| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| ▼ Tokyo International Anime Fair | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 25 (Thu.) - Mar. 28 (Sun.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Tokyo Big Sight 3-21-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.tokyoanime.jp/en/ | |
| Descriptions | ||
| The Tokyo International Anime Fair is the world's largest expo of the anime industry, which is held every spring at the Tokyo Big Sight. Marking its 6th year since it started in 2002, the fair is designed to promote and foster the anime industry and has been organized by a committee comprised of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and related businesses and groups. In addition to exhibition booths of participating anime businesses, a variety of event programs including special stage performances and anime movie showings are scheduled at the fair site to attract worldwide interest. During the fair, this year's outstanding anime works are selected and awarded at the Tokyo Anime Awards ceremony. Note that although the fair starts on Mar. 22, the general public admission is not allowed on Business Days (Mar. 22 & 23). | ||
| ▼ Fire-walking Festival (Hiwatari-sai) at Mt. Takao | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 14 (Sun.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Takaosan Yakuoin Temple sanroku kitoden hiroba (mountain-foot prayer
square) 2407 Takaomachi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.takaosan.or.jp/ (Japanese only) |
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| Descriptions | ||
| Takaosan Yakuoin Temple is an old Buddhist temple located atop Mt. Takao and is known as one of three central temples of Shingon sect, Chisan division in the Kanto region (Eastern Japan) along with Shinshoji Temple on Mt. Narita and Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple in Kawasaki. The fire-walking festival is one of the traditional events held at Yakuoin Temple. At the festival, believers first pray for the safety of family, traffic and body and then follow yamabushi (Shugendo practicing monks) to walk barefoot over the sacred goma fire that is smoldering and still partially burning. The sight of yamabushi monks bravely walking through the flame while chanting brings the event's highlight. Public spectators may also participate in the barefoot walking after the fire has been put out. By that time, the actual temperature of the path they would walk is only slightly warm to step on and there is no worry of burning their feet. If you would like to participate, it is recommended to bring wet towel or something else to clean your feet with after the walking. | ||
| ▼ Asakusa Kannon Jigen-kai (Memorial Service for Asakusa Kwan-yin) and Konryu-no Mai (Golden Dragon Dance) | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 18 (Thu.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Sensoji Temple 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.taitocity.com/ kanko/asakusa_ueno/ e_guide/ |
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| Descriptions | ||
| Asakusa Kannon Jigen-kai is a Buddhist ceremony to celebrate the origin of Sensoji Temple, when its dedicated deity Seikanzeon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara) revealed herself to people. On March 18, 628, two fisherman brothers encountered a small Buddhist statue and showed it to their master Nakatomo Hajino, who recognized that the statue was actually Seikanzeon Bosatsu. After placing the statue on top of a pagoda tree stump, Hajino decided to become a priest and changed his house into a temple. At the ceremony, dedicatory "Golden Dragon Dance" is performed in the temple's precincts, which is based on the legend that a golden guardian dragon appeared from the heaven at the time of the revelation of Kwan-yin. Sensoji's sango (a title given to the temple's name) "Kinryuzan (golden dragon mountain)" is also given after this legend. | ||
| ▼ Freesia Festival in Hachijojima Island | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 21 (Sun.) - Apr. 4 (Sun.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Hachijojima island | |
| URL： | http://www.hachijo.gr.jp/ (Japanese only) |
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| Descriptions | ||
| Freesia Festival is back again in the island with the fresh scent filled all around. Only viewing the colorful flowers in bloom should relax our mind. Visitors can pick freesias free in some section. Enjoy a nice cup of 'ashitaba' tea watching the splendid field of flowers at the outdoor tea ceremony. Freesias and other souvenirs are available at Hachijojima local specialty market. Get free freesia on board or on flight by drawing lots during the campaign period!s | ||
| ▼ Ueno Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) | ||
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Date/Time : | March - April |
| Venue: Location: |
Ueno Park and other locations | |
| URL： | ||
| Descriptions | ||
