Traditions
Area
Season
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One-Day Bus Tour to Watch the Secret Kitsugansai Festival of the Kabira Area on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture (September 15 only)
(1) The first ever sightseeing tour of the Kitsugansai Festival, a traditional ritual that survives only on the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture
A priest will pray in front of the “Ubu”, where deities are said to reside (off-limits to everyone but the priests), followed by a performance by local residents of bojutsu stick fighting, taiko drums, and a lion dance, a festival tradition that has endured for about 500 years
(2) Tracing the monuments of the living legend and hero, Nakama Mitsukeima
Mitsukei was a historic hero of the 15th century who created the Kitsugansai Festival's art of bojutsu stick fighting. Participants will visit the monument commemorating his death and his grave at the cliff where his spirit is said to lie, as well as listen to a famous folk song written by his descendants in the 17th century entitled “The Song of Eagle Bird.”
(3) Limited one-day-only event alongside the annual Kitsugansai Festival
Bus tour limited to September 15, 2024 (Sun.)
(4) Accompanied by a local specialist guide (Japanese) and an interpreter guide (English)
In-depth guidance on the history and appeal of the Kitsugansai Festival, the Kabira area, and Nakama Mitsukeima
(5) Easy access to and from Ishigaki Port Terminal
Travel will be by bus so participants do not have to worry about the hassle of driving -
Gero Onsen Special Illuminated Autumn Foliage Tour to Savor Local Cuisine in Historical Buildings
・Gero Onsen Gassho Village will be specially lit up this autumn season.
Enjoy the autumn leaves with gohei-mochi rice cakes, snacks, and sake at Odo House in Gassho Village rented for your exclusive use.
・Go on a private tour of the former Kikusuiso, a building of historic value located within Onsenji Temple at Gero Onsen.
・Immerse yourself in traditional geiko performing arts and the tea ceremony while viewing the illuminated autumn leaves.
・In addition, with the Ryukoukutsu dry landscape garden specially lit up for this event, you can try your hand at zazen meditation in a mystical atmosphere. -
Dinner Show Featuring Gagaku Court Music by Hideki Togi and Japanese Cuisine with an Illuminated Mikazuki Falls
Kusu, Oita Prefecture, will host a special tour based around the theme of “The Legend of Mikazuki Falls,” a Heian-period tale of true love in Kyoto. This tour offers abundant attractions for international tourists seeking to experience what makes Japan unique.
For two days, there will be dinner shows featuring live performances of gagaku ancient court music by Hideki Togi at Arashiyama Taki Shrine during the mid-autumn Harvest Moon, when the full moon shines brightest in the clear night sky. The Togi family have passed down gagaku court music from generation to generation since the Nara period 1,300 years ago. Hideki Togi, who inherited this tradition, has performed at court ceremonies and gagaku concerts held at the Imperial Palace throughout his career. He has also played a large role in promoting traditional Japanese culture and encouraging international goodwill. Sushi Kappo Yamanaka, a famous restaurant frequented by food connoisseurs from all over Japan since its opening in 1972, provides the cuisine for dinner shows. The seafood used for their Hakata sushi is procured from the Genkai Sea and other nearby coastal waters and is carefully selected by the restaurant's owner. The chefs will spare no expense in preparing your meal for this gem of an event. The dinner will also feature local Kusu Rice, which is the same type of rice specially offered to deities at the Daijosai Festival.
This event, featuring Japanese-style lighting of Mikazuki Falls and Arashiyama Taki Shrine, gagaku court music accompaniments by Hideki Togi, and a collaboration with local restaurants in Kusu town, will continue for the next two months.
The beauty of Mikazuki Falls and Arashiyama Taki Shrine, lit up in a quintessential Japanese style, makes for the perfect view to enjoy with the gagaku court music by Hideki Togi in the background, and is sure to be a hit on social media! This event offers a precious opportunity to experience the true depths and beauty of Japanese culture. Centered around luxurious Japanese tradition and history, this special event will make for unforgettable memories. -
Heian Jingu Tsuki Otoyo: Kyoto Harvest Moon Concert 2024
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration that originated in China to celebrate the fullest and brightest moon of the year. It is now celebrated with great enthusiasm in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many Southeast Asian countries. This year, the festival falls on August 15, as per the lunar calendar. Traditional "moon-viewing parties" will be hosted this October in the modern setting of Kyoto’s Heian-jingu Shrine. The Daigokuden (outer hall of worship) will be lit up in the background for special live performances by talented musicians to embody the elegant and romantic time that is mid-autumn.
■ Dates: October 12 (Sat.) - October 14 (Mon.)
■ Admission: All seats reserved, advance purchase 8,000 yen / 25,000 yen with meals included (scheduled/admission date designated)
■ Performer: October 12 (Sat.): Hiromi Go October 12 (Sun.): Erika Ikuta October 14 (Mon.): NEO PIANO
[Special Gift for Visitors: Original Japanese Sweets]
This tradition of admiring the moon originates in China. There, they serve round mooncakes in the shape of the full moon. The Tsuki Otoyo Kyoto Harvest Moon Concert represents East Asia's shared culture of affection for the moon. Original Japanese sweets will be handed out to all who join in on the festivities.
[Plan with Dinner]
Enjoy an exquisite dinner at Rokusei, a restaurant located near Heian-jingu Shrine. Savor their Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine which embodies the culinary culture of Kyoto cultivated over its long history.
Time: 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. each day (concert begins at 7:00 p.m.)
Details: Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine -
Night Festival at the Tokyo National Museum
The Tokyo National Museum has the longest history of any museum in Japan. It's collection includes numerous masterpieces exemplifying Japanese art, including paintings, swords, calligraphy, and kimonos. This summer, the museum will be holding a special exhibition to showcase valuable cultural assets, such as Buddhist statues and paintings inherited from Jingoji Temple in Kyoto.
