This festival is something of a celebration of the Obon season. Suggest an edit Nisei Week Japanese Festival Featured in United States Los Angeles During this day, many regions light another bonfire and hang more lanterns painted with the family crest to guide spirits back to their graves. The best clothes for your upcoming visit to Japan, How to Travel to Japan this Fall Current Entry Requirements, 10 Tips for the Best Travel Experience in Japan. The annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival returns to an in-person celebration in 2022 and will highlight 80 years of. Experience Japan's traditional 'Obon' Festival like a local 3-hour celebration filled with dancing, drinking, and eating. One of the Best Obon Festivals - Annual Orange County Buddhist Church Annual Summer Obon Festival Event (Bon Odori, Taiko, Japanese Food, Games, Crafts..) Japan's Obon has fixed dates to celebrate Obon, usually from August 13 to 16 (following a switch from using the lunar calendar). The pocket-sized mobile hotspot will give you unlimited internet with no speed restriction and can be connected up to 10 devices. The Obon Festival originates from the Buddhist story of Maha Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), a disciple of the Buddha. Miss Peggie Lyoo was very helpful, super-friendly, very professional and very prompt with all her replies! Bon Odori festival, where people gather in their breezy yukata and dance in formation, usually happens around the Obon holidays in August. All rights reserved. However, August 11 (Friday) is a national holiday. Obon is therefore celebrated at different times in different regions depending on which calendar is observed. The style of the traditional Bon Odori dance varies from region to region but it is normally based around the rhythms of Japanese taiko drums. Sozenji Buddhist Temple Obon Festival on Sunday - Rafu Shimpo Here is a list of must-attend 2023 Japan's summer festivals with opening and closing dates. This is supposed to guide the spirits back to the world of the dead. Explore destinations at your own Eisa usually features a circular dance accompanied by drumming and the playing of sanshin, an Okinawan musical instrument like the shamisen. Your tour will be tailor-made to suit you by a destination expert. This places it on or around August 15th on the Gregorian calendar. The festival is held yearly from August 14th to the 20th in Odori Park. 2023 Sanuki Takamatsu Festival. Nisei Week Japanese Festival 2023 in Los Angeles - Dates - Rove.me Services during Obon Holiday On the first day a student band from a local primary school will also perform. On the weekend of July 15-16, 2023, the Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC) in Anaheim is sponsoring an Obon Festival as a time to remember our ancestors and hear the Buddha-Dharma together with festivities and outdoor dancing. Obon - Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia However, there are some differences between Obon and China's Ghost Festival. He decided to visit Buddha and ask what could be done to get his mother released from this realm. Founded in 2014, Okaeris mission is to create visibility, compassionate spaces, and transformation for LGBTQ+ Nikkei and their families by sharing stories and providing culturally rooted support, education, community-building, and advocacy. The name of this festival loosely translates to Festival Of The Dead.. *Note: You MUST have attended at least one dance workshop with Yoshinojo sensei to attend. On August 7, from 4pm to 9pm, celebrity guests will play J-pop tunes and teach contemporary Bon Odori choreography. June 1, 2023 Jasmine Chagnon Photo: Courtesy of Miliili Summer Fest. Serene, Alisa was our advisor from Asia highlights and she prepared for us a wonderful 28 day trip to Japan, taking into consideration our needs and desire not to be traveling everyday and to have a mixture of slow and busy days. People put the family's ancestral tablets and old paintings and photographs on a table and then burn incense near them. The spirits are then guided home, sometimes with paper lanterns to light their way. During the festival, people eat vegetarian food for three meals a day. All Rights Reserved. In 2023, the peak of the Obon travel season is anticipated to take place between August 5 and August 20. OBON FESTIVAL - August 13, 2023 During this time, Japanese people pay respect to their ancestors and loved ones who have passed away through many beautiful ceremonies. In the United States Festival titles and descriptions, sometimes the word Obon The 10th annual Nakano Bon Odori festival takes place right outside Nakano Station. If you are planning to visit Japan in July, then you can see the Obon celebrations in some areas of Tokyo and also in Okinawa. However, August 11 (Friday) is a national holiday. I have had the pleasure to book with Asia Highlights when we went to China in 2018. We had Dhat in Vietnam and Borin in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The Japanese Obon Festival is influenced by Buddhism. Japanese-City.com on Twitter: "One