Sharon Huang did an excellent job in planningour 15 day Cherry Blossom Japan tour. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. Great job!! For information about opting out, click here. Ky Bon (Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and so differs each year, which appears between August 8 and September 7. Obon is a festival that focuses on remembering family members. forms. They also light incense sticks to show that they are ready to welcome the deceased. We've mention that the most popular way of celebrating this festival is visiting the graves of loved ones, cleaning them, and burning incense sticks. Aside from the food offered at the shrines of deceased ancestors, youll also find endless street food stalls. Fire also marks the commencement (Mukaebi) as well as the closing of the festival. Popular foods are fried noodles, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and yakitori. Lose yourself in the merrymaking and attend fascinating events like the bonfire lighting at Kyoto. We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal Because the history of Obon and its festivals date back hundreds of years, a variety of traditions and customs have developed over time. [2] Greatly disturbed, he went to the Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Enjoying family meals and eating together as a community is an important way for people to feel connected during this special time of year. Since food and drinks are such an important part of the. Bon, also popularly called Obon, is a major Japanese festival held every July (or, in some locations, August). Employers grant leave to staff. Alisa Liu was in charge of making the arrangements and she helped us from the start to make all of the arrangements and also helped us when we had questions and requested some adjustments. One important thing to note when visiting Japan during Obon is that along with New Year and Golden Week, this is the busiest travel time of the year with plenty of domestic and international travel occurring at the same time. Obon is a grand traditional festival in Japan. Observed in a number of ways from quietly paying respects to the dead to dancing the Bon Odori in celebration, Obon still has a significant role in Japanese society to this day. Don't swim It is said that water ghosts in the water will drag you down. From the Day of the Dead in Latin America to. [23][24] At some Buddhist missions, the dance is preceded by a simple ritual where the families of the deceased in the past year burn incense for remembrance, but otherwise the event is non-religious. Food and drink left as offerings on a family grave during obon. Save. After cleaning, people serve ohagi and odango (sticky rice balls) and vegetarian dishes, as offerings. This unique summer festival is often compared to Halloween, as it involves giving and receiving sweets as well as candles. Read our guide on, Kailus, Katie, Daniel Gallant. The ritual of welcoming deceased ancestors spirits into the home is believed to have come from India. Just Dance: Connecting Life, Death, Traditions, and Communities in L.A., Smithsonian Center for Folklore and Cultural Heritage., Uyema, Fiona. Our guide in Tokyo, Fuki, was outstanding. How to Plan an Incredible Family Trip to Japan in 2023/2024. This link will open in a new window. She was so patient changing and adjusting the itinerary to their needs and wants, its been a total pleasure working with her and she always responds promptly to any question I have. It is also a time when tickets for flights and trains are more expensive. In Japan where I originally come from visiting the graves of family members and friends is an everyday cultural ritual and a practice of social or collective remembering. Leave all the booking work to us, including international and internal transportation, visas, By using our website you accept our Cookies Policy. Its believed that spirits descend to earth to reunite with their living family. In other parts of the country, it's celebrated around the 15th of August. Obon is one of Japan's biggest holidays, making it a busy time to travel, so book public transport and hotels in advance. Ky Bon is celebrated in areas such as the northern part of the Kant region, Chgoku region, Shikoku, and Okinawa Prefecture. For the Spanish municipality, see. tradition, its no surprise that these also play a role in the Japanese festival honoring these deceased relatives. Here are some of the most important ways the dead are celebrating in Japan all year long. They are known as spirit mounts for the ancestors. He brought the dessert she asked about to us in the car! It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori. They then thank the deceased family members and ancestors and pray for peace and good health. The Chinese terms are often described as deriving from Sanskrit ullambana meaning "hanging upside down", in reference to souls suffering in hell. The most well-known Obon Festivals are held in Los Angeles, Charlotte, San Diego, Philadelphia, Oakland, and St. Paul. Obon Festivals also occur in Malaysia and Korea, though by different names. Read our guide on China's Hungry Ghost Festival. In Japan, people usually have a vacation, while in China, no holidays are taken for the Ghost Festival. In Japan, a centuries old festival, called Obon. Some require the use of small wooden clappers, or "kachi-kachi", during the dance. In Japanese, the term Obon is a translation of a Sanskrit word that means to hang upside down. This isnt meant literally. Similarly, the Yaeyama Islands have Angama. 