Photo Essay: Kansai Summer Festivals

While not as well-known as Tokyo, the Kansai region of Japan – which includes the modern cities of Osaka and Kobe as well as the historic cities of Kyoto and Nara – shouldn’t be overlooked. And if you happen to catch it in summertime, you’ll find a place full of culture, food and festivals.
And a whole bunch of candles.

Here are a few of the more popular events in the area:

Gion Matsuri (throughout July) -
Kyoto, which is less than an hour northeast of Osaka, is home to the famous Gion Matsuri, one of the largest festivals in Japan. The celebration lasts the entire month of July, peaking on July 17th with a parade, the Yama-boko Junko.
The parade first started back in 869 when a terrible plague hit Kyoto. A priest of the Yasaka (or Gion) shine led a procession of people through the streets of the city hoping to please the Shinto gods.
Thankfully, the plague has long since passed but the tradition continues every year as men pull large Yama and Hoko floats through the streets of downtown Kyoto. Arrive (very) early and try to position yourself near a corner so you can catch the elaborate way the floats are pivoted using wooden blocks and a lot of pulling.

Obon (mid-August) -
Obon – the Buddhist festival of the dead – occurs at different times in Japan, but here in Kansai, it’s in August. This is the time of year when the spirits of the dead are thought to return to this world. In preparation for this, families sweep around the graves of ancestors then gently pour water over their tombstones – buckets and ladles are made available – before offering flowers and lighting incense and candles.
Thanks to its impressive size, the giant cemetery behind Kodaiji Temple in Eastern Kyoto is a great place to witness the event without feeling like you're interrupting such a somber occasion.

Bon Odori (throughout Obon season) -
Another part of Obon is the Bon Odori; a swirling, hypnotic dance around a yagura (bandstand) upon which traditional music is played. This dance, which is not specific to this region and can be enjoyed anywhere in Japan, is done to show appreciation for the sacrifices of ones ancestors.

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi -
On the last day of Obon is its most popular event, Daimonji. Starting around 8 p.m., the first of five huge bonfires in the shape of Chinese characters is lit in the mountains of Kyoto to help guide the spirits of the dead back to the other world.
One of the best places to view the event is from the Kamogawa River (north of Marutamachi). Also, some taller hotels in the area offer Daimonji specials for viewing all five of the bonfires from their high rooftops, which is SO much easier than trying to rush across Kyoto within the 30 minutes it takes for the fires to burn out.
(Trust me on this one.)

Nara To-kae (August 6th-15th) -
Just a little east of Osaka and Kyoto is the culture-rich and highly-accessible city of Nara. A short walk from Kintetsu Nara station is Nara-kōen, a park that is home to the giant bronze Buddha of Tōdai-ji temple as well as countless tame deer who will gladly eat from your hand (and cover you with drool).
Every summer since 1999, the city has held To-kae, an impressive candle festival meant to highlight the history of this ancient capital and present its monuments and temples in a unique way, by filling the area with thousands of candles. The festival's name is a combination of To-ka (light flower) and “E”, a Buddhist term meaning a gathering of people. Wear some comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera and a tripod for some great photos of this spectacular promenade of lights.