A festival held at Daigan-ji on the island of Itsukushima/Miyajima in which priests and brave members of the public walk briskly across searing hot coals in bare feet. The ceremonies generally begin at 1pm while the fire-walking starts an hour or two later, but we suggest you arrive with plenty of time in case schedules change on the day.
If you’re thinking of participating, be aware that injuries are not unknown.
Held in Wakayama since 1948, this festival sees over 3,500 fireworks light up the sky. One of the highlights is the 1000m long Niagara falls display which creates a waterfall of fire. The best place for viewing is Shirahama beach […]
The Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) is a month-long festival that takes place in Kyoto in July each year. The name comes from the neighborhood of Gion, which is home to some of the more traditional parts of Kyoto—including the geisha […]
The Sumiyoshi Matsuri (festival) happens over three days in and around Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine. The highlight is the nagoshi harai shinji ritual which happens on the middle day. The ritual involves participants (women and children) processioning through a straw […]
The Nagaoka Festival is held from August 1st to August 3rd around the Shinano River in Nagaoka City. Its main attractions are the portable shrine float parades and folk dance processions during the day with large-scale fireworks displays in the […]