In addition to these precious tangible cultural properties, guests can experience the Japanese summer traditions of matsuri festivals and temple fairs.
The temple fair atmosphere cleverly recreated on the museum grounds will greet guests as they enter through the Kuromon "Black Gate" instead of the regular entrance. Once inside, guests can enjoy traditional Japanese festival sweets, such as cotton candy and shaved ice, and take part in popular festival activities and items, including target practice, ring toss, wind chimes, daruma dolls, and masks.
A variety of festival foods will also be offered, from takoyaki octopus dumplings and yakisoba noodles to Japanese beer, chocolate bananas, and other such festival treats. -
Tokyo | Intensive Noh Masterclass
Theater steeped in spiritual traditions
Austere, meditative, and steeped in spirituality, Noh Theater is one of Japan's oldest performing arts and a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Characterized by masks that carry a multitude of emotions within a single carved expression, Noh performances consist of rhythmic chanting, slow, measured movements, and an iconic stage adorned with a painted pine tree that mimics outdoor structures.
In this Noh Masterclass, you will receive a comprehensive introduction to the world of Noh - from its history to performing styles, masks to costumes - from a 4th-generation Noh performer at his private residences. Walk across the sacred stage, witness performances up close, and experience the indescribable elegance of Noh Theater. -
From Fukushima to the World: Symphony of Peace Interwoven with Fireworks
On Saturday, September 28, the Fukushima Pyrotechnics Association will host the Japan Tourism Agency's subsidized project “From Fukushima to the World: Symphony of Peace Interwoven with Fireworks” at the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum and the Futaba Business Incubation and Community Center. The goal is to invite domestic and international tourists alike to Futaba to experience Fukushima's artistic fireworks, as well as to dispel any misinformation concerning the earthquake disaster and create new tourism material for the town of Futaba.
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Spectator Seating and Event Plans for Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Fukuoka Stage in Okagaki Town (Date of race: October 14, 2024)
The Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Fukuoka Stage (Okagaki Side) will take place on October 14, 2024, and there is an array of options for watching the race. Spectators can cheer the race on at event venues set up at various areas around the circular course, where there will be comfortable seating and as well as other ticketed options available.
(1) Spectator Seating With Overnight Accommodation: Reserved box seating around the course. Accommodation will be near the race venue.
*This option includes the Event Passport in Plan (4).
(2) Spectator Seating Only: Reserved box seating around the course.
*This option includes the Event Passport in Plan (4).
(3) Accommodation Plan: Watch the race from the comfort of your own suite at a hotel located along the course.
(4) Event Passport: Includes discount vouchers for food, drink, and merchandise.
(5) After Race Party: Mingle with some of the riders after the race at a dinner party.
Teams scheduled to participate in the dinner party are VC FUKUOKA from Fukuoka Prefecture, Sparkle OITA from Oita Prefecture, Astana of UCI WorldTeams, EF, and other winners of four different prizes. This plan includes the cost of accommodation and shuttle service to and from Fukuoka City or Kitakyushu City. Tickets for this event are limited to 100 people. -
History, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of the 15th Mito Tokugawa Family: Experience the Tokugawa Collection and Tea Ceremony
The Tokugawa family ruled Japan for about 260 years after succeeding the other shoguns. This makes them comparable to a royal family in European terms. The Tokugawa Museum in Mito houses about 30,000 precious samurai helmets, famous swords, and other heirlooms passed down from generation to generation within the Tokugawa family. This event is a unique opportunity in which the 15th generation Mito Tokugawa family will welcome visitors, talk about the history of the Tokugawa family, and introduce some of their family treasures. You may select three items from the collection not on display, such as tea bowls, maki-e lacquerware, or hanging scrolls, and view them in private in the VIP guest room with explanations provided. You can also try on a samurai helmet and armor or a high-quality kimono made by artisans in Japan and enjoy an authentic tea ceremony in a privately-owned tea house. This is a truly unique event where you can fully immerse yourself in Japanese history and culture rather than simply viewing cultural properties. We are also offering tours of Mito City and its surrounding areas, including a visit to the oldest sake brewery in Japan, which began making sake in the 12th century; a tour of a multi-award-winning plum wine brewery; a visit to Nishiyama-Goten Heritage, which was a retirement residence of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second lord of the Mito domain; and a ride on a charming sailboat on Kasumigaura Bay.
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Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival: Special spectator seating with delicious festive food as impressive lanterns clash
Held every year on the first Friday and Saturday nights of June, the Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival is a historical festival that originated in the Edo period (1603–1867). During this event, illuminated lantern floats assembled from dengaku lanterns, dashi floats, and hanging lanterns crafted with bamboo and washi paper are paraded through the streets at night to the sound of taiko drums and cheering. The main attraction of the festival is the Toyama fighting lantern floats: giant lanterns that are 7 meters high and 12 meters long. The lanterns crash fiercely into one another, and the goal is to break the opponents floats.
Special up-close spectator seating has been made available to watch this powerful clash of lanterns. This unique experience also comes with a meal and beverages, including local sake. The second floor of the Oyabe Tsuzawa Andon Fureai Hall, located near where the clash is set to take place, will be decorated as a dedicated space for this two-day event, allowing visitors to take in the view at their leisure.
Visitors can also tour the town with an interpreter and guide in addition to the lantern float parade. Experience the area firsthand as you learn about the festival and the local community.
Workshops will be held to create lantern art by reusing parts of the lantern floats that have broken off in the collisions. These lantern floats were created especially for the festival, and they are filled with the passion of its participants. While the broken pieces originally would have been incinerated, they are instead recycled for the workshop where they will be transformed into one-of-a-kind artworks that you can take home with you.