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March 2020
Hiroshima Flower Expo: Hana-no-wa
8-month-long flower expo in Hiroshima city center.
Find out more »April 2020
[CANCELED] Onomichi Port Festival
The construction of Onomichi Port was started in 1740 thanks to the efforts of Kakuzaemon Hirayama and it was this port that became the keystone of Onomichi's development. The Minato Festival (“minato” means “port”), sponsored by the Hirayama Shrine, is one of Onomichi's biggest events of the year and includes a parade and many other events. The highlight is the "E-jan sansa-gari" group dance contest (have a listen to the music they have to dance to here - it sounds…
Find out more »[Canceled] Kure Port Festival
Every year on April 29 some of the neighboring city of Kure's main streets (centered on Kuramoro-dori St) are closed for parades, stages and, of course, lots of food and drink stalls Kure Minato Matsuri or Kure Port Festival. Two things that jump out are a local beer festival (Kure's navy beer wins many craft beer awards) and a yacht race in the harbor. The parade starts at 14:00.
Find out more »May 2020
[CANCELED] Hiroshima Flower Festival
Hiroshima's biggest annual event, drawing in many more people than even the August 6 memorial day, the annual Flower Festival was inspired by the celebrations that followed the Hiroshima Carp's first championship in 1975. Crowded, noisy, high in kitsch and overtly commercial, it does, however, pull in tens of thousands of people from near and far, and many of them do seem to have a pretty good time. In addition to all the parades, pop bands, tarento celebrities, comedians and…
Find out more »[Canceled] MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day
In May of every year, the gates of MCAS Iwakuni US Marine base opens up its gates to over 250,000 visitors who come for the entertainment, games, aerial and static displays, car and motorbike show and one of Japan's largest air shows. And, of course, the food. Friendship Day on the website Friendship Day MCAS Iwakuni Facebook Page Visitors who are not Japanese citizens are required to bring either a residence card or passport and to fill a questionnaire prior…
Find out more »[CANCELED] Tomo Bentenjima Fireworks Festival
Tomo Bentenjima Fireworks Festival in the quaint port town of Tomo-no-ura kicks off the summer's fireworks festivals in the Chugoku region. 90min of fireworks over the water silhouetting picturesque Benten Island. Photo: Hiroshima Prefecture
Find out more »June 2020
Toukasan Yukata Festival
Hiroshima really comes alive over the three nights of Tōkasan - a festival that really does feel "festive". Join the 300,000 people who will be donning their yukata for the first time this year who take over Chuo-dori and environs to promenade, play festival games like fish scooping, buy strange inflatable novelties and stuff their faces with equally strange stuff on sticks. As well as parades and summer bon dancing, there will be taiko drumming and other performances on stages…
Find out more »September 2020
Lake Shinji-ko Fireworks, Matsue
This spectacular fireworks display over Shinjiko Lake in Matsue in Shimane Prefercture, silhouettes Yonegashima island against a blaze of color, is part of the annual Suigosai Festival and is usually held in August. This year, it has been rescheduled so as not clash with the Tokyo Olympics. The festival goes all day. Expect quite some congestion if driving.
Find out more »December 2020
Chinkasai Fire Festival
With most people living in the wooden houses, closely clustered together along narrow streets for centuries, fear of calamitous fires is deeply ingrained in the Japanese psyche. The Chinkasai on Miyajima is an impressive fire appeasing festival held on New Year's Eve. Read more about the Chinkasai Fire Festival here.
Find out more »January 2021
Dezomeshiki Firefighters Expo
Watch the firefighters display their skill, see their fire engines and helicopters in action.
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