David is a vagabond currently adrift in Tokyo teaching English who has a keen interest in Japanese history and festivals. He has been to over 100 festivals going nearly every month to some type of cultural event and he particularly likes the Nebuta Festival in Aomori which he has been to five times. He has a YouTube channel chronicling his festival adventures.
The Nebuta/Neputa festivals of Aomori Prefecture are unique to the area. There are at least four major festivals and a slew of smaller ones which have the trademark illuminated floats made of washi (harden Japanese paper) with a bamboo frame depicting colorful scenes from Chinese and Japanese history and legends.
In the far northern regions of Tohoku, Aomori’s Nebuta Festival with its giant illuminated action scene floats gets all the glory and attention and while this is well deserved another festival just next door tends to get overlooked which deserves more attention.
On February 25th, visitors to Kyoto have the chance to have Japanese green tea made and served to them by Geisha. At Kitano Tenmangu Shrine for their annual plum blossom festival, geisha from the local area come to perform an outdoor tea ceremony known as Baika-sai.
