What is Obon?

The Obon Holiday, celebrated Auguest 13-15 in most regions of Japan, is a festival to welcome home the spirits of one's deceased ancestors. The roots of the holiday are in the ancient Shinto practices in Japan, but when Buddhism came to Japan, some Buddhist practices were integrated into the holiday. Today, most families will visit a Buddhist temple where their ancestors remains are entombed.

Obon is one of the longest holidays in Japan (in addition to Golden Week and New Years), and many people return home to visit family.

Obon Festivals

I have only attended small local Obon festivals in Fukuoka, in western Japan, but both festivals were quite different!

At one festival, there were many food stalls with festival favorites, as well as games for children. In the evening, there was music and everyone danced to the traditional dance, the Bon Odori. The Bon Odori is a dance with a few set movements (these vary region to region), and is typically danced in a circle around the yagura - a square bandstand made with bamboo scaffolding. The dance is to welcome the spirits of the dead back home.

At the other festival I attended, the festivities started with a performance by the local youth taiko team, followed by a tug of war in which anyone was welcome to participate. The rope was huge - about 1 foot thick - and made of braided straw. Participating in the tug of war was said to bring luck and health!

There were a few food stalls at this festival, including one selling the summer favorite kakigori, or shaved ice. Most people attending the festival were wearing yukata, or lightweight cotton kimono, which is a popular option to wear for summer festivals.

At the end of the evening, the final even was a version of the Samurai Battle that is a staple at children's sports day festivals at school. Men, dressed in traditional attire, sat on each others shoulders and competed to capture the lanters of the opposing team with long poles.

Should I visit Japan during Obon?

Unless you have family to visit in Japan, I would generally advise against visiting Japan during Obon. August is incredibly hot, humid, and crowded, as this is the month that children have their summer vacation. Additionally, many small shops and restaurants will be closed for the holiday, and some even for an extended holiday in August.

However, if you are ok with the heat and crowds and want to see some summer festivals, Japan in August can be a lot of fun! In addition to the Obon festivities, there are many places to see fireworks festivals.