※This article was published during July 2015※
Summer festivals are held all across Japan from July to August.
Summer festivals feature firework displays, Bon festival dances, and bustling street stalls.
This article introduces things Japanese people often think of when talking about summer festivals.
Check it out in advance so that you can have an even better time at summer festivals.
We suggest that you try wearing a yukata (an informal cotton kimono) when visiting a summer festival.
As it is possible to get a set that includes a yukata, obi (sash for a yukata), and geta (Japanese wooden clogs) for less than 5,000 yen, don’t hesitate to try experiencing this aspect of Japanese culture.
Yukata can feature traditional patterns based on colors such as dark blue and white, as well as floral patterns that are modern and vibrant.
In addition to yukata for women, there are also yukata for men.
Geta (in the front) are a necessity if you are wearing a yukata.
They may make your feet hurt a bit if you are not used to them, so make sure not to forget to bring a pair of shoes to change into as well.
One sight that is typical of summer festivals is people with fans kept in the obi on their backs so they can use the fans if it gets hot.
Many street stalls called roten come out at street festivals.
Kakigori (crushed ice) is a very popular item due to the heat.
While traditionally kakigori has been flavored with syrups such as strawberry, melon, and Blue Hawaii, there has been an increase in varieties recently, with new flavors such as mango and yogurt.
There really are a lot of varieties!
Street stalls don’t only sell food.
This is a kind of game called yo-yo fishing.
In yo-yo fishing, you try to use a hook to lift up small balloons contained in a small pool.
People walking around with these small balloons swinging in their hands is a typical scene at summer festivals.
This is goldfish scooping.
In this festival game, you try to skillfully use a net made of a sheet of paper called tamo or a monaka (a type of wafer) to scoop up small goldfish.
Goldfish scooping is so popular that there are even goldfish scooping masters capable of scooping up many goldfish.
Because firework displays are often quite large-scale and innovative, you should try to watch a firework display in order to fully enjoy the summer festival experience.
Comments