Calendar of Japanese Festivals in May

May (Satsuki)

Flowers of the Month: Tsutsuji (Azalea); Fuji (Wisteria); Shakuyaku (Peony); Botan (Tree Peony)

Late April - Early May, Nara:	Opening of Hokuendo Hall of Kofukuji.
May 2, Nikko:	Gohan-shiki (Rice Ceremony), Rinnoji Temple Rice-eating ceremony, going back to feudal times when daimyo visiting the shrine would be regaled by the priests.
May 3, Tokyo:	Unveiling of the Thousand-armed Kannon in Shiobune Kannonji.
May 3-4, Fukuoka:	Hakata Dontaku Festival. Two days long more than 400 groups from all Kyushu take part in festive parades. The word Dontaku comes from the Dutch "Zondag," meaning Sunday. This festival, for which the whole city turns out, is indeed characterized by a great holiday atmosphere.
May 5, nationwide:	Tango no Sekku (Boys Festival) Warrior figures in armor are set up in the house during this festival - sometimes symbolically only the helmet -, iris leaves are placed under the eaves to fend off evil (and because they are thought to resemble the blade of a sword), and huge carp streamers are fastened to poles. The carp is connected with marital happiness and many offspring.
May 5, Kyoto:	Horse-Riding Ceremony, Kamigamo Shrine Festival originating in 1039, when this ceremony was first performed to obtain a good harvest.
May 5-6, Fuchu (Tokyo):	Kurayami Matsuri, Okunitama Shrine Mysterious night festival in old shrine in Tokyo's suburbs.
May 7-8, Niigata Pref.:	Unveiling of the Jizo Bosatsu statue of Morinji. Bus or taxi from Yashiroda station on the JR Shinetsu main line (0250-38-2428).
May 11-12, Nara:	Takigi No at Kofukuji. The oldest torchlight No performances in Japan, already enjoyed by Basho. At the site of the Great South Gate.
May 15 Kyoto:	Aoi Matsuri, Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines The leaves of the hollyhock (aoi) are offered at both shrines. Originated in ancient custom to propitiate the shrine deities, who brought storm over the land. Re-enacts an Imperial procession to the shrines with nobles in court dress and a chariot drawn by an ox. Leaves in the morning from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, visits the Shimogamo Shrine and finally in the afternoon the Kamigamo Shrine.
Third Sunday of May Kyoto:	Mifune Matsuri (Boat festival), Kurumazaki Shrine Gaily decorated boats float down the Oi River in Arashiyama, recalling the atmosphere of the Heian period
May 12-15 (odd-numbered years) Tokyo:	Kanda Matsuri, Kanda Shrine Two huge palanquins are paraded through Kanda and Nihonbashi in one of Tokyo's greatest festivals.
May 15, Tokyo	Unveiling of the Amida statue in Zojoji
May 16-18, Otsu (Shiga Pref.):	Unveiling of the Goho Zenshin statue in Miidera
May 17, Nachi (Wakayama Pref.)	Unveiling of the Thousand-armed Kannon statue in Fudarakusanji 5 min on foot from Nachi St on the Kisei main line (0735-52-2523)
May 17-18, Nikko:	Spring Festival, Toshogu Shrine Sennin Gyoretsu, procession of 1,000 persons in historical costume. Sacred music and dances on the morning of the 18th. Also Yabusame, archery on horseback, on May 18.
May 17, Nikko:	Ennen-no-Mai (Longevity Dance), Rinnoji Temple Two priests dance in beautiful silk robes.
May 17-19, Tokyo:	Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa Shrine Parade of great number of mikoshi on 18th and 19th. Performances of dengaku and binzasara.
May 18, Nishinomiya (Hyogo Pref.)	Unveiling of the Nyoirin Kannon statue in Kannoji Bus or taxi from Koyoen st on the Hankyu Koyo line (0798-72-1172)
May 19, Nara:	Uchiwamaki (Fan Scattering Ceremony) at Toshodaiji Buddhist memorial ceremony. Heart-shaped paper fans are scattered together with mochi or rice cakes, bringing good luck for the year to come.
May 21, Kyoto:	Shinran-Shonin Gotan-e (Birthday of Priest Shinran), Nishi-Honganji Service to celebrate the birthday of Shinran (1173-1262), the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

[ Calendar Home ]
[ Japan Pages Home ]
[ Books on Japan | Haiku Stones | Japan Travel | Temple Pilgrimage ]