From Sakura to Sushi —Showing all the Cool Festivals of Japan!

Do you know about all the fun events that happen at Japanese festivals? Here are some exciting festival facts to share with your friends:

1. One of the biggest festivals in Japan is Kanda Matsuri, a one-week event of parades and dances! People carry portable shrines on the streets during the celebration in May. These shrines are like little houses or boxes with statues of gods and goddesses. How cool is that!
2. Did you know that Japan has a festival that celebrates the spirits of the dead? That’s right! A festival called Awa Adori is devoted to dead ancestors, and thousands of people come together to perform what is known as the ‘fool’s dance’. This ritual began 400 years ago!
3. Another huge festival is the Tenjin Matsuri, which happens in July. All the localities perform dances and plays on boats along rivers to appreciate the god of learning and scholarship.