{"id":2250,"date":"2012-09-04T21:33:26","date_gmt":"2012-09-05T04:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspacedesign.wordpress.com\/?p=2250"},"modified":"2021-06-27T06:55:06","modified_gmt":"2021-06-27T13:55:06","slug":"japan-land-of-spectacular-festivals-foods-castles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/japan-land-of-spectacular-festivals-foods-castles","title":{"rendered":"Japan – Land of Spectacular Festivals, Foods & Castles – Osaka Tenjin Matsuri, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s July in Japan, hot as Hades and steamy as a sauna, but it\u2019s also time for two awesome festivals: Tenjin\u00a0Matsuri<\/a> and Gujo\u00a0Odori. Plus melt-in-the-mouth Hida\u00a0beef & seasonal ayu\u00a0fish kaiseki dinners await, how can I resist?<\/p>\n

Over 1000 years old, Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka is one of the 3 biggest festivals in Japan. The highlight of the 2-day affair is a huge parade with thousands dressed in period costume carrying portable shrines, accompanied by music and dancing, culminating in a spectacular boat procession-cum-fireworks show the evening of July 25.<\/p>\n

Another event, Gujo\u00a0Odori\u00a0in Gujo Hachiman, is one of the island nation\u2019s most famous traditional dance festivals. For over 30 days in summer, dances take place all around town. The festival reaches a feverish pitch from August 13th to 16th, with dancing all night till wee hours (4-5 am!) in the morning!<\/p>\n

On my 11-day trip,\u00a0I enjoyed the sights & sounds of Osaka, Kyoto, Gifu as well as\u00a0Gujo Hachiman, and came away with a greater appreciation for the rich culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Here is the first installment of my adventures in Osaka \u2013 enjoy!<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/a>
We didn\u2019t get to see these exquisitely decked out Hana Musume\u00a0(Flower Girls) who were out and about on the first day of the festival. This image was by ericlty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emblematic of the country\u2019s amazing hospitality, Goodwill Guides <\/a>offer volunteer guide services to visitors across Japan. Unfortunately because of our late afternoon arrival, we missed most of the happenings\u00a0in the first day of the Tenjin Matsuri.<\/p>\n

Many kudos to Akira, our Goodwill Guide, who kindly volunteered to meet us at the airport so we could get to the festival site ASAP. His quick footwork got us to the Osaka Amenity Park in time to see this Takigi Noh<\/a> performance. This special Noh is performed outdoors in the evening illuminated by bonfires.<\/p>\n