Hello everyone!
This is the third installment of the Kansai 2012 summer festival calender. Make sure you check out the previous posts dated May 27 and June 17. This one deals with festivals requiring your own transportation, cars recommended but maybe a motorcycle ride would be really nice too! I have often advocated the merits of renting a mini-bus and taking tons of people out, though I haven’t heard of anyone doing this yet. It would certainly be a cost-effective method and a lot of fun.
A wide selection of wonderful festivals happening within a few hours drive of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto offer good times for those willing to make the effort. Sadly, a handful of major celebrations are on thin ice this year, namely Kameoka, Mineyama, Nantan, Obama and Nagahama.
Tohrohnagashi Festivals ( 灯篭流し )
These wonderful events are a major draw throughout towns across northern Kyoto. All are marvelous and tend to cause these otherwise sleepy towns to really come alive. Obviously a great sense of community pride goes into these celebrations and they are not to be missed!
Ayabe 7/28 Maizuru 7/29 Miyazu 8/16 Fukuchiyama 8/15 and Tsuruga 8/16. All have great fireworks complementing all other aspects of their fine festivals. Unfortunately it appears Mineyama and Obama are abstaining this year.
Fireworks Only :
Biwako-Nagahama Kameoka Nantan, three major fireworks displays around for years have not had dates announced this year. At least Sasayama has a wonderful festival 8/15+16, not to be missed!
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner, Smith’s School Franchise in Kotoen
Hi, Martin! Thanks for the information.
Derek
Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi
Thanks for the Kyoto review, Martin! Are you heading to all?
Rick
スミス英会話長岡京校