Hello! Hello!
Tentative dates are mostly in, but remember they are still tentative. Weather and last-minute schedule changes can always create a little disruption.
Once again the summer festivals and fireworks are just around the corner. This year my wife Yoko and I, whom I’m sure by now you know are major summer festival revelers, are offering up info in a different fashion. As noted in the previous post May 27, we will separate events according to those accessible by train versus those requiring a car or motorcycle.
This article focuses on the major events accessible by train. This does not mean that those of you with cars and motorcycles are excluded! It means you should most certainly not attempt to arrive to any of these festival events on anything other than your own feet, and that means no bicycles either! Ha Ha! Ha!
The season in Kansai kicks of neatly with Gion Matsuri on 7/14-17 and the Ashiya Summer Festival most probably held on July 21st Saturday, but because of major traffic issues and complaints from residents last summer, it might be held on a less-crowded weekday instead. Still, the habit has been to have it on a Saturday so I’m going with the 21st.
After that almost now confirmed, there are:
Tenjin Matsuri Osaka Temmabashi area Wed July 25 ….. PL Wed Aug 1 ….. Takarazuka Fri Sat Aug 3 and 4 ….. Kobe Minato Sat Aug 4 ….. Hikone Wed Aug 1 ….. Yodogawa Sat Aug 4 ….. Biwako Otsu Wed Aug 8 ….. Ibaraki Wed Aug 8 ….. Uji Fri Aug 10 ….. Nara Tohkae Tue Aug 14 ….. Daimonji Thurs Aug 16 ….. Inagawa Sat Aug 18 ….. Itami Sat Aug 25
Uji on a Friday night will most certainly be crowded, like you wouldn’t believe it could be potentially dangerous. If you have ever been in the Yodogawa festival throng at the riverbank off Juso, you know what I mean. Plan your escape early in the day. Bring lots to drink, be safe, don’t hurry and enjoy!
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner, Smith’s School in Kotoen
Thanks for the information, Martin. The Kansai area has lots of festivals and fireworks to enjoy which is great!
Derek
Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi
Yup, and it sure makes us want to get out and battle the heat!
Good info. I’ll go out for the Daimonji festival in Kyoto.