Autumn festivals return after 3 years in Japan

Sep 05, 2022 | News On Japan

Sep 05, 2022 (NHK) - Some traditional autumn events that were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic are drawing crowds again for the first time in three years.

Colorful floats have come back to Takasaki City, in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Organizers called on attendees of the event to take thorough measures against infection.

In the central prefecture of Nagano, children dressed as sumo wrestlers performed a ring-entering ceremony.

A "crying sumo" contest for babies was held at a shrine in the western prefecture of Tottori. Wrestlers lifted the children above their heads to pray for their good health. One of the attendees said he hopes his baby will grow up to be a healthy, kind child.

In the neighboring prefecture of Hiroshima, people relieved their stress in a screaming contest. A baseball fan cheering the local team was the winner with a roar of more than 83 decibels, as loud as an ambulance siren.

And in Kyoto, Buddhist priests from Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei chanted sutras to pray in a ceremony held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. ...continue reading

Heatstroke Alert Issued For Record 17 Prefectures This Year

Dangerous heat is expected across a wide area from western to eastern Japan today, prompting authorities to issue heatstroke warning alerts for 17 prefectures, the highest number so far this year.

Russian Spy Base In Japan?

Japan has become an unexpected base of operations for Russian intelligence agents since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with spies allegedly using the country to procure and smuggle high-tech equipment and other goods to Russia, The New York Times reported on July 12.

Convenience Stores Tackle Bear Crisis

Convenience store operators in Japan are strengthening safety measures as bear-related damage grows more serious, with Lawson expanding the use of bear repellent spray and considering drone-based remote monitoring.

Osaka’s Minami Rebuilt Into Tourist Hub

Osaka’s Minami district, now entering another period of major change with the planned opening of the Naniwasuji Line, the redevelopment of Midosuji and improvements around Nankai Namba Station, has transformed from an area once described as "scary" and "dirty" into one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations.

Crowds Join First Pull of 10-Ton Gion Festival Float

A 10-ton hoko float was pulled through central Kyoto on July 12 in a trial run ahead of the Yamahoko Junko procession during the Gion Festival's early parade.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Tokyo Disney Raises Prices for Peak Halloween Crowds

Tokyo Disney Resort will raise the maximum price of its one-day tickets from October, with adult admission to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea rising by as much as 1,500 yen to 12,400 yen on selected high-demand days.

Typhoon No. 9 and No. 11: Northern Japan May See Heavy Rain From Indirect Effects

Two typhoons are currently near Japan, with Typhoon No. 9, Bavi, over North China and Typhoon No. 11, Haishen, east of the Philippines, but only Bavi is expected to have any indirect impact on the country.

Nature Reclaims Aging Hokkaido Arch Bridge

An abandoned concrete arch bridge deep in the forests of Kamishihoro in Hokkaido's Tokachi region is slowly being reclaimed by nature, its exposed reinforcing bars and weeds marking the passage of time.

Osaka’s Minami Rebuilt Into Tourist Hub

Crowds Join First Pull of 10-Ton Gion Festival Float

A 10-ton hoko float was pulled through central Kyoto on July 12 in a trial run ahead of the Yamahoko Junko procession during the Gion Festival's early parade.

Typhoon No. 9 to Merge With Rainy Season Front

Large Typhoon No. 9 (Bavi) was over central China at 9 p.m. on July 12 and moving north-northwest, with the storm expected to weaken as it continues northwest before turning into an extratropical cyclone that will merge with the rainy season front and bring rain mainly to areas along the Sea of Japan coast.

Bear Sightings Surge With 50 Cases in Iwate in One Week

A wave of bear sightings across Japan has forced the cancellation of traditional summer events, while one animal entered a home and came within inches of a sleeping resident's face.

Nara's Deer Population Runs Wild

Large numbers of deer are appearing in residential neighborhoods around Nara, raising concerns over traffic accidents, crop damage and the spread of ticks and fleas as the animals move farther beyond Nara Park in search of food.

< 2 3 4 5 >