3 Weeks in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, 2 Weeks in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, 12 Days in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam), 2 Weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia for Family, 2 Weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia With Mekong Cruise, Japan's Obon Festival vs China's Ghost Festival, Geisha in Japan - How to Meet a Real Geisha. . Cultural and food bazaars are also held. Several rent-a-kimono shops across Japan let you wear the traditional attire for a day. He was a disciple of Buddha who used his powers to see the spirit of his deceased mother. ", "Una tradicin que se afirma en la Ciudad", "Londrina Matsuri 2019 ser no incio de setembro", "Japanese Americans keeping Obon tradition alive", "Obon Story: Honoring ancestors, connecting to our community", Bon Dance Overseas --- Hawaii (in ten web pages), "Lantern Festival: In The Spirit Of Obon Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens", "Japanese Festival | Labor Day Weekend | Sept. 35 | Missouri Botanical Garden", Ancient Buddhism in Japan Sutras and Ceremonies in Use in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. and their History in Later Times, The Festival for the Spirits of the Dead in Japan, List All Japanese Obon Festivals & Bon Odori Practices - Schedule. Japan Rail Pass, S.L.. All rights reserved. Jump ahead to these sections: What Is Obon Festival? People in Japan clean their homes and offer food and other offerings to the spirits at their home altar. We decided to postpone the trip until next year and received the guaranteed refund, minus a small deposit on next years trip. What is Obon, 1998, Shingon Buddhist International Institute, California. Obon takes place over three days and is usually observed in mid-August. "Gujo Odori" in Guj in Gifu Prefecture is famous for all night dancing. I definitely recommend this company and if you can ask to work with Alisa. Obon: Japanese festival of the dead, 2000, Asia Society. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. Greatly saddened, he went to the Buddha and asked how he could relieve his mother's suffering. The Obon festival (, also known as Bon festival) is an annual Japanese holiday that commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. While to western sensibilities, the idea of worship implies a religious connection, as anthropologist Jason Danely has put it, ancestor memorial is such a common-sense and mundane practice that, for most people, it is indistinguishable from the non-religious world.. Yes, four important customs are observed during Obon. We visited must see places in and near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. toyourinbox. Its important to complete a 20-step process to honor those who recently passed through a cremation and funeral service. There are big sacrificial events, dance events, and markets. Hokkaid is known for the folk-song "Sran Bushi". [14][15], In the Philippines, Filipinos of Japanese descent, with support from the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Inc., Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School, Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, and various other Japanese Filipino-based organizations, hold an Obon festival every year along with other Japanese-based Filipino festivals, to celebrate the ancestors of Filipinos of Japanese descent, and to celebrate the friendship between Japan and the Philippines. Thanks so much Sharon, looking forward to this trip! [13] Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Gozan-no-Okuribi is the largest bonfire lighting practice in Japan that takes place during Obon. There are also festivals for dance lovers, and temple and altar visits. Participants present offerings at Buddhist shrines and temples, and masked dances are performed. This type of dance began as a way to welcome the spirits of the dead, and it still serves this purpose today. Since food and drinks are such an important part of the Japanese funeral tradition, its no surprise that these also play a role in the Japanese festival honoring these deceased relatives. In some parts of Japan, these dances last all night. In many cultures, its important to take the time to honor dead loved ones even after the funeral. Learning this news, the disciple became distressed. The dates for Obon might vary from place to placemid-July in the eastern parts of Japan and mid-August in the southern regions. The concluding event of the Obon festival involves the floating of illuminated paper lanterns . Obon Festival Guide: Meaning, traditions and dates. digging, cart pushing, lantern hanging, etc. On the second day of the Obon Festival, its time for dances and songs. The guides were knowledgeable, and managed the tour very efficiently. The songs played differ among the regions - one or two hour Bon dance in the Western part of the Big Island (in and around Kailua Kona), for example, typically starts with Tank Bushi, continues with