Full Calendar of Cultural Events Including Artistic Portable Shrines and Dramatic Horseback Archery. See Japan’s Traditional Culture up Close at Spring Festivals

Many annual festivals are held across Japan. We introduce various Spring Festivals, accessible via Tobu Railways, that give you a chance to view traditional Japanese culture up close. Whether looking at artistic portable shrines, the samurai art of Yabusame (horseback archery), or the intricate beauty of bonsai, which is popular overseas, there is much of value for visitors to enjoy.

■Experience the Atmosphere of Tokyo’s Shitamachi Culture at the Famous SanjaMatsuri (Festival) in Asakusa 

Legend has it that the Sanja Matsuri began around 700 years ago. Different neighborhoods compete to show off their intricately-decorated portable shrines. Today, the shrines are carried boisterously through the streets near Asakusa Jinja. This reminder of the culture of Japan’s capital from centuries past leaves a lasting impression on spectators. Around 1.8 million people attend the famous festival over three days. 

Asakusa, with its historic atmosphere, is a popular destination among inbound tourists to Japan, who enjoy passing through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) when walking down the Nakamise-dori Street (shopping street) to Sensoji Temple, which is lined with traditional shops. Visitors can also ride through around Asakusa in a rickshaw, experiencing the local culture and feeling almost as if they have managed to slip back in time.

Dates : May 17 (Friday) - May 19 (Sunday)

URL : https://www.asakusajinja.jp/english/

■Nikko Toshogu Shrine Annual Grand Spring Festival features Horseback Archery and a Parade of Warriors

The Nikko Toshogu Shrine Annual Grand Spring Festival in Nikko is an event to pray for peace and prosperity by offering the bounty of spring to the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which enshrines the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The festival includes the incredible, skillful spectacle of Yabusame (horseback archery) and a parade of about 1200 people in traditional costumes from ages past. 

Nikko is home to many World Heritage registered shrines and temples as well as beautiful natural sites such as Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls. Access to Nikko from Tokyo takes around 2 hours.

Dates：May 17 (Friday) and 18 (Saturday)

URL：http://nikko-travel.jp/english/event/

■Enjoy the Omiya Bonsai Festival at the Mecca of Bonsai, an Art that Represents Japan

The Omiya Bonsai Village in Bonsai-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi has a long association with the art of bonsai after many growers moved to the area long ago. As it is the Mecca of Bonsai, the village attracts lovers of bonsai from Japan and around the world.This year, Omiya hosts the annual Bonsai Festival for the 36th time. A wide variety of bonsai, from the reasonably-priced to the extremely valuable, will be on show. 

Nearby is the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, the world’s first publicly funded bonsai museum, which features famous bonsai, paintings of bonsai such as the ukiyo-e, and historical and cultural archives. Audio guides are available in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese.

Dates : May 3 (Friday, holiday) - May 5 (Sunday, holiday)

Omiya Bonsai Festival URL：http://omiyabonsai.jp

The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum URL : http://www.bonsai-art-museum.jp/en/