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April 2019
Tea harvesting and tea ceremony
Watch young women pick the leave from the tea bushes in Shukkei-en Garden. Enjoy or cup of tea prepared with the freshly picked leaves free of charge or pay ¥600 to take part in a more formal tea ceremony in one the garden's tea houses. Tea picking is at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm.
Find out more »May 2019
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 »The Trunk Market
Well put together market offering high quality (though not cheap) artisanal goods, designer clothing and food and drink - local and from around the country - in the center of Hiroshima city. Cancelled in the event of rain. The Trunk Market Facebook Saturday, May 18 11:00-12:00 Sunday, May 19 11:00-12:00
Find out more »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.
Find out more »Nihonshu Sansan Downtown Sake Festival
This sake festival organised by Yagenbori liquor store Yamatoya is one of our favorite events of the year. It is far more compact than the annual sake festival in Saijo, and the 30 or so boutique brewers bring nothing less than their top varieties, it is an excellent opportunity to try 100 or so of the best sakes in the country, poured by the people who take such care in making it. There is a really relaxed atmosphere,…
Find out more »June 2019
Mibu-no-Hanadaue Traditional Rice Planting Ritual
Mibu-no-hanadaue is a revived rice planting ritual said to have roots in the middle ages that is renacted on the first Sunday of June every year. The event was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage in 2003 and many people now make the trip to Chiyoda in Kita-hiroshima to view it. Bulls are led through the streets to Mibu Hachiman Shrine where they are dressed with elaborately decorated saddles and colorful necklaces. They are then led to a field, and…
Find out more »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 »Rice planting ritual and tea ceremony at Shukkei-en Garden
Re-enactment of a traditional rice planting ritual to wish for a bountiful harvest and tea ceremony at Shukkei-en Garden. The rice planting ritual and related dances performed by the Shinjo Provincial Art Preservation Committee are between 13:00 and 14:45 and the tea ceremonies run from 10:00-15:00. 13:00-13:30 Hayashida music, song and dance performance in the yuunenjyou (有年場) rice field located in the far right corner of the garden as you stand with your back to the entrance. 13:35-13:55 Hayashida music, song and dance performance on…
Find out more »July 2019
Tanabata Tea Ceremony at Shukkei-en Garden
Tea ceremony in Shukkei-en Garden's Seifukan tea house.
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 »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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