Some summer festivals in Japan to check out.
1. Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka held on 24 & 25 July. A 1000 year old tradtion. A festival on land and water in Osaka. Follow the whole festival from beginning to end at the website below.
http://www.osaka-info.jp/tenjin_matsuri/main_en.html
2. Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori held between 2 - 7 August. One of the largest festivals in the region with impressive floats.
http://www.nebuta.jp/english/index_e.htm
3. Akita Kanto Matsuri in Akita city from 3 - 6 August. Impressive balancing of a stack of lanterns hanging from a huge pole is one of the highlights.
http://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/index.htm
4. Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri held in Yamagata from 5 - 7 August. About 10,000 dancers parade with decorated hats and floats.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a44_fes_hanagasa.html
5. Awa Odori is one of the largest dance festivals in Japan held in Tokushima from 12 - 15 August.
http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/english/awaodori.html
http://web-japan.org/atlas/festivals/fes19.html
