A cheapo's guide to Japan
The Kobe Festival is a citywide festival that runs over two days. The first day sees separate celebrations in each of the city’s 9 wards.
The big parade happens on Sunday along Sannomiya Flower Road starting at 12 noon. For those wishing to take part in the parade, dance classes are held for free in Meriken Park on the four Sundays leading up to the festival at 1.30pm.
One of the most impressive sights in Japan this January, the Wasakusa Yamayaki sees the entire mountainside go up in flames as fireworks are launched behind it. Although its origins are unclear, possible explanations include disputes about boundary lines between […]
An amazing chance to see a remote, snow-covered thatched village illuminated with hundreds of lanterns.
While most snow festivals feature man-made sculptures, the snow monsters of Zao are entirely natural. Created in rare circumstances that require specific weather and tree formation, the snow gathers in such a way that monsters are formed in the mountains. […]
Celebrated to mark the end of winter and the day before spring begins, setsubun is an age-old Japanese ceremony thought to drive evil spirits from the house. Many people dress as demons and are herded out of businesses and houses […]
