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August 2019
Night Safari at Asa Zoo
A chance to see the nocturnal animals in action and to escape to the relative cool of the Asa highlands.
Find out more »Miyajima Fireworks Festival
2018 event has been CANCELLED due to transportation problems further west caused by the July flooding disaster (Miyajima itself is open for business, but organizers were concerned that they could not guarantee adequate transportation for the huge crowds expected).
Find out more »Shobara Summer Fireworks Festival
3000 fireworks, the scale of some of which really impress visitors, over the lake in Shobara's Ueno Park.
Find out more »Night Safari at Asa Zoo
A chance to see the nocturnal animals in action and to escape to the relative cool of the Asa highlands.
Find out more »Akitakata Fireworks Festival
Kagura performances, a flea market and an impressive fireworks display over the water of Haji Dam. Fireworks 19:30-20:30
Find out more »Miyoshi City Fireworks Festival
A 90 minute display of 7,000 fireworks in this city in the north of the prefecture. Wondering if it's worth dealing with the other 40,000 plus people along the riverside to get a good view, try up in Ozekiyama Park. Access: Take the Geibi Line to Miyoshi JR Station, from where it is a 10-15 min walk. See our guide to the all the summer's firework festivals here.
Find out more »Takehara Summer Fireworks Festival
About 20,000 people watch from the shore as 3200 fireworks go up over the sea for 30 minutes. Access: 10 minutes walk from Oonori JR Station.
Find out more »September 2019
Kagura & Taiko Drums at Kumano Brush Festival Zenyasai
Lively kagura and Japanese taiko drum performances at Sakakiyama Shrine on the eve of the annual Kumano Fude Brush Festival. No parking
Find out more »Kumano Fude Matsuri
It's all about the calligraphy (and, more recently, make up) brushes at this festival which celebrates Kumano's claim to fame. One of our favorite days out in autumn. Read about the Fude Matsuri here. Read about Kumano Fude Matsuri in the JapanTimes here. See photos from the Fude Matsuri here. See videos from the Fude Matsuri here The official Fude Matsuri site is here (Japanese only, but some nice photos). If you are interested in brush manufacture and calligraphy you might…
Find out more »October 2019
Onomichi Akari Matsuri
30,000 candles decorate the route up from the water's edge all the way along the Onomichi Sanzan (3 mountain) Route taking in Senkoji-ji, Saikoku-ji and Jyodo-ji as well as many other temples. Live music adds to the atmosphere and several buddhist treasures, usually locked away, are on public display. In the event of rain the event will be postponed until the following day. Unfortunately, the official website is mostly only in Japanese, but you can see photos of the candles…
Find out more »Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival
The streets of Takehara's beautiful Edo period historic preservation district are illuminated by bamboo candles for two nights. Photos from a previous event and a write up of the event from 2009 here. The Takehara Historic Preservation District is 15 minutes walk from Takehara JR Station The candles are lit 17:00-21:00
Find out more »Etajima Fireworks Festival
Etajima's summer fireworks festival has shifted to an autumn festival! Fireworks 18:00-18:30 (2100 blasts)
Find out more »Shirakami-san Autumn Festival
Two nights of Hiroshima Kagura performances, street stalls and wishes for good fortune on Peace Boulevard.
Find out more »November 2019
Ritual Fire-walking at Daigan-ji Temple, Miyajima
Impressive and elaborate ritual that culminates in priests and members of the public rushing across hot coals in front of Daigan-ji Temple, located at the exit from Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima. For more about and photos and video of this fire-walking ritual click here.
Find out more »Momiji Maple Viewing Tea Ceremony
Momiji maple viewing tea ceremony at Shukkei-en Garden. ¥260 garden entrance fee also required. Photo: ©Shukkei-en Garden
Find out more »Fire walking ritual at Daishoin Temple
Photo: Lance Cpl. Benjamin Pryer "Hi-watari-shiki" Fire walking ritual takea place at Daishoin Temple on Miyajima twice a year on April 15 and November 15. Readings from the 8000 verse Perfection of Wisdom Sutra begin at 11am and extravagant Saito-goma rituals begin around 1pm in the temple forecourt with a purification offering to the alter and the chanting of sutras. This is followed by two Buddhist monks circling the area with swords and then shooting 7 arrows into the air…
Find out more »Ebisuko Festival
Ebisu Shrine's autumn festival marks the arrival of winter in Hiroshima. Known among locals as Ebessan after the god of commerce, surrounding stores hold sales and buy komazadare bamboo rakes adorned with gold coins and atreasure ship. You might here business owners complain that the whole thing is a racket, but you won't see a shop, restaurant or bar in the area without one. A huge barrel with mouth wide open is placed in front of the shrine to receive offerings. Learn more…
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