songs such as Kawachi Otoko Bushi (using wooden clappers), Yukata Odori (using tenugui given at the donation desk), Asatoya Yunta and Ashibina from Okinawa Prefecture (reflecting the fact that many Okinawan descendants live in Hawaii), Pokmon Ondo for children, zumba songs for the young, Beautiful Sunday, etc., and ends with Fukushima Ondo, celebrating abundant harvest. He was knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. In China, the main Ghost Festival ceremony is usually held at dusk on one day. The busiest days will be the 1st day of Obon (8th Aug) and the following weekend, the 12th and 16th of August. To align with this schedule, you can often find Obon festivals held between August 13 and 16 each year. There is also a traditional activity called Bon Odori dancing that is performed in parks, gardens, or shrines across the country. The dancers and singers work together to celebrate and welcome these spirits of the dead. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online It is more usual to celebrate Obon on the 15th day of August, and it then lasts for three days. A Buddhist monk named Mogallana, who could see into the afterlife, prevented his dead mother from going to hell by making offerings to other monks. Visit any community event, and youll get to relish various traditional dishes and fried noodles. In some regions, huge fires are lit at the entrances of houses to guide the spirits to enter. Contents Origines and dates During the three-day festivities, the Japanese welcome the spirits of their dead ancestors and rekindle their connections. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. Chen, K 1968, Filial Piety in Chinese Buddhism, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, p88. Each toro nagashi contains a candle and is often placed in a waterway that will eventually lead to the ocean. Photo Gallery of Bon Odori 2007 in Penang, Malaysia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bon_(festival)&oldid=1157426188. Obon Festival celebrations are a way of welcoming loved ones by practicing traditional customs and practices. We ended up using Asia Highlights. Pinterest. Make sure to keep this in mind when buying rail passes and traveling. Obon Festival is an annual Japanese ritual observed from the 13th to the 15th of the seventh lunar month. She provided recommendations and made changes based on our interests and budget. She was extremely responsive, taking into account all of our requests and worked closely with us, it wasn't just selecting from one of several pre-developed itineraries. In Japan, this is an exciting celebration marked by large family reunions, bright lanterns, and fun community events. In many places, people make so-called spirit horses (shouryouma) out of whole cucumbers and cows out of aubergines, to symbolically speed along the ancestors journeys to the family home. We had an amazing vacation to Japan. Obon - also known as Bon Matsuri, or the Bon Festival - is an annual celebration that's dedicated to honoring loved ones who have passed on. The idea behind all of these holidays is quite similar. We have been touring Cambodia, guided by Borin ( and driver 007) for the last 2 days. At the other end of the spectrum, if youre looking for a small festival that has preserved ancient traditions, there is the Hokkai Bon Odori. Japan's Obon has fixed dates to celebrate Obon, usually from August 13 to 16 (following a switch from using the lunar calendar). 98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+, Serene Storslett, Obon: A Backstory Purification festivals are done during these times to honor the dead and keep their spirit alive. She is very open to requests for additional experiences which require research on her part to arrange. The Chinese Ghost Festival is more influenced by Taoism. Were also 100% confident that, if anything comes up during our trip, that Alisa will be there to guide us through and take care of us. Each year in Japan, people celebrate ohigan, a period of seven days around both the vernal and the autumnal equinoxes, and obon, which stretches over a few days on either side of August 15. Japan's unique Obon Festival, an ancient religious rite to honor the souls of one's ancestors, is held throughout Japan. The festival of Obon lasts for three days; . He was happy and danced with joy. There is a lot of surprising overlap between death in different cultures. The Obon week in mid-August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons making it one of the busiest times of the year for traveling. Taking a few days out of the year to honor deceased relatives isnt unique to Japan, but the Japanese people put their own historical and cultural twist on this practice. It can also be held from July 13 to 15, depending on the calendar used. The festival provides authentic Japanese music, art, dance, food, and entertainment including dancing around a yagura, sumo wrestling, taiko drums, bonsai demonstrations, music played on traditional instruments, several bazaars, food courts with authentic Japanese foods, tea ceremonies, candlelit lanterns released on the lake in the gardens Japanese garden and much more. In Gifu Prefecture is famous for all night dancing Incredible family trip Japan... 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