News On Japan
Travel

Sanja Festival Reaches Peak

TOKYO, May 19 (News On Japan) - Temperatures soared above 30C in northern Japan and northern Kyushu on Sunday, marking a true summer day, while weather conditions in western and eastern Japan worsened. In Tokyo, the early summer spectacle, the Asakusa Sanja Festival, reached its climax.

Tokyo's highest temperature dropped about 5°C from May 18, but the humidity made it feel hotter.

As the festival reached its pea, three portable shrines swayed within the grounds of Asakusa Shrine. This moment, known as 'Miyadashi,' is the highlight of Tokyo's Sanja Festival. The three shrines then set off, parading through the streets of Asakusa.

The shrine bearers stayed hydrated as they energized the downtown area.

Following this, the shrines returned to the temple grounds, marking the festival's climax.

Runner: 'The Heat Drained My Energy'

Temperatures rose in Kyushu and northern Japan, reaching summer levels in cities like Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The Fukushima City half-marathon began at around 8:30 AM Sunday morning, anticipating the afternoon heat, when temperatures were around 20°C.

Despite this, runners from various regions commented on the conditions.

A female runner from Aichi, who placed first, said: 'The heat definitely drained my energy. Standing still and exercising feel very different.'

A male runner from Chiba said: 'There were frequent hydration stations every 2-3 kilometers, and I repeatedly drank and poured water on myself. The abundance of hydration stations was a great help.'

This year's unusual heat led to an increase in hydration stations compared to last year, with water supplies increased by 2.5 times as a measure against heatstroke.

Meanwhile, children in Yamanashi were full of energy despite the heat. Wearing helmets and armed with sponge spears and swords, they re-enacted the Battle of Kawanakajima, with the Takeda army in red helmets and the Uesugi army in blue helmets. Victory was declared when all the opponent's flags were knocked off.

The Uesugi army in blue won the first round.

The heat also did not deter the spirited games in Kyoto, where a rugby match was held in a rice field. Players splashed water, passed the ball, and got covered in mud as they played. During the match, no one held back, even against female opponents.

This event started nine years ago to lift the spirits of Fukuchiyama City, which had suffered two consecutive years of flood damage.

The weather is expected to worsen, with rain forecast mainly in the Kanto region on May 20.

Source: ANN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

China Renews Call for Citizens to Avoid Travel to Japan Citing Recent Earthquakes

China’s Foreign Ministry issued a renewed advisory on December 11th urging Chinese nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Japan, reiterating a call made nearly one month ago but this time citing a series of earthquakes observed off the eastern coast of Honshu as the reason for heightened caution.

Kitagawa and Sakaguchi Receive Nobel Medals

The Nobel Prize award ceremony was held on the evening of December 10th, or early on December 11th in Japan, at the Stockholm Concert Hall, where King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the highest honors — the medal and certificate — to Osaka University specially appointed professor Shimon Sakaguchi, 74, the recipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, 74, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Forbes Ranks Prime Minister Takaichi as the World’s Third Most Powerful Woman

America’s business magazine Forbes announced on December 10th that Prime Minister Takaichi has been ranked third on its list of the “World’s Most Powerful Women,” placing the Japanese leader near the top of a global ranking of 100 figures across politics, business, and culture, and marking a prominent acknowledgment of Japan’s first female prime minister.

Shibuya Passes Plan for 2,000-Yen Fine for Littering

Shibuya Ward has approved an ordinance that would impose a 2,000-yen fine for littering on public streets, while also penalizing shops that fail to provide trash bins. The measure was passed on December 10th and targets both individuals who discard waste and businesses near major stations that offer takeout services, raising questions about whether the approach will meaningfully reduce trash on the streets.

Six-Time Women's Shogi Champ Challenges Maternity Restrictions

Shogi player Kana Fukuma, who currently holds six women’s titles, revealed on December 10th that she has submitted a formal request calling for revisions to the Japan Shogi Association’s rule that prevents players from competing in title matches during a set period before and after childbirth.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         
MORE Travel NEWS

World’s First Commercial Autonomous Passenger Ship

A regular passenger ferry connecting Okayama City and Shodoshima is set to begin commercial operations using autonomous navigation technology within the current fiscal year, according to an announcement on December 10th by the Nippon Foundation, which confirmed that the vessel Orinpia Dream Seto has been certified by the national government as the world’s first regular passenger ship approved for commercial autonomous operation, a milestone expected to ease the industry’s chronic crew shortages.

Hundreds Queue at Dawn for 2,000-Yen Leather Wallet at Imperial Palace

On the morning of December 9th, the chill in the air surrounded the Imperial Palace as a long line stretched from the Otemon Gate along the moat, with more than 200 people waiting from the early hours in pursuit of what has become known as the “Imperial Palace Wallet.”

Shibuya Passes Plan for 2,000-Yen Fine for Littering

Shibuya Ward has approved an ordinance that would impose a 2,000-yen fine for littering on public streets, while also penalizing shops that fail to provide trash bins. The measure was passed on December 10th and targets both individuals who discard waste and businesses near major stations that offer takeout services, raising questions about whether the approach will meaningfully reduce trash on the streets.

Explore the Sands – Book Desert Safari Dubai Now!

When the sun dips below the horizon and paints the sky in shades of gold and crimson, Dubai's vast desert transforms into a playground for thrill-seekers and explorers.

Fukuoka Weighs Extending Subway to Airport’s International Terminal

Fukuoka Mayor Takashima said during a press conference held on December 9th that the city will begin studying a subway extension to the international terminal at Fukuoka Airport as part of broader efforts to address transport challenges across the city.

Japan Issues Warning for Potential Large Aftershock

A powerful earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6+ struck Aomori late on December 8th, prompting the Meteorological Agency to issue a temporary tsunami warning for coastal areas along the Pacific side of the prefecture. While the warning has since been downgraded, the government is urging caution after authorities announced, for the first time, a heightened possibility of another large earthquake occurring off Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast.

Japan Adjusts Plan to Raise Departure Tax to 3,000 yen

A plan to sharply raise Japan’s departure tax is taking shape as the government and ruling coalition have begun coordinating a proposal to lift the current 1,000 yen levy to a flat 3,000 yen per person in next fiscal year’s tax reform, adding new momentum to calls for expanded funding to deal with overtourism across the country.

Chinese Tourists Plunge as Travel Warning Takes Effect in Japan

Chinese tourists are disappearing from major destinations across the Kansai region as diplomatic tensions between Japan and China continue to deepen on the heels of comments by Prime Minister Takaichi regarding a potential Taiwan contingency, prompting Beijing to urge its citizens to refrain from traveling or studying in Japan.