Japan's festivals are inexorably linked with the country's many shrines, with most held to celebrate the shrine's deity or a seasonal or historical event. In Japan, festivals are called matsuri. Always colorful and compelling, these festivals are invariably celebrated with music and dance, with each unique in character and serving to reflect the country's ancient culture and traditional heritage.
So are you planning to visit the land of the rising sun for some festive fun? Click through and time your stay with some of the best traditional festivals in the country.