Setsubun: demons, beans, fish heads, sushi and screaming children

January 25, 2026February 3, 2026 Paul Walsh 17976 Views Setsubun, Winter

On Setsubun people across Japan look forward to spring witb demons, beans, sushi rolls, and stinky fish!

Tondo Matsuri

January 2, 2026January 9, 2026 Paul Walsh 23786 Views New Year, Tondo, Winter

Huge bonfires snap, crackle and pop around Hiroshima in the middle of January, sending the hope and dreams embodied in the past year’s votive goods and new year decorations up to the heavens.

Arts & Entertainment Festivals

Mihara Shinmei-ichi Daruma Festival

February 5, 2025February 11, 2025 Paul Walsh 19310 Views Winter

Over 500 street stalls selling every imaginable kind of festival food, daruma dolls, a plant and shrub market, daruma dolls, haunted houses, daruma dolls, open air karaoke competitions, thousands of people, and more daruma dolls, including the biggest in the world.

Setsubun Water Purification Ritual at Toukasan

Enruji Temple (A.K.A. Toukasan) commemorates Setsubun on the last Sunday of January with a cold water purification ceremony.

Arts & Entertainment Features Festivals Food and drink

Nanakusa-no-sekku

January 6, 2025January 7, 2025 Paul Walsh 13439 Views New Year, Winter

“The feast of seven herbs” is a day on which people in Japan customarily eat a healthy seven-herb rice porridge to ensure give the stomach a break from the indulgences of New Year.

Lifestyle Snow resorts

Megahira Hot Spring Snow Resort

December 15, 2023December 15, 2023 Paul Walsh 18478 Views Family-friendly, Skiing, Snow, Snowboarding, Winter

Megahira is the nearest snow resort to Hiroshima city, is very family-friendly and has a big hot spring perfect for those who like to keep their pants on.