Koenji Awa Odori 2024 Recap: Tokyo’s Biggest Dance Fest Every August, Koenji celebrates one of Japan’s most spirited traditions: the Awa Odori. Bringing the 400-year-old dance festival from its home in Tokushima Prefecture to the streets of the capital, the event sees the area around the station erupt in a frenzy of music and color….
Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival Every August, the streets of Koenji erupt in a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and tradition. The Koenji Awa Odori is Tokyo’s largest dance festival, a spectacular event that brings the 400-year-old tradition from Tokushima Prefecture to the heart of the city. With over 10,000 dancers and…
Fading Beauty: Myohoji Hydrangeas in 2017 One of the last places I visited for hydrangeas (ajisai) in 2017 was Myōhōji Temple, tucked away in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward. I arrived quite late in the season, and many of the flowers were already beginning to fade. Still, the hour-long walk from my apartment was well worth it;…
Asakusa Samba Carnival 2024: Photography & Highlights It was a hot one in every sense of the word. The 2024 Asakusa Samba Carnival was a roaring success. But performers and the parade had to sizzle under an unseasonable mid-September sun. With temperatures soaring into the mid-thirties, the heat was as intense as the action. For…
Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026: A Photo & Visitor Guide Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026 details The event is divided into three 30-minute sessions starting at 5:30 to prevent overcrowding and heatstroke. When you have danced once, please retire so others can join. Japan’s Bon Odori is a traditional dance festival (or matsuri in Japanese)…
Kiyose Sunflower Festival 2018 I’ve never been a big fan of sunflowers. So, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy this festival as much as others like hanami, Nezu Shrine’s azaleas, and Kameido Tenjin’s plum blossoms. But, I had a change of heart after spending time with them in Kiyose City in 2018. It was fun photographing…
Surviving the Sumida River Fireworks Festival The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Tokyo’s largest pyrotechnic event, held annually on the last Saturday of July. To survive the extreme crowds, visitors should arrive at least three hours early, secure a viewing spot in Asakusa or Ryogoku, carry a portable fan, and pre-load their Suica cards for…