Home > Tokyo > Events > August

Obon Festival - Tokyo Hotels .com

Traditional Lanterns, Obon Festival, Tokyo

Obon Festival is an important Buddhist tradition that occurs from August 13 to August 16 on the solar calendar. During Obon, the souls of one's ancestors are believed to have returned to their homes to reunite with family for three days. Lanterns are fastened in the entryway of houses as a guide for the ancestors' spirits, sacred dances are performed, and food offerings are made at house altars and temples. Many Japanese visit their birthplace during Obon to clean their ancestors' grave sites and mark them with flowers or lanterns. White lanterns placed on the grave site indicates that the deceased passed away the previous year.

At the end of the festivities, bonfires and fireworks illuminate the night sky and colorful paper lanterns are floated down rivers or on the ocean to guide ancestors safely back into the spirit world. In some regions of Japan that use the lunar calendar, this festival occurs in mid-July.