Japan

The Kansai region is home to some of Japan’s most famous and historic festivals. Many of these celebrations have been taking place for centuries, combining religious traditions with spectacular parades, music, and community events. Whether you visit in summer, autumn, or early spring, Kansai offers plenty of opportunities to experience Japanese culture at its most colourful and authentic. Gion Matsuri (Kyoto) Held throughout July, Gion Matsuri is Kyoto’s most famous festival and one of Japan’s largest. It began in 869 as a religious ceremony to pray for protection from disease and disaster. The festival is best known for its enormous, beautifully decorated wooden floats, some weighing several tonnes, which are pulled through the streets during the grand Yamaboko Junko processions. Visitors can also enjoy lively evening celebrations, traditional food stalls, and streets filled with locals wearing yukata. Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka) Taking place on July 24-25 each year, Tenjin Matsuri celebrates the deity of scholarship enshrined at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. With origins dating back over 1,000 years, it is considered one of Japan’s three greatest festivals. The celebrations include colorful land processions featuring people dressed in traditional costumes, followed by a spectacular river procession of illuminated boats along the Okawa River. The festival ends with…