| Lined endlessly with a number of cherry trees, Ueno Park? main street is probably the first place that many Japanese people would think of when it comes to a beautiful scene of cherry blossoms in spring. During the festival, 1,500 lanterns, which were originally intended for nighttime security, illuminate the park and invite people to celebrate the arrival of spring under a night sky. Located in the precinct of Toeisan Kaneiji Temple where the Tokugawa Shogunate family is buried, the park expects several hundred thousand visitors daily to come for the blossom viewing during the season. Stroll through the park tinted in pale pink by 867 Somei-yoshino (Yoshino cherry) trees before you head to an antique market or other special events also held at the park. | ||
| ▼ Daruma-ichi (fair) at Jindaiji Temple | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 3 - 4 *every year |
| Venue: Location: |
Jindaiji Temple 5-15-1 Jindaijimotomachi, Chofu-shi, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.csa.gr.jp/ (Japanese only) |
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| Descriptions | ||
| Daruma-ichi is a popular seasonal fair at Jindaiji Temple that brings the sign of spring to Tokyo. The fair originally started in the mid Edo period to worship virtuous contribution of Jie Daishi, who revived Enryakuji Temple on the Mt. Hiei, the Mecca of Tendai Buddhist sect. Held at the second oldest temple in Tokyo next to Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, the event is known as the largest daruma fairs in Tokyo. During the fair, approximately 300 street stalls selling daruma dolls and other festive goods fill the temple's precincts and vicinity, overwhelmingly brightening up the area with the dolls' vermilion color. Goma prayer is performed every hour on the hour between 10:00 and 17:00 for those who want to drive away their misfortunes or achieve their wishes. A traditional ritual to dedicate offerings to Daishi, called hyakumi-kuyo, is also held at 14:00 followed by a parade. Visitors may bring a new daruma doll to the temple to have it "open his eyes" by the temple's monks. | ||
| ▼ Nighttime viewing of the illuminated weeping cherry tree ina feudal lord's garden | ||
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Date/Time : | Mar. 19 (Fri.) - Mar. 31 (Wed.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Rikugien Gardens 6-16-3 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/ | |
| Descriptions | ||
| The Kaiyu-style Japanese garden (landscaped stroll garden) created by Kawagoe feudal lord Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa is based on some of the famous scenic sites across Japan celebrated in collections of poems such as Manyoshu and Kokin Wakashu. Recognized as a representative garden among the many created in the Edo Period, this feudal lord's garden is one of the few rare gardens in Tokyo that has been nationally designated as a special scenic site. The garden's renowned weeping cherry tree abounds with delicate pink cherry blossoms forming a magnificent floral sphere 13 meter high and 17 meter across. The ethereal sight of the illuminated tree against the night sky charms many visitors to the park each year. From March 24 through March 27, an exhibition themed "Grace in the Garden - Songs and Dances of the Heian Period" will be held (admission from 11:30, event cancelled in the conditon of rain). | ||
| ▼ Yoshino Baigo Plum Festival | ||
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Date/Time : | Feb. 20 (Sat.) - Mar. 31 (Wed.) *2010 |
| Venue: Location: |
Ome City Yoshino Baigo and its vicinity, Ome Ume-no Koen Baigo, Ome-shi, Tokyo |
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| URL： | http://www.omekanko. gr.jp/ume/ (Japanese only) |
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| Descriptions | ||
| Located at the front of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, Yoshino Baigo is one of the best known plum parks in the Kanto region. Between Hinatawada Station and Futamatao Station on the JR Ome Line, the park stretches from east to west for about 4 kilometers on the south side of the Tama River and 25,000 red and white plum trees create a magnificent view during the season. The vicinity of the park also features various tourist spots, such as Ome Ume-no Koen (park), local plum farms, Yoshikawa Eiji House and Museum, and Ome Kimono Museum, which may be included in your travel plan to the area. | ||
| ▼ Bokutei cherry Festival / Sumida park | ||
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Date/Time : | Around April 10 (approximately) |
| Venue: Location: |
Mukojima 1-, 2- and 5-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo (along the Sumida River) | |
| URL： | http://www.kanko-sumida.com/english/ | |
| Descriptions | ||
| Started with 100 trees that were planted by the eighth Tokugawa shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune in 1717, the "Bokutei-no sakura" has grown into the splendid lines of nearly 1,000 cherry trees along the Sumida River. The area becomes busy with a number of street stands and visitors during the hanami season | ||