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Officially named 'Hakata Dontaku Port Festival', this event takes place in Fukuoka City, in the northern part of Kyushu Island. The festival originated from the greeting procession of the New Year to the Lord of the Domain, called 'Hanshu', but presently, it is observed by men and women of all ages. People dressed as 'fortune gods' parade while dancing to the sounds of musical accompaniment. This entertaining event evolved from 'matsubayashi', a folk art widely performed in Kyoto during the Muromachi Era (1333-1568). Today, not only many people in and outside Fukuoka but also visitors from overseas eagerly await and get together on this date looking forward to this exciting carnival.

This annual festival is held for 15 days during the Chinese New Year. The celebration originally took place in Chinatown but has become one of the largest festivals in Nagasaki. 15,000 lanterns adorn Minato-koen Park, Chinatown, Chuo-koen Park and other spots, and the festivities also include processions featuring authentic Chinese costumes and floats.

Each year, Shimonoseki commemorates the decisive naval battle which took place between the Heike and Genji clans in 1185 on the Kanmon Strait, marking the end of the Heian Period. Festivals are held for three days, with each day marking a distinct event in this important battle. Day one will thrill visitors with the 'Senteisai', a magnificent festival held at Akama Shrine in commemoration of the brave eight-year old Emperor Antoku, who perished during the battle. The 'Genpei Funa Gassen' is a spectacular sight to watch on day two. It is a re-enactment of the battle between the bitter enemy clans in Dan-no-ura and the numerous boats sailing through the Kanmon Straits. The festival ends with the 'Ganryu' Island Festival, a re-staging of the clash between two great Samurai warriors, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.

This festival's history dates to the Eisho Era (1504-1521) when a good luck amulet was distributed by temple priests. 'Shingi' (sacred sticks), gained in reputation and priests began tossing it into gatherings to satisfy popular demand. Nowadays, men clad in traditional loincloth gather at the temple and in a ritual display shove and push each other; near midnight, the lights are turned off and a priest throws 'Shingi' into the melee. The festival comes to a climax as, in the dark, a fierce struggle ensues; the men who successfully grab a number of sticks will be the lucky ones through the year.

The Doronko Matsuri is a rice-planting festival held at Wakamine Hachimangu Shrine. Doronko means 'muddy' in Japanese. In this joyful festival, the women chase the men to catch in a huge mud pool and smear their face with mud gathered from rice paddies. It is a symbolic local spring festival to pray for a good harvest and a perfect state of health.

This ancient religious ceremony is over 1,250 years old and features a series of Buddhist rituals where priests pray to 'kannonbosatsu' (God of Mercy), confessing their sins and asking for peace and a good harvest. The Ceremony of Fire, or 'o-taimatsu', where monks run, swinging huge basket torches, is a fantastic sight.

A majestic parade called 'Rotou-no-gi' highlights this festival. Donning the splendid regalia of the nobility and displaying decorations of the Heian Era (794 - 1192), over 500 people, 36 horses, 4 cows, 2 bullock carts and a palanquin decorated with 'Aoi' (hollyhock) leaves, set out from Kyoto Imperial Palace, proceeding to Shimogamo Shrine, hence to Kamigamo Shrine, all in all an impressive 18 kilometer (12.8 mile) journey. This magnificent display of pomp and splendor is one of the 3 major Kyoto festivals and deservedly famous across the country as well. The grace and elegance on view is most appropriate to this ancient capital city; the visitor can't help but feel as a timetraveler taken centuries back to the noble imperial era when Japanese culture and customs evolved in a truly unique and refined manner.

One of the three biggest festivals in Hokuriku region, 'Mikuni Matsuri' attracts many visitors especially May 20th, when floats bearing impressively tall 'Samurai' warrior dolls, some as high as 6m (20 ft) parade through Mikuni Town. During this festive event, streets around Mikuni Shrine feature old-fashioned attraction booths and open-air stalls called 'Yatai' and 'Roten', inducing the tourists to feel the prosperity and atmosphere of harbour town Mikuni.

One of the three most celebrated 'fire' festivals in Japan, it is held to pray for a plentiful harvest, health and good fortune in the coming year. In Japan, men aged 25 or 42, are believed to be particularly susceptible to bad luck. During the festival five 18 metre (60 ft) tall 'Goshinboku' (scared tree) inside 'Shaden' (shrine) area are constructed by a chosen 100 of these unlucky males. The highlight of the festivities comes during a mock battle between the 'unlucky' guards and torch-bearing villagers. After one hour of spirited defense and attack, the festival reaches a crescendo when the 'Shaden' is successfully set aflame.

Beautifully designed, 1.5 to 3.6 meters per side large, Japanese kites are unique in the world. Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture hosts the ancient 'Hamamatsu Festival', May 3rd to 5th, when more than 170 teams compete with giant kites skillfully flown in exciting battle. The fighting starts with a trumpet fanfare and spectators cheer the strength and skill required as the kite-fliers maneuver to cut their opponents' strings by friction. The smell of burning hemp in the air forecasts victory and defeat. Evenings are cheerful too, with a parade of about 80 superb floats decorated with gorgeous sculptural works and carrying threestringed lute and flute bands. Many celebrations are organized throughout the city.

The Shunsetsu-sai Festival is also known as Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year. It is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese. Yokohama Chinatown holds a variety of events for the Shunsetsu-sai. It is celebrated with candles, dragon dances, Chinese lion dances and fireworks.

Sanja Festival is one of the three biggest festivals in Tokyo, along with Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival. It became very popular during the historically significant Edo Era (1603-1868), and still today it features the parading of more than a hundred 'mikoshi' (portable shrines) carried aloft by local residents in and around the crowded streets near Sensou-ji temple.

Admired by poets since ancient times, blossoms of the plum tree are beloved in Japanese tradition in the same manner as are the celebrated cherry blossoms. Renowned for one of the three most beautiful Japanese gardens, Kairakuen Park is planted with an amazing 3,000 plum trees in an astounding 100 varieties; visitors can enjoy a multitude of pink and white blossoms in this Japanese version of the Garden of Eden.

The grandest festival in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture held May 17-18th is a fabulous re-enactment of the historic move of the 'divine spirit' of Ieyasu Tokugawa, Japan's unifier and first Shogun (1603), from Mt. Kuno to Toshogu Shrine. Not far north of Tokyo, with a magnificent cultural tradition and gorgeous scenery, this area is extremely popular with Japanese and international tourists. With just cause, spectators will be impressed with an awesome display of pageantry and beauty as a 1,000 people decked out in period clothing and samurai accoutrements majestically parade from one venerated shrine to another. Intricately designed portable shrines, horse-back archery and traditional dancing add to the colourful festivities attended by descendants of the great military leader.

'Aoba-matsuri' was originally held to commemorate Date Tadamune at the Toshogu Shrine in 1655 as the Sendai Festival, and is now one of the biggest festivals in Miyagi Prefecture. The highlight of the festival is the 'Suzume odori' (a dance imitating sparrows), derived from the dance improvised by the stonemasons at the feast for the construction of Sendai Castle of famed Daimyo Masamune Date (circa 1600), and recreated by the Sendai Sparrow Dance Company. Main events are 'Geinou-sai' (The Performing Art Festival), 'Suzume Odori' contest, 'Mikoshi' Parade and 'Musha Gyoretsu'.

One of the largest winter events in Japan, the Sapporo Snow Festival attracts no fewer than 2 million visitors coming from far and wide to admire hundreds of spectacular snow statues and intricate ice sculptures. Many foreign teams from outside Japan participate giving the event a definitely international flavour.