of the Best Obon Festivals - Annual Dancers located in eight different areas will start performing at the same time accompanied by flutes, the shamisen, chimes and taiko drums. What to see and do during the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in Little Tokyo Please check each festival in case some are canceled due to the rise in cases. Will the fireworks display be held in 2023? I came back home so much rested, and with plenty of wonderful pictures and memories. Obon, sometimes just called Bon, is a Buddhist festival that celebrates the time when the spirits are able to return to Earth and be with their families. The festival starts and ends with a large bonfire and throughout the holiday the streets are decorated with beautiful lanterns. Another tradition is to offer the lit Toro lanterns to Buddha and float them on the water to honor ancestors. It would be unusual for a Buddhist festival not to have a monk-based legend and Obon doesn't disappoint. The 75th annual Tsukiji Hongwanji Bon Odori Festival is set to be held for the first time in three years, but on a much smaller scale than previous years. Don't hang your clothes out at night strange ghosts may take your clothes to wear. We've not yet taken our trip, but very much looking forward to it It is more focused on the worship of ghosts. Awa Odori is one of the most well-known dances during Obon season and originates from Tokushima. Obon is a day thats observed by Japanese Buddhists to honor the spirits of their ancestors. It takes place in the Obon season on Shikoku Island. Attendees can also enjoy arts and crafts, a yukata dressing station, as well as a vendor market. Obon is a truly traditional Japanese Festival, with the sound of Japanese drums, and the magical dim lights of the floating lanterns. In Japan, people usually have a vacation, while in China, no holidays are taken for the Ghost Festival. Easter Explosion of the Cart (Lo Scoppio del Carro), Ohinata no Hitoboshi or Fire Ring Festival, Rbechilbi: Gourd-Lantern Parade in Richterswil, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain). Japanese American History will be celebrated with the Seabrook Buddhist Temple's 78th Annual Obon Festival Event. The festival began in 1957 to revitalize the local shops, but has grown to include over 10,000 dancers and one million spectators. I and my daughter planned a trip to China and Japan. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! It focuses on ancestor-worshipping celebrations. What a fabulous experience! This festival is often compared to Mexico's Day of the Dead and China's Hungry Ghost Festival. The official dates are August 13-15 though it will be celebrated between July 13-15 in some places. Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. Sep 2022, Geoff Rayner-Canham, Toyosu Market will be closed from Aug. 13 (Sun.) We ended up using Asia Highlights. Theyll have workshops at Nakane Zero on July 9 and 24 at 7:30pm to teach interested participants how to do the dance. 2023/7/11. During the festival, a special dance is performed which may differ regionally. Days, India, Nepal, . What is Obon? | All About Japan This is a Buddhist custom honouring the spirits of one's ancestors, which is why it is also known as the festival of the dead or the festival of souls. He was happy and danced with joy. In Tokyo, Obon is celebrated around the 15th of July. Restaurants may also be closed, so it is better to check in advance. In order to participate in the potentially record-setting dance session, visitors need to register in advance. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. He tired using his powers to feed food into his mother's mouth, only to see the food just fed into her mouth turn into charcoal. For those unable to watch Eisa in Okinawa, they can enjoy a taste of Okinawan Obon festivities in the heart of Tokyo. The Queer Obon was organized by Okaeri Co-chair Mia Barnett, Scott Oshima and Keith Nishida. Best Obon Festival near Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA - Yelp Obon Odori , meaning "Bon dance," refers to a range of fairly simple dances performed at the festival, easy enough that most people can join in. One of the traditions is to hang candles and lanterns at the gates to receive the souls of ancestors and pay respects quietly. Hokkai Bon Odori simply means Hokkai Bon Dance, a traditional Japanese festival that . Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our Her service is of the highest professional level. One of the traditions is to hang candles and lanterns at the gates to receive the souls of ancestors and pay respects quietly. During Obon, people also clean and decorate the graves of their ancestors. Editorial credit: Kento35 / Shutterstock.com (from 2016). In Japan, its one of the biggest holidays and is observed from the 13th to the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. People also perform elaborate dances that are known as Obon Odori. Obon is either July 13th ~ 15th or August 13th ~ 15th depending on the region of Japan. Most people take a day-off for this festival and gather at the graves of their ancestors or crowd up in their neighborhoods for traditional celebrations in the company of dancers and onlookers. The Daimonji Festival in Kyoto is probably the most famous. May 2023, Lynette Whittle, In Japan, there is a saying that during the festival, ghosts will walk on the streets. O'ahu Bon Dance Schedule 2023 - Where to Celebrate This Summer My initial inquiry to this company (based in China) was answered in under 10 hours by an amazing travel consultant, named Alisa. The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. Back to All Events. Overall, he and his driver "Lucky" were a reason to go to Siem Reap. In addition, I want to specifically mention the guides provided in certain locations. Participants traditionally wear yukatas, a kind of light cotton kimono. She was so patient changing and adjusting the itinerary to their needs and wants, its been a total pleasure working with her and she always responds promptly to any question I have. The origin of Obon can be traced back to the story of Maha Maudgalyayana a disciple of Buddha who used his magical powers to look back upon his deceased mother. Anyone can join in the dances which are held in parks, temples, and other public places around Japan. JRailPass.com The most important part of the celebrations is honoring ancestors by leaving a variety of food offerings for them at Buddhist altars. Know more Answered tons of questions and created the perfect tour for us. Established in 1903, the Rafu Shimpo has survived two world wars, a . Apr 2023, Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris, Obon Festival Guide: Meaning, traditions and dates. With Gunn and Mariko Rooks serving as dance practice leaders, first-timers and experienced festival-goers alike joined in the Bon Odori. Obon Matsuri 2023 in Japan - Dates Amy Umezu, Rev. What about traffic congestion during the Obon period? He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. Although there are currently no restrictions on activities to prevent the spread of infection, the organizers may ask for cooperat. Well planned trip by Alisa . Obon is a yearly festival that is celebrated to remember and cherish one's ancestors. They have similar taboos; they are both traditional festivals; they are both related to death. The food vendors were Azay and Milk & T. Philip Hirose of Azay reached out to the following family farms, who shared their harvests: the Masumotos, the Yasutomis, the Kashimas, the Kodas, the Tamais, the Yakipapis and Fujiya Market. Obon in August is from August 13 to 16 each year. )Expect heavy congestion on roads, bullet trains, and airplanes heading to Tokyo. In Japan, Obon is a custom to hold memorial services for ancestors in summer. Annual Events in Japan! Bon Fest 2023 Japanese Arts Foundation. The horse is fast, and the ox is slow. Another tradition is to offer the lit Toro lanterns to Buddha and float them on the water to honor ancestors. Meals served on this day are typically vegetarian. Please bring your own lawn chair and or blanket.Each year, since 1945 . At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey your dates, your destinations, at your pace. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. We decided to postpone the trip until next year and received the guaranteed refund, minus a small deposit on next years trip. Obon Festival 2023 | Dates & Travel tips | JAPANICLE Info: www.okaeri-losangeles.org/conference-2023, Your email address will not be published. OCBC Obon Festival This Weekend - Rafu Shimpo Admission is $5.00 per adult (13+), $3.00 per child (ages 3-12) and Seniors (ages 65+), free for . Events in Tokyo begin in the weeks before and after those dates. Emceed by traci akemi kato-kiriyama and Sean Miura, the program began with a memorial service conducted in English and Japanese by Rev. She listened with understanding and took careful notes and clarified things to make sure she got everything. This comes down to the difference between the old lunar calendar and the new solar calendar. Families have reunions and visit the graves of their relatives and make food offerings at altars and temples. Therefore, when the first day of calling the spirits home comes, people offer cucumber horses, and when the last day of guiding the spirits back to their resting places comes, people offer eggplant cows. At the end of the Obon celebrations, the Japanese will then put floating lanterns onto the seas, lakes, or rivers. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. While observing her, he learned that she had fallen into the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and needed help. the use of cookies. 