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Matsuri and Fireworks
Beginning July stretching all the way to early September are a series of Festivals and Firework events throughout the country. Big events like Aomori Nebuta Matsuri would attract more than 3 million visitors locally and abroad. Be prepared to book your tours early and make your hotel reservations to avoid disappointment.
Kyoto Gion Festival spanning an entire month in July; "Gion Matsuri" highlight is the Yamaboko Float Parade, "Jidai Matsuri" with parade re-enacting the old era, and "Gozan Fire Festival" liting fires simultaneously on five mountains - Daimonji, Myoho, Funagata, Hidari-daimonji and Torii-gata, with large characters -- are Kyoto's big three festivals.
List of the highlight events:
Jul7~15 Hakata Gion Yamakasa in Fukuoka (博多祇園山笠)
Jul7~31 Kyoto Gion Festival (京都祇園祭)
Aug9~12 Kouchi Yosakoi Festival (高知よさこい祭り)
Aug12~15 Tokushima Awa Odori (徳島阿波おどり)
Sep1~3 Echuu Owara Kaze no Bon in Toyama (越中おわら風の盆)
Jul14 Nachi Fire Festival in Wakayama (那智の火祭り)
Jul26 Gion Kashiwazaki Festival and Fireworks in Niigata (ぎおん柏崎祭り海の大花火大会)
Aug2~3 Nagaoka Festival and Fireworks in Niigata (長岡祭り大花火大会)
Sep9~10 Ojiya Katagai Festival and Fireworks in Niigata (小千谷片貝祭り大花火大会)
Aug6~8 Sendai Tanabata Festival (仙台七夕まつり)
Aug5~7 Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (山形花笠まつり)
Aug22 Oomagari All Japan Fireworks Competition in Akita (大曲全国花火競技大会)
Aug1~4 Morioka Sansa Odori in Iwate (盛岡さんさ踊り)
Aug3~6 Akita Kantou Festival (秋田竿燈まつり)
Aug2~7 Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (青森ねぶた祭)
Sakuranbo-gari & Onsen
Soon after the "strawberries fever" (Strawberries is the number 1 most-loved fruit in Japan) is over, paving the way is cherry (in Japanese さくらんぼ "Sankuranbo"). Although the scale of the harvest is not as big as strawberries, you will still find cherries all over the country; in every supermarket dominating the fruits section, becoming the frequently replenished fruit found in most 4-5star hotels buffet spread, attracting bee-lines of fruit lovers to cherry farms sampling different cherry varietal, and so on.
Now is the season for Cherries, "all you can eat cherries" in farms spreading from Koshinetsu all the way up to Hokkaido, are a common feature by tour operators. Cherry regions like Yamanashi and Yamagata are only a short hour or two away from Tokyo. A budget all-you-can-eat cherries tour using rail costs only 7,100yen and 8,800yen with a BBQ lunch included. Below plan also include onsen (hot spring bath) as part of the package. An economical way to spend a day for your holidays.
Contact  JR View for booking. Valid Jun1-28. Reservation closes 2 days before the trip.
Anniversary Event of the Opening of the Port of Yokohama
"Expo Y150" The year 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the 1859 opening of the Port of Yokohama. To commemorate the anniversary, many events will be held based on the theme "Set Sail" to hold aloft the banner of future Yokohama.
One of the highlights during the expo is the world renowned French spectacle art group " La Machine" bringing their street theater to Japan for the first time. The centerpiece is a 37-ton, standing twelve meters tall, and shoots water jets from its maw to represent silk, giant robotic spider.
The bayside night event " Home" depicts the importance of protecting the environment and beauty of the earth using images of light and sound.
Opens on April 28 till September 27.
Choice of 13 selected accommodation in Yokohama with various dining options found here.
12000 yen Teigaku Kyuufukin, Economic Stimulus Payouts
To revive the economy, Japan's parliament passed a contentious 4.8 trillion yen (US$52.2 billion) extra budget in January that includes business tax credits and a cash payout of 12000 yen per adult, 20000 yen for the elderly and children under age 12, including foreigner residents holding a permanent residency or a spousal visa, with a registered address from February 2009.
Thumbs up to the stimulus plan, hotels, tours operators and retailers began offering various package plan priced at 12000yen to push sales.
Nothing special about the offers found here. I like the eye-catching design of the pamphlet, a reminder to those foreigners who contributed by paying their taxes however do not qualify for this sum of money because they do not have a PR or married a Japanese.
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