Golden Week is a series of public holiday all scrunched up together that results in a week of free time in the spring. Its a big time for travel in Japan!
Mibu Kyōgen 壬生狂言 みぶきょうげん
Mibu Kyōgen are pantomimed Buddhist prothelytizing plays that are performed every Golden Week at Kyoto’s Mibu Dera temple in late April and early May.
Showa Day 昭和の日 しょうわのひ
Showa Day on April 29th is when Japan gives itself a day off in order to encourage reflection on the ups and downs of Emperor Hirohito’s 63 year reign.
Ube Shrine’s Annual Festival 宇倍神社例大祭 うべじんじゃれいたいさい
Ube Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Located in Tottori prefecture, this shrine’s annual festival on April 20th predates both the samurai and Kyoto!
穀雨 こくう Kokuu
Kokuu is the sixth of 24 solar terms according to the ancient Chinese calendar. It falls between April 20th and May 5th every year.
Jusan Mairi Ceremony 十三詣り or 十三参り じゅうさんまいり
The Jusan Mairi Ceremony on April 13th is a kind of coming of age ceremony celebrated at Buddhist temples by thirteen year olds to pray for knowledge, happiness and health to become adults.
Flower Festival (Buddha’s Birthday) in Japan 花祭り はなまつり
The Flower Festival (Buddha’s Birthday) on April 8th is a celebration in Japan that is rather more low key than New Year’s but it is still a very special day to go to the temples!
April Fools Day in Japan エイプリルフール
It isn’t really clear when April Fools Day in Japan started but the tradition of practical jokes, especially obviously joke newspaper stories appearing on that day has been going on since the 1960’s.
