Experience Japan’s vibrant summer culture with two iconic Obon season festivals in August. 🌞🎎
📍 Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto
📅 August 13–15, 2025
Bon Odori honors ancestral spirits returning during Obon 👻. Locals and visitors wear light yukata (summer kimono) 👘 and dance traditional folk dances around a raised yagura stage. The festival features lively food stalls 🍡 and games 🎯.
Where to go:
Tokyo: Nakano Central Park, Sunshine City 🏙️
Osaka: Osaka Castle Park 🏯
Kyoto: Various temples and shrines ⛩️
🕯️ Gozan no Okuribi (Daimonji Fire Festival)
📍 Kyoto | 📅 August 16, 2025
⏰ 8:00 PM start
This stunning festival lights five giant bonfires 🔥 on Kyoto’s surrounding mountains, symbolizing the farewell of ancestral spirits after Obon.
Key fires: Daimonji, Myo-ho, Funagata, Hidari Daimonji, Toriigata.
Fires light in sequence, each burning ~30 minutes ⏳.
Best views: Kamo River between Sanjo and Imadegawa Streets 🌊 (for first fire), plus other spots around Kyoto.
🌟 Travel Tips for August
Expect hot, humid weather 🌡️ (30–35°C).
Use IC cards 🎫 (Suica, ICOCA) for easy transit.
Book early 🏨 — Obon is a busy travel time.
Respect the spiritual nature 🙏 of Obon festivals.
