| If you're looking to take a holiday in Asia, Japan is an | | | | Nebuta Matsuri Festival |
| excellent choice. It's a land of many contrasts with | | | | The largest festival in the Tohoku region is the most |
| ultra modern lifestyles juxtaposed against ancient | | | | popular 'nebuta' event in the country with tourists, |
| traditions, and rural communities set against sprawling | | | | and that should be enough to convince you to visit |
| metropolises. A single holiday in Japan can take in | | | | on your holiday in Asia. Nebuta festivals involve the |
| many conflicting aspects of life in the country. | | | | float of brave warrior figures carried around the city, |
| If you're looking to absorb the culture, or simply to | | | | accompanied by dancers moving in time to the |
| find some outstanding entertainment for your stay, | | | | famous Rassera chant. It has an atmosphere like no |
| you could do a lot worse than timing your visit to | | | | other, and is definitely worth seeing. |
| coincide with one of the many popular festivals that | | | | Sanja Matsuri Festival |
| the country is host to. Here are some of the more | | | | Although Sanja Matsuri is celebrated nationwide, |
| memorable ones: | | | | Tokyo is without doubt the place to be for it. The |
| Sapporo Snow Festival | | | | main festivities take place at the Sensoji Shrine on |
| The Sapporo Snow Festival will be entering its 60th | | | | the third weekend of May and some 2 million people |
| year in February 2009, and you can expect the | | | | come to enjoy the huge parades, traditional music |
| event to have an extra special feel to go along with | | | | and dancing. Those who dislike crowds need not |
| its landmark year. The festival, based in Sapporo - | | | | apply, but it is an unusual experience that everyone |
| the capital of Hokkaido - takes place over a week | | | | with an interest in Japanese culture should try. |
| and includes the construction of hundreds of snow | | | | Takayama Matsuri Festival |
| statues and ice sculptures throughout the town. Each | | | | One of Japan's most popular festivals, the Takayma |
| year you can expect around 400 immaculately | | | | Matsuri festivities take place both in Spring and |
| sculpted ice structures displaying everything from | | | | Autumn. Both festivals welcome the changing |
| instantly recognisable landmarks to famous celebrities. | | | | seasons and involve colourful floats moving through |
| If you're planning a winter holiday in Japan, then it's | | | | the Takayama streets and huge crowds. The |
| well worth joining the 2,000,000 people expected to | | | | Autumn version is on the 9th and 10th October, while |
| attend this legendary festival. | | | | the Spring version is held on April 14th-15th. |
| Nagasaki Kunchi Festival | | | | Accommodation can be hard to come by, but |
| If you're taking your holiday in Japan in Autumn, the | | | | tourists looking to see it should be able to find |
| Nagasaki Kunchi festival is a must. Started in the 16th | | | | something in the neighbouring towns of Furukawa |
| century to celebrate the harvests, the festival has | | | | and Gero Onsen. |
| now grown to become one of the most popular in | | | | Fuji Rock Festival |
| Japan. Visitors to the country will be able to see | | | | It may not be a traditional cultural experience like the |
| traditional dancing, huge floats decorated like river | | | | others, but if your idea of a good music festival is a |
| barges or Chinese boats and the legendary 'dragon | | | | muddy field in England, Fuji Rock may just change |
| dance'. To give you an idea over how well planned | | | | your expectations completely. Hosted at the Naeba |
| the whole thing is, preparations for the annual festival | | | | Ski Resort (it was moved from Fuji in 1997, but |
| begin as early as June 1st. | | | | retained the name), it is the cleanest mainstream |
| Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival | | | | music festival you'll likely ever see. Alongside quality |
| The Gion Festival is another famous one, this time | | | | food and drink, the acts are impressive too - past |
| held annually in Kyoto. Unlike the previous entries, this | | | | years have attracted the like of The Cure, The |
| one is on for the entire month of July, but the | | | | Chemical Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck and |
| legendary parade (Yamaboko Junko) is worth being | | | | The Foo Fighters. |
| there for on the 17th. Those wanting to get an | | | | Whether you're interested in music, arts or just |
| insight into how Kyoto residents live will also want to | | | | absorbing the country's history and culture, there is a |
| visit at this time, as the customary Byobo Matsuri | | | | Japanese festival for you. By timing your luxury |
| (folding screen festival) means that many residents | | | | holiday in Japan to coincide with one of these |
| will open their homes for others to visit. An | | | | festivals, you're guaranteeing yourself memories that |
| unparalleled opportunity to get off the tourist trail | | | | will last a lifetime. |
| and see how people live on your holiday in Asia. | | | | |