Stories
From the Field
winterFestival· June 14, 2026
The Namahage of Oga: Akita's Fearsome New Year Ritual
Each New Year's Eve on Akita's Oga Peninsula, masked figures called Namahage storm into homes to scold the idle and bless the household. The ritual is fierce theater with a sacred purpose, and there are ways to witness it without intruding.
summerFestival· May 25, 2026
Aomori in August: Festivals, Forests, and the End of Japan's Road
August is when Aomori comes alive. The Nebuta Festival fills the streets with illuminated warriors, and the rest of the prefecture rewards those who stay past the parade.
allFestival· May 24, 2026
Beyond the Big Three: Tohoku's Smaller Festivals Worth Traveling For
Nebuta, Kanto, and Tanabata get all the attention. Here are Tohoku's smaller, stranger, more local festivals — the ones worth building a trip around.
summerFestival· May 20, 2026
How to Join Nebuta as a Dancer: The Haneto Costume Guide
The Nebuta Festival is not just for watching. Here's how to join as a haneto dancer — costume, steps, and what to expect.
summerFestival· May 15, 2026
Sendai Tanabata: How Japan's Oldest Star Festival Became Its Most Beautiful
Seven thousand bamboo poles. Three thousand paper ornaments. The Sendai Tanabata Festival is Japan's largest star festival — and one of its most underrated.
summerFestival· May 14, 2026
Akita Kanto Festival: The Lantern-Balancing Act That Will Stop Your Heart
Fifty lanterns. Twelve metres of bamboo. Fifty kilograms balanced on a forehead. The Akita Kanto Festival is one of Japan's most astonishing human performances.
summerFestival· May 14, 2026
The Complete Guide to Tohoku's Three Great Festivals
Three of Japan's greatest festivals. Five days in August. One shinkansen line. Here is how to plan a trip around Nebuta, Kanto, and Tanabata.
summerFestival· May 5, 2026
Inside Nebuta: The Festival the World Forgot
Every August, the streets of Aomori fill with illuminated giants — paper-and-wire sculptures of warriors, gods, and demons that dwarf the crowds below. Nebuta Matsuri is one of Japan's three great festivals, but unlike Kyoto's Gion, it remains largely undiscovered by international visitors.