Your Guide to - Japan National Tourist Organization

26
Festivals and Events of the Four Seasons
AUTUMN — Tinted leaves and
harvest time
While the summer linger into September here and
there, by October most of Japan is enjoying the cool,
crisp days of its distinct autumn.
Autumn in Japan brings swirls of changing leaves,
in vivid hues of crimson, gold, bronze and yellow,
that paint its hills and mountainsides in carpets of
color. The season of harvest. In rural areas, the
many rice fields turn to gold, and the grain is soon
cut and stacked or hung out to day in neat, even
rows. A time of frequent festivals, sports meets and
cultural functions around the country.
Eager crowds also throng to the many
chrysanthemum shows which crop up around the
country.
Mt. Fuji
Festivals and Events
September 16 Yabusame or Horseback Archery
takes place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in
Kamakura.
Mid-September (for 15 days) 5th Sumo
Tournament, Tokyo.
October 7-9 Kunchi Festival of Suwa Shrine in
Nagasaki features a dragon dance of Chinese origin.
October 9-10 Takayama Matsuri of Hachimangu
Shrine is noted for its parade of colorful floats.
Mid-October Nagoya City Festival with a
procession of feudal lords along the city streets.
October 14-15 Kenka Matsuri or "Roughhouse"
Festival of Matsubara Shrine in Himeji reaches its
climax on the 15th.
Mid-October - Mid-November Chrysanthemum
Exhibitions at Meiji Shrine and Asakusa Kannon
Temple in Tokyo.
October 17 Autumn Festival of Toshogu Shrine in
Nikko, with a parade of palanquins escorted by
armor-clad retainers.
October 22 Jidai Matsuri or Festival of Eras of
Heian Shrine in Kyoto is one of the three grandest
festivals of Kyoto.
Jidai Matsuri
October 22 Fire Festival of Yuki Shrine, Kurama,
in Kyoto, features long rows of torches embedded
along approaches to the shrine.
November 2-4 Okunchi of Karatsu Shrine in
Saga is famous for its parade of colorful floats.
November 3 Daimyo Gyoretsu in Hakone is a
faithful reproduction of a feudal lord's procession.
Mid-November Tori-no-ichi, or Rake Fair of Otori
Shrine in Kanto Region.
Mid-November(for 15 days) Sixth Sumo
Tournament, Fukuoka.
November 15 Shichi-go-san (7-5-3) is the shrinevisiting
day for children aged 3, 5 and 7 in
appreciation of their good health given them by the
guardian gods.
Shichi-go-san (7-5-3)
Kintaikyo Bridge, Yamaguchi