2023 - 78th Annual Seabrook Buddhist Temple's Obon Festival Event, New Obon is a traditional festival and not an official holiday in Japan, but it is customary for people to be given leave, usually a 715 days' vacation, known as the Obon week. The evenings performers were: Mujo Dream Flight, the artistic vehicle of founding taiko artists Sasen Cain, Yeeman ManMan Mui, and Maxyn Rose Leitner in collaboration with other predominantly trans/non-binary taiko artists; and Gia Gunn, an international performance artist who began her training in kabuki theater, rose to stardom after her debut on RuPauls Drag Race and publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2017. Entire families often spend this day together laughing and telling stories about the deceased. This year, the holiday will be celebrated from August 13 to 15. By using our website you accept our Cookies Policy. We were extremely satisfied with the exceptional services rendered by our organiser, Robert Hui and private guide William. During the festival, a special dance is performed which may differ regionally. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or the "Bon Dance". Many companies and stores take their summer vacation during this period, which is called Obon vacation, so please be careful when traveling. PUBLISHED: August 10, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. | UPDATED: August 10, 2022 at 9:02 a.m. For next year, Obon falls on August 13 to August 15 2023. He was a disciple of Buddha who used his powers to see the spirit of his deceased mother. Obon Festivals have a religious aspect with a minister opening the ceremony and planning will be made easy with just one specialist throughout. We loved everything that you had scheduled for us! 2023 Tokyo Game Show . Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the many Buddhist monks who had just completed their summer retreat on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Couple, 8 We wont even consider using another agency for travel around Asia and we would like to have Alisa work for us again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. Mount Aso: How to get there and what to see, How to Explore Japan Effortlessly With Navitime, Japan travel restrictions and requirements for 2023, Gala Yuzawa, the ski resort connected from Tokyo by bullet train, Public holidays in Japan: 2023 dates and meaning, Best Winter Illuminations in Japan in 2022/2023, Rainy season in Japan: Dates and what to expect, Matsuri: The 10 best Japanese summer festivals to visit. Travel Guides www.okaeri-losangeles.org/conference-2023, Introducing 2023 SFV JACC Queen KailiInouye, Parkinsons Support Groups Monthly Meeting, JACCC Awarded Grant from Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts for Hirokazu Kosaka Exhibition, VOX POPULI: An Appreciation of Wimpy Hiroto, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. To watch the same dances from a guaranteed good seat, you can go to Za Koenji Theater and watch a stage Awa Odori performance the same weekend. People send off the spirits of their ancestors with lanterns that have a lit candle inside. transportation, visas, hotels, meals, and activities. There are also special requirements for the offerings at the Obon altar. They are known as spirit mounts for the ancestors. The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. The Rafu Shimpo has been the nation's leading Japanese American newspaper since its original publication. During Toro Nagashi, you can see some of the best lantern releases in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo and in Hiroshima. Rep. Gomez Announces $1.5 Million for 248 Units of Affordable Housing in Little Tokyo 07/13/2023; Sozenji Buddhist Temple Obon Festival on Sunday 07/13/2023 . His positivity was contagious - even when it felt like 1000 degrees and we were tired. On the night of Aug. 10 (Thursday) and on Aug. 11 and 12Expect heavy congestion on roads, bullet trains, and airplanes from Tokyo to the regional cities. He discovered she had fallen into the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and was suffering. Keisuke Lee-Miyaki. Peggie's English is impeccable and she uses lots of nuances which usually only a native English speaker would know. San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin's Obon Festival This Weekend Saturday, August 12, 3 PM - 7 PM, Free to All (Rain date August 13) Shofuso celebrates the Obon Festival with bon odori folk dances by Seabrook Minyo Dance Group, and taiko drumming performances by KyoDaiko, Hoh Daiko (Seabrook Buddhist Temple) and Casual Fifth. August 10, 2020 | Japanese Culture, Lifestyle It is this time of the year when Japan suddenly turns tranquil, trains get empty and cemeteries start blooming with flowers. In recent years, floating lanterns (toro nagashi) have gained in popularity. Obon is similar to Mexico's Day of the Dead and China's Hungry Ghost Festival. It originally began as a Buddhist custom but has quickly evolved into a holiday in which families hold reunions and take the opportunity to visit their ancestral homes. People use wood to form a large "" character, and then set it on fire. Apr 2023. I just want to thank you for making our Japan trip so much fun & memorable! Many former residents of the island who are working in Tokyo and other urban centers return to the island at this time to visit their ancestral graves. She was so efficient and pleasant in adjusting our itinerary. People give gifts to show their gratitude to those