Japan Spring Festivals

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Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. Journey with us to uncover Japan's Spring festivals.

Trip Details

Duration: 10 day(s)
Visited Areas: Japan
Trip Type: Wildlife Tours , Cultural Tour
Airfare not included

Trip Price (per Person)

This is a custom trip created for you based on your travel needs. Please contact us for a quote
or call: 1-866-549-7614

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo at any time.

Day 2-3 Nara No Festival

Gather around massive outdoor bonfires as the local drama troupes perform No, Japan's oldest form of theatre. With its slow, deliberate movements, No is an enchanting specatacle.

Day 4-5 Izumo Taisha Grand Festival

The beautiful shrine of Izumo Taisha plays host to this springtime ritual as Japan's Emperor sends an official messenger to deliver his prayers to the sacred shrine. In addition, other events are held such as horseback archery.

Day 6-7 Kyoto Geisha Festival

Witness the graceful dances of the Pontocho district's geishas at this festival on the banks of the Kamo-gawa River. Held since 1872, the Kama-gawa Odori is one of the world's most famous spring geisha dances.

Day 8-9 Asakusa Sanja Festival

Get caught up in the emotion of the one million or so tourists who come to partake in the Sanja Festival in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. The great parades and dancing are overshadowed by the spectacle of men, women, and children carrying portable shrines on their shoulders, occasionally jolting them vehemently. This motion is believed to intensify the power of the deities mounted on the portable shrines.

Trip Information

Accommodation	Hotels (9 nts).
Departure	10 May 2008
Group Size	Min 4, Max 14
Included Highlights	Nara No Festival - May 11-12, 2008, Izumo Taisha Festival - May 13-14, Kyoto Kamogawa Geisha Festival - May 15-16, Asakusa Sanja Festival - May 17-18
Local Payment	USD200
Meals Included	No meals are included.
StartFinish	ex Tokyo
Transport	Taxi, local train, bullet train, subway.
Brochure Intro	Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. Journey with us to uncover Japan's Spring festivals.