- Sat, 15th of September and Sun, 16th of September: Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Osaka Prefecture
- Sun, 16th of September: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Yabusame in Kanagawa Prefecture
- Sat, 22nd to Mon, 24th of September: Aizu Matsuri in Fukushima Prefecture
- Map
Read our article about the first half of September here: The Best Japanese Festivals for the First Half of September 2018
Sat, 15th of September and Sun, 16th of September: Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Osaka Prefecture
This festival started around 1745 in Kishiwada City in Osaka prefecture. Like most September festivals, it celebrates the harvest and is considered Osaka prefecture’s wildest festival.
The highlight of this festival is “Yarimawashi”, during which the local men prove their manhood by running around pulling the ‘danjiri’ floats carved by each district’s best carpenter. Watch the locals’ strength and control when they have change directions of these enormous and 3 tons heavy floats!
●Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, a festival in September
Place：Around The Nakiri Shrine
Access：15 min walk from Kishiwada station.
Map：Kishiwada Danjiri Map
Sun, 16th of September: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Yabusame in Kanagawa Prefecture
Yabusame was born during the 6th century. It originally was Shinto ritual in which horseback riders shoot arrows at wooden targets. At Tsuruoka Hachimangu (a very famous shrine in Kamakura) this tradition dates back to 1187. At the time, it being selected to do the Yabusame was the highest pride for the Kamakura warriors. Nowadays the highly skilled riders still wear samurai costumes while riding horses and aiming for the center of the target. Thrilling!
● Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Yabusame
Place：Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Access：10 min walk from Kamakura station
Map：
Sat, 22nd to Mon, 24th of September: Aizu Matsuri in Fukushima Prefecture
It’s a festival held in Aizu Wakamatsu city, Fukushima Prefecture every year. Local children holding lanterns, line up and walk the street during the event called “Chochin Gyoretsu”. You can also see traditional dances of Aizu called “Aizu bandaizan” and “Aizuhan kougyoretsu”. There is also a parade where people in samurai costumes walk the street.
● Aizu Matsuri
Place：Shinmei dori
Access：20 min walk from JR Aizu Wakamatsu station.
Map
福島県会津若松市追手町1-1