who have taken care of them, including parents, friends, leaders, and colleagues. Traditional Japanese folk dancing and taiko drumming will be featured during the Seabrook Buddhist Temple's Annual Obon Festival in New Jersey will be held on Saturday in July.Admission and parking are free. 8:00 PM 10:00 PM. Highlighting Japan Updated July 17, 2018 Festivals Summer Festivals http://dwl.gov-online.go.jp/video/cao/dl/public_html/gov/pdf/hlj/20150801/20150801all.pdf Obon is a summer event during which people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. The emcees were traci akemi kato-kiriyama and Sean Miura. Each one is then individually set on fire. Until now its been a pleasure dealing with Albee Ning. festival. Don't tap people on the shoulder. Dance practice usually occurs just beforehand so attendees can rehearse and/or learn the movements. Shewas available during our trip to answer our questions and readily agreed to the itinerary changes.Everything was arranged - accommodation,breakfast, guide, car, entrance fees and train tickets. Understand the destinations by practicing the local Sunshine Citys 43rd Bon Odori festival features a six-meter tall yagura, or wooden scaffold at the center of the festivities. Many Japanese people will leave their cities around August 10 and come back on August 17-18. 98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+, Serene Storslett, How to Plan an Incredible Family Trip to Japan in 2023/2024. Increased travel activity Questions? In other parts of the country, its celebrated around the 15th of August. Besides reuniting with family, visiting ancestral sites, and visiting and cleaning the graves of their ancestors, the Japanese also celebrate in a variety of other ways. Below are some of the factoids wed like to share with our readers about this Japanese summer celebration. Over 2,000 dancers participated . People return to their hometowns from the cities and visit the graves of their ancestors to offer sacrifices, such as flowers and fruits. Valley JCC Obon 'A Wonderful Sight' - Rafu Shimpo Mokuren danced with joy which is the origin of the Obon dance. A time to honor loved ones who have passed. Apr 2023, Isabelle Dessaux, Okaeri continues this tradition with an inclusive festival of queer joy, remembrance, and belonging. Alisa also makes the process simple and easy to follow. When he did that, his mother was soon released from the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts. Obon is a time to be with family and celebrate loved ones. Do not hang wind chimes at the head of the bed it is said that if there is a noise, it will bring bad things. Venue: Sapporo Odori Park When: Mid Aug 2023. Obon is not really a party time. The Obon period can be in mid-July or mid-August, depending on the region, but it is in mid-August that traffic, tourist attractions, amusement parks, etc. They needed a Spanish guide and she coordinated everything so they wouldnt have any trouble when they got there. Go beyond the sightseeing. The beautiful lanterns float down a river that runs to the sea to symbolically send their ancestors spirits into the sky, although customs vary from region to region. Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday. More details can be found in our privacy policy. Some regions of the country celebrate a festival called Toro Nagashi on this day which involves releasing hundreds of floating lanterns onto rivers and lakes. The biennial Okaeri Conference will be held virtually and in-person from Nov. 10 to 12 at the Japanese American National Museum. Many are coming back after an extended hiatus due to Covid-19, so its a chance to continue cherished summer traditions. The dates may also change depending on whether the particular region celebrates the Obon according to the solar calendar in mid-July (the regions of Tokyo, Yokohama, and Tohoku) or the lunar calendar in mid-August (the majority of Japan). 2016-2023 Asia Highlights Discovery Your Way! Our guide in Cambodia, Meas Darapolaith (Pol), was absolutely amazing. Garden of the Phoenix 6300 South Cornell Avenue Chicago, IL, 60637 United States (map) culture and interacting with local people. For example, Shichigatsu Bon is observed on the solar calendar, which places it around July 15th. The dancing will be preceded by taiko performances both days at 4 and 6 . Having gained redemption for his mother, he danced in celebration, joined by others in a large circle. is used instead of the words Bon Odori in describing the festival. At the end of the Obon festival, families help their ancestors spirits return back to the grave by guiding them with their chochin lanterns. Well definitely contact Asia Highlights for our trip again! Enjoy having your own personal local guide and ride. Stations and highway parking areas are also expected to be very crowded. Obon Festival 2023 in Japan: Meaning, Traditions and Dates The cars were extremely comfortable and the hotel she chose for us was beautiful!! The guides were knowledgeable, and managed the tour very efficiently.
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