Seasonal discoveries

Obon Festival

Obon Festival, or Obon, is a three-day Japanese Buddhist and folk tradition honoring ancestral spirits. It has also become a family-reunion holiday: people return to ancestral homes, visit and clean family graves, and tend household altars as spirits are believed to revisit them. Bon Odori, its traditional dance, is a central feature, and visitors may encounter community dances and other local observances across Japan. Timing differs by region, with observance falling in different summer periods rather than on one nationwide date. If you plan to take part, check current official dates and local arrangements before traveling.