Winter Festivals in Japan, 2008
Japan's Festivals offer Ice, Oysters, Naked Men & Wooden Phalluses
The Winter Festivities in Japan are a mixture of tradition and fun, with ample use of snow and ice, coloured lights, and fun runs with near-naked men.
Hokkaido has many festivals to keep locals and visitors amused during the cold months leading up to Spring and the famed Cherry Blossom. Most feature snow and ice, sometimes carved into spectacular images and edifices, sometimes just used as a backdrop to festivities in which all are welcome. Here are a few of the top events and venues.
Until 31 March - Lake Kotan Phantom Village, Lake Shikaribetsu Hot Spring, Hokkaido
Here in winter, gone in spring: The Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan Phantom Village features an open-air hot bath on ice, and ice bar and an igloo built with snow and ice. Fantastic is the only word to describe this phantom village that appears on the frozen surface of Lake Shikaribetsu in winter. Kotan is an Ainu (the indigenous people of Hokkaido) word, meaning village.
Last week of January - last week of March - Akan Ice Festival, Akan, Hokkaido
A winter fun event, including snowmen, igloos and a particular Japanese game called Lake Akan ice cutting where numerous ice and snow sculptures decorate the venue of the frozen surface of the lake. This Ice Festival incorporates a light-illusion show on the frozen surface of Lake Akan with the result that the winter landscape is bathed in amazing colours. The sparks from the fireworks that rise above the pure white world of ice create a truly impressive sight.
5-11 February - 59th Annual Sapporo Snow Festival, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Probably the best known of all the Japanese events held during the snow festivals and the largest of Hokkaido's winter snow and ice festivals. Join the more than two million people who come to view the elaborate ice sculpture as teams from all over the world compete to build snow statues for the International Snow Statue Contest
11 February - Sominsai, Kokuseki-ji, Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture
Superstitions have given rise to many festivals and events around the world. This is one of the more interesting. The ages of 25 and 42 are considered unlucky ages for men in Japan, and at this festival men aged 25 and 42 run around the town dressed only in loincloths and take part in purification rituals throughout the night. These rituals climax in a vigorous struggle for wooden good luck charms. Wearing nothing but tabi socks and loincloths (fundoshi) the men douse themselves with cold water and march up to the top of a snowy mountain bearing torches. After taking turns throwing out rice cakes, mandarins, and envelopes with 5 yen coins to the crowd, the men compete in a free-for-all rugby type match for a bag containing a charm from the shrine.
February - Oyster Festivals, Various locations, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima is famous for more than the dropping of the Atom Bomb on its centre, it is also famous for its oysters. Throughout February, oyster festivals are held in Hiroshima city,and fishing towns along the coast where you can sample a range of oyster and fresh fish dishes. The most popular oyster festival is the Miyajima Oyster Festival from 10-11 February, its popularity ievident from the number of people who flock to the island to try the area's delicious fresh oysters
15th March - Tagata Fertility Festival, Komaki, Aichi Prefecture
Phallic festivities are held in many cultures, worship of the phallus being a central point of the festival. Japan is no exception. Every year at the height of winter a new phallus is made from a single Japanese cypress tree carved according to the Shinto tradition which professes that newly made objects possess vitality. The phallus is a gift to the female deity, Tamahime-no-mikoto. Once the phallus arrives at the shrine it is enshrined in the Shinmei shrine for the next year.
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