| Cherry Blossom Festival The festival itself has many highlights including all sorts of delicious food, games, rides, parades, folk music, concerts, folk dancers, flower displays, kimono shows, religious ceremonies and a beauty pageant. Buy Now |
| Coming of Age Day - Seijin No Hi Declared a national holiday in Japan in 1948 and in Okinawa in 1961. It is a day of tradition, but also of fun. In addition, it is a day of advice and wise words and a day to begin exercising the rights of adulthood. Buy Now |
| Doll Festival Translates into "doll festival" but this fun holiday is more commonly known as Girls Day and is celebrated every March 3rd. Girls throughout Japan display their doll collections for a few days to celebrate "Hina Matsuri." One legend says if a girl displays her dolls for more than 3 days she will marry later in life. Buy Now |
| Dragon Boat Races The first legend tells of the tragic death of the Chinese poet, Kutsugen. It is said the adored poet drowned in China at the age of 66 as admirers looked on in distress from the shores. Many people quickly put their fishing boats into the water and rowed out to try to save him. The felt if they had only been faster they could have rescued the famous poet. It is said that in an effort to improve their speed the races were held every year as a tribute to the distinguished writer. Buy Now |
| Eisa, Eisa! The Eisa festival, held at the conclusion of Obon in late August, marks the end of summer and is the last big festival of the year. It is a time of great celebration and the time to bid farewell to the spirits of ancestors who have come back to earth for Obon. Buy Now |
| Hadaka Matsuri Naked Festival- Every February, on what is somehow arranged to be the coldest day of the year, this Shinto festival, called "Hadaka Matsuri," causes the local men to drink large amounts of sake to purify their bodies and please the Gods. Once they have stripped off their clothing and adhered their fundoshi loin cloth, they keep warm by jumping up and down and chanting "Washoi!" which means, according to the drunk man who was standing next to me, "Wondafuru!" Buy Now |
| Tanabata Festival One of the most colorful displays celebrating this festival can be found at the Ichibangai Mall, also known as Sunset Mall on Gate 2 or Airport Street in Okinawa City near Kadena Air Base. The display usually lasts several days. The mall vendors sell souvenirs as well as some very tasty treats. Don't be afraid to try them! Buy Now |
| Hounen Matsuri: "The Big One" All the men who carry the large wooden penis are 42 years old. An age which is thought to be unlucky and, like the women aged 36, requires spiritual labors such as carrying a gigantic phallus through the streets of one's town. It takes 60 men working in alternating shifts to deliver this offering to Tagata Shrine. The 8-foot long phallus by itself weighs in at 280 kg (620 pounds), but inside it's wooden palanquin. Together they weigh an astounding 400 kg (885 pounds)! Buy Now |
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