Comments on: Top thirty festivals for tourists visiting Japan http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/ From kimono to keitai; research Japanese facts and figures through translated opinion polls and surveys. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:20:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Nicole http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-78404 Nicole Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:51:16 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-78404 I wan to go see them all but unfortunately i can't. I would really like to go and see the cosplay. Mainly the Naruto cosplay it's my fav. show ever!! I wan to go see them all but unfortunately i can’t. I would really like to go and see the cosplay. Mainly the Naruto cosplay it’s my fav. show ever!!

]]> By: links for 2007-12-03 | Samurai Soapbox http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40707 links for 2007-12-03 | Samurai Soapbox Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:30:07 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40707 [...] Top thirty festivals for tourists visiting Japan » 世論 What Japan Thinks [...] […] Top thirty festivals for tourists visiting Japan » 世論 What Japan Thinks […]

]]> By: Turner http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40667 Turner Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:25:44 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40667 Not enough representation from Kyushu and western Honshu. Not enough representation from Kyushu and western Honshu.

]]> By: Janne http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40666 Janne Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:03:40 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40666 There's quite a lot of festivals that feature giant torches in one way or another, and of course people - and competing temples - were never afraid of copying one another in previous eras either. Not sure if that picture really is Nara, but it does look extremely similar. Note that at the Nara festival they only burn like that once, I think; for most of the evening you just have a few people carrying a large burning torch along the balustrade. Overall, big festivals and events are probably only worth the trouble if they are spread out in some way - a walking parade, say, or set in a larger area where you walk from place to place. The ones focused on one single point really suffer when you have big crowds. There’s quite a lot of festivals that feature giant torches in one way or another, and of course people - and competing temples - were never afraid of copying one another in previous eras either. Not sure if that picture really is Nara, but it does look extremely similar. Note that at the Nara festival they only burn like that once, I think; for most of the evening you just have a few people carrying a large burning torch along the balustrade.

Overall, big festivals and events are probably only worth the trouble if they are spread out in some way - a walking parade, say, or set in a larger area where you walk from place to place. The ones focused on one single point really suffer when you have big crowds.

]]> By: Ken Y-N http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40665 Ken Y-N Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:33:14 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40665 Janne - ah, I remember now! I couldn't be sure if the pic above was actually from Omizutori, but I have seen that on TV where someone runs along the top of a mon gate with a torch setting light to the hanging straw. I actually had the impression it was at Kyoto's Nanzenji, though! Perhaps they have similar festivals in various temples? Janne - ah, I remember now! I couldn’t be sure if the pic above was actually from Omizutori, but I have seen that on TV where someone runs along the top of a mon gate with a torch setting light to the hanging straw. I actually had the impression it was at Kyoto’s Nanzenji, though! Perhaps they have similar festivals in various temples?

]]> By: Mari http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40661 Mari Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:14:39 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40661 I've been to the Daimonji Yaki and Sendai Tanabata, and they were really good. I tell people to see those, too. I saw samples of what they have at Aomori Nebuta, Akita Kanto and even Awadori at a Summer Festival Parade that they have at Ueno every year. Aomori has another festival that plays the most lively music I have ever heard. I'd like to see the Gion Matsuri. Especially now with all the Zion connections. Hehe. I've been trying to go to the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, too, but I can never get leave on that weekend. I’ve been to the Daimonji Yaki and Sendai Tanabata, and they were really good. I tell people to see those, too. I saw samples of what they have at Aomori Nebuta, Akita Kanto and even Awadori at a Summer Festival Parade that they have at Ueno every year. Aomori has another festival that plays the most lively music I have ever heard.

I’d like to see the Gion Matsuri. Especially now with all the Zion connections. Hehe. I’ve been trying to go to the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, too, but I can never get leave on that weekend.

]]> By: Janne http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40654 Janne Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:48:55 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40654 I've been to todaiji omizutori once. You get to see large crowds of people, and experience a vast and fascinating array of crowd control techniques employed by the police - some of which, like a small comedy routine improvised by two officers, were astonishingly effective - as you get ferried from one holding pen to another. Near the end of the experience there's a torch appearing quickly on a balcony in a semi-distant temple building, after which you can go home. If you want to do crowd-spotting it's great. If you want to actually see anything of the festival, then not so much. Considering how crowded Fushimi Inari tends to be on a normal weekend (we went there saturday), I'd frankly be a bit scared of climbing the mountain trail ith the kind of crowds New Year is sure to bring. The best festivals tend to be the smaller neighbourhood ones, where everything is much more accessible and easy to see. I’ve been to todaiji omizutori once. You get to see large crowds of people, and experience a vast and fascinating array of crowd control techniques employed by the police - some of which, like a small comedy routine improvised by two officers, were astonishingly effective - as you get ferried from one holding pen to another. Near the end of the experience there’s a torch appearing quickly on a balcony in a semi-distant temple building, after which you can go home. If you want to do crowd-spotting it’s great. If you want to actually see anything of the festival, then not so much.

Considering how crowded Fushimi Inari tends to be on a normal weekend (we went there saturday), I’d frankly be a bit scared of climbing the mountain trail ith the kind of crowds New Year is sure to bring. The best festivals tend to be the smaller neighbourhood ones, where everything is much more accessible and easy to see.

]]> By: wintersweet http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40648 wintersweet Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:38:36 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40648 We went to Fushimi Inari at New Year, which was pretty great, but I think I'd like to see any of the above festivals and events (what an interesting mix). We went to Fushimi Inari at New Year, which was pretty great, but I think I’d like to see any of the above festivals and events (what an interesting mix).

]]> By: Kaminix http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40630 Kaminix Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:33:00 +0000 http://whatjapanthinks.com/2007/12/02/top-thirty-festivals-for-tourists-visiting-japan/#comment-40630 I've always wanted to see the Sapporo snow festival. When I was in Japan for my exchange year it was right before I came and right after I left. :( I did see Yosakoi though, it was amazing, strongly recommended to practically anyone. One of my best memories from Japan. I’ve always wanted to see the Sapporo snow festival. When I was in Japan for my exchange year it was right before I came and right after I left. :(
I did see Yosakoi though, it was amazing, strongly recommended to practically anyone. One of my best memories from Japan.

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