Traditional Events Around
Tsukuba: Sounds Collection
Iburaki area festivals, with lots of sound files.
Hounen Matsuri
This traditional fertility festival gets a lot of attention from Westerners.
Gion Matsuri
Huge floats parade through the streets of Kyoto during one of Japan’s oldest
traditional festivals.
Tenjin Matsuri
In ancient times Osakans celebrated the arrival of new gods. Today spectacular mikoshi
are carried through the river and the whole thing finishes up with a fireworks display.
Matsuri and Street
Plays
Article on the history of Gion Matsuri and similar festivals and their links to the
beginning of drama.
Sapporo Snow Festival
This modern festival was started in 1950 by a group of snow-sculpting students. Today
it hosts an international snow statue competition and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Bundle up!