🌞 Summer Greetings
Hello! Before we knew it, the height of August’s summer has arrived. Remember to stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke when you’re out and about!
🎆 A Must-See Summer Event in Japan — Obon
When talking about summer in Japan, besides dazzling fireworks and refreshing watermelon, there’s one festival you simply can’t miss: Obon!
This is a traditional event where Japanese people welcome the spirits of their ancestors home and reunite with loved ones who have passed away. It’s not only a time for honoring ancestors, but also a joyful and heartwarming summer celebration.
💃 Highlights of the Obon Festival
Although most families no longer hang lanterns at home, the festive atmosphere lives on through grand events held across the country.
The most iconic activity is the lively Bon Odori—people dress in colorful yukata and dance gracefully to traditional music, creating an unforgettable summer mood.
One of the most famous dances is Awa Odori in Tokushima Prefecture. With its unique, energetic dance steps and vibrant movements, it fills the city with rhythm and joy. Every year, countless visitors come to witness and join in this lively spectacle.
✨ Join the Festival Spirit with “New Adventure”
At New Adventure, we bring this excitement to travelers through our annual “Summer Double Festival Tour” (See details here).
You’ll dive straight into the heart of Tokushima’s Awa Odori, learn the authentic dance steps, and move to the beat of taiko drums and shamisen music.
This is not just watching—it’s immersing yourself fully and becoming part of the festival.
Our past participants rave about the experience—if you miss it this year, make sure you join us next year!
🔥 Okuribi — The Closing of the Summer Festival
As Obon draws to a close, many places hold the Okuribi (sending-off fire) ritual, where offerings and lanterns are set afloat on water to bid farewell to the ancestors returning to the other world.
The most spectacular of these is Kyoto’s Gozan no Okuribi, where massive fire characters are lit on the mountainsides, marking a grand and beautiful conclusion to the summer celebrations.
🏮 How It Differs from the Chinese “Ghost Festival”
You might be reminded of the Chinese Ghost Festival.
While both originate from Buddhist traditions and involve honoring the spirits of the dead, there are notable cultural differences:
- Japan: Focuses on welcoming and sending off ancestors, with a lighthearted, festive mood. Includes Bon Odori dances and fireworks.
- China: Diverse customs including burning paper offerings, floating lanterns, temple fairs, and opera performances.
- Taiwan: Emphasis on appeasing wandering spirits, with unique rituals such as “Pudu,” “Qianggu” (pole-climbing contests), and floating lanterns.
- Hong Kong & Macau: Known for the “Hungry Ghost Festival,” with religious rituals, Cantonese opera, food distribution, and charity auctions.
- Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia): Notable for “Getai” stage performances, entertaining both spirits and the community.
🎯 In Summary
Obon is not just a traditional event—it’s a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture in the heart of summer.
If you’re visiting Japan during this season, don’t just watch—join in and feel the magic of this unforgettable festival!
