rope. The completed rope is then pulled by 3,000 men with their upper bodies naked. The battle, with its clashes and obstructions, is as intense as a martial arts match and is very exciting to watch.

Tourists can also participate in this fierce tug-of-war or, if you are looking for a less physically demanding activity, join in the rope making and enjoy interacting with the locals. It is said that if you take home a piece of the rope, which is cut in half at the end of the festival, you will live a year in good health.

The Niihama Taiko Festival, one of the three major festivals of Shikoku, is a gorgeous and heroic autumn festival with a history of over 1,000 years. Fifty-four beautifully decorated “taiko-dai,” giant floats weighing 3 tons and standing 5.5 meters high, each with 150 men, parade through the city to celebrate a good harvest.

The main attraction of the taiko festival is the “kakikurabe.” Several taiko floats gather in one place and are moved by human power alone, without the use of tires. The excitement reaches its climax when the participants compete to see how high they can lift their taiko-dai amidst the sound of taiko drums. At the Taiko-dai Museum in front of Niihama Station, you can take a closer look at the actual taiko-dai and their costumes.

The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival is an event with a 400-year history in which performers wordlessly dance along to the sentimental melody of the folksong “Ecchu Owarabushi.” Thousands of paper lanterns line the streets of Ecchu Yatsuo, a hilly town with a nostalgic atmosphere, as men and women in matching “yukata” (light cotton kimono) elegantly dance through the town to the music of “shamisen” and “kokyu,” both traditional Japanese string instruments.

The festival's highlight is the procession through town at night, as women demonstrate their sensually elegant dance and men perform gallantly along to the sorrowful tune of kokyu. The dreamlike scenery and atmosphere can only be experienced here. Tourists can also take dance lessons and even participate in the circle dance on the spot.

Paantu Punaha is one of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes. The muddy god Paantu smears mud on the people of the village to exorcise evil spirits.

Paantu, who is covered in mud and wrapped in vines and wearing a terrifying mask, has a strong impression! Three Pantu mercilessly cover the people running away with mud. Tourists are no exception and are smeared with mud. Remember that this is a sacred ritual and explore this rare culture of Miyako island.

Karatsu Kunchi Festival is one of the Hikiyama festivals listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. “Kunchi” is a general term for autumn festivals held in northern Kyushu to give thanks for the harvest. Fourteen gorgeous floats parade through the old castle town to the accompaniment of flutes, bells, drums, and chants of “Enya, Enya.”

The unique floats, which include lions, “kabuto” (samurai helmet), turtles, and sea bream, are finished with Japanese paper, lacquer, and gold leaf and are truly gigantic works of art. The festival culminates in the Hikikomi on the beach, where the floats, weighing more than 2 tons, are wheeled along the sand. The spectators join the excitement by chanting, “Enya, Enya.”

One of the fiercest festivals in Japan is the Nada Fighting Festival, held every October at the Matsubara Hachiman Shrine in Himeji City. The festival features a grand ritual in which three “mikoshi” (portable shrines) collide and a heroic “yatai neri” in which seven magnificent floats compete in a fierce parade.

The climax of the festival is the Neriawase on the second day, when three mikoshi are lifted high and collide with each other, no matter if the mikoshi are broken. The intensity and power of the battle are truly martial arts. For those who love martial arts, this is a festival not to be missed.

Ise Jingu Shrine, with its 2,000-year history, is a special shrine that attracts many worshippers from all over Japan. The Shinon Kansha Japanese Drum Festival is a festival in which taiko drummers from all over Japan gather at Ise Jingu Shrine to express their gratitude to the gods with the sound of their drums.

One of the most exciting aspects of the festival is the opportunity to see 16 famous taiko groups perform at the same time. The festival attracts taiko fans from all over the world, who come to hear the soulful performances of the best taiko players from around Japan. This is a great opportunity to experience traditional taiko up close.