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FESTIVALS (2005.Feb.-2006.Mar.)
Spring Tulip Festival A total of more than 1,000,000 tulips in bloom easily makes this Japan's largest tulip festival. Flower parades and other events add to the fun. (Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo.[2005] Feb.5-Apr.10): Flower Festival (Apr.16-Jun.30) Obama Onsen Festival A beauty pageant, a parade, and karaoke contest are held in honor of the local hot-springs. Kyushu's biggest fireworks display takes place the following day. (Obama, April First Sun) Kite Flying Festival Contestants coat their kite strings with ground glass and attempt to cut their rivals' strings. Nagasaki's kites are famous for their bold designs, said to have been modeled after Dutch nautical flags. (Nagasaki City, April Frist Sun) Hasami Pocelain Festival Approximately 110 shops and kilns involved in the production and sale of the distinctive pottery known as Hasami-ware takes part in this fair. (Hasami, April 29 - May 5) Summer Peiron Boat Races and Nagasaki Bayside Festival Teams of thirty oarsmen from all over
the prefecture compete in this colorful festival introduced by Chinese
residents in 1655. (Aug.6-7), Bayside Festival (Jul.30-31) Tsushima Korean Festival This unique festival features a variety of colorful events, including a recreation of an Edo-period entourage of Korean diplomats to Japan. (Izuhara, Tsushima, Aug.6 - 7) Shoro Nagashi In this Obon (Festival of the Dead) related festival, the souls of departed ancestors are sent back to the other world aboard candle-bearing vessels raging from single lanterns to large boats. (Nagasaki City, Aug.15) Chinese Bon Festival at Sofuku-ji Temple Chinese-style Obon observances for the souls of departed ancestors (Nagasaki City, Aug.30 - Sep.1) Fall Nagasaki Kunchi Festival Nagasaki's main traditional event and one of Japan's three largest festivals. The city's Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch heritage comes alive in a display of dances performed by the town's various townships. (Nagasaki City, Oct. 7 - 9) Nagasaki Settlement Festival Glover House and the other attractions in and around Glover Park provide a picturesque backdrop for concerts and other events. (Nagasaki City, late of Sep.) Fukue Matsuri Folk dances, fireworks, and impressive nebuta floats help celebrate the history and cultural traditions of the Goto Islands. (Fukue City, Goto. Oct. 1-3) Shimabara Hot-Springs Matsuri Two event-filled days honoring the health-giving hot-springs and other natural wonders of Shimabara. Festivities include a beauty pageant, a folk-singing contest, parade, and torch-lit Noh performances. (Shimabara City, late of Oct.) Winter Shimabara Fantasia Spectacular castle illuminations, fireworks displays, and concerts prove that the Mt. Unzen eruption of several years past has not dampened this peninsula's spirit. (Shimabara Castle, Shimabara City, and the hot-spring towns of Obama Early Dec.-Early Jan.) Nagasaki Lantern Festival Chinese New Year celebrations in Shinchimachi, Nagasaki's Chinatown. Myriads of glowing lanterns, as well as spectacular lion and dragon dances, are among the featured attractions. (Nagasaki City, Jan.29-Feb.12) Konaki (Crybaby) Sumo Festival One-year-old tots face off in wrestling matches. First wrestler to cry is the winner. (Saigyo-ji Temple, Hirado City, Feb.3) go to: |
