Happy Neigh Year 2026! Best wishes for the New Year of the Horse ! For the Year of the Horse in 2026, I show some of my horse photos taken… Read more
Compiled by Philbert Ono, Updated: Aug. 25, 2024 This is the 2024 schedule of Awa Odori dance festivals to be held in the Tokyo/Kanto area (Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, and Chiba… Read more
Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring town about 2.5 hours by bus from Tokyo (Buster Shinjuku bus terminal in Shinjuku Station). It’s on the way to the famous Kusatsu Onsen… Read more
One of the Big Tohoku Summer Festivals, Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri is an evening folk dance parade of women and children wearing colorful costumes and waving flower hats. “Hanagasa” means flower… Read more
One of the grandest lantern-floating events in this region. The Toro Nagashi lantern floating and fireworks are held on the famous and historic pine tree beach called Kehi no Matsubara… Read more
Japan’s most famous traditional dance festival. Tokushima Awa Odori is the mother of all Awa Odori festivals, especially in the Tokyo/Kanto area where many are held. It’s the Big.Bon.Dance. When… Read more
The mother of all Tanabata Matsuri festivals in Japan. You haven’t seen a Tanabata festival until you see the one in Sendai held annually on Aug. 6th–8th. The colors, variety,… Read more
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is one of Japan’s most famous summer festivals and one of my all-time favorites. Held for a few days in early August, it’s an evening parade of… Read more
Japan’s most famous Wedded Rocks, bonded by a sacred rope, are off the quiet Futamigaura Coast. The bigger rock is the husband, and smaller rock the wife. (Gender equality wasn’t… Read more
Ashikaga Flower Park is insanely awesome for its massive and numerous wisteria that bloom from late April to mid-May. It also has colorful azaleas and rhododendron. Eye-popping flower park with… Read more