Himeji Festival - Himeji Convention Bureau (c) Japanese people like top three lists. For example, Japan's best gardens: 1. Kairakuen in Mito 2. Kenrokuen in Kanazawa 3. Korakuen in Okayama Japan's best night views: 1. Hakodate 2. Kobe 3. Nagasaki I think many people pick the same top three for these categories, but for festivals, there is hardly any established top three list. One reason may be because Japan has so many festivals and it is hard to see all major festivals. It could be done, but it is hard to judge and all locals boast about their local festivals. The Japanese government or public organizations like to select the best 100 series, such as the: 100 best roads of Japan, 100 best songs of Japan, 100 best stations, etc. Still as long as I know, there are no 100 best festivals in Japan, officially or unofficially. Again, I suppose this is due to countless numbers of festivals and their frenzy support for their own home town festivals. To me, it seems like that all Japanese know that it is impossible to be fair and neural to judge which festival is best. Yes, understanding true joy of a festival is not easy for non-locals even if you are Japanese. Having said this let me move on to my main points. This is not objective or neutral or official at all, but let me chose the best festivals that I strongly recommend you to see at least once in the life time. The first four are what I actually attended in the past, and second five are those I never attend, but I am confident it must be as good as the first four. Top Four (from those I have been to at least once) 1. Himeji Kenka Matsuri (Fighting festivals) (Each district boast lifting up and carrying around4000 pounds cart with four Drummers onboard and hitting it each other, Oct 14th 15th) 2. Fushiki Hikiyama Matsuri (Pull- float festivals) (Each district rivalry culminate hitting big cart each other, May 15th)
Fushiki Matsuri - Fushiki Matsuri Committee (c) 3. Urasa Hadaka Oshiai Matsuri (Nakid Push-Push Matsuri) (Men shouting and pushing at the shrine in the snow, March 3rd)
Urasa Matsuri - Yamato Tourism Association (c) 4. Sawara Gion Matsuri (Kyoto style matsuri) (middle July and Second weekend of Oct, big beautiful cart and traditional Japanese flute) Top Five (From those I have not seen) 1. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Fire Float festivals) (First week of Aug, Seoul moving Fire float and tons of dancers) 2. Takayama Matsuri (Great Decorated float) 3. Kyoto Gion Matsuri (Float) 4. Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (People pulling heavy carts, must be one of the most dangerous festivals in the world) 5. Hakata Gion Yamagasa Matsuri A. Obata
