Dekansho Matsuri Festival
Aug 15 & 16
Sasayama Shiroato Sannomaru Hiroba, Hyogo
In Kansai, bon odori dances takes place in many locations at this • Time of year. It is a centuries-old tradition in which a singer and a band perform on a raised platform around which participants dance — and everyone is welcome to join in. The Dekansho Matsuri is one of the biggest bon odori dance events in Japan. Every year it draws about 100,000 visitors and is still growing. There will be fireworks display, dance contests and a brief instruction on how to dance bon odori style. You can also enjoy browsing a huge number of stalls selling interesting things and all sorts of food. Do not just be a spectator but join in and be part of this great bon odori dance event!
• Time: 2pm-6pm on 17th, 1pm-5pm on 18th, noon-4pm on 19th • Time: around 5:30pm • Admission: free • Access: JR Sasayama-guchi, bus to Nikaimachi • Tel: 079-552-0758
Heijo-Kyo the 1300th Anniversary Summer Fair
Aug 20–27
Heijo-Kyo Palace Site, Nara
To celebrate the 1,300th anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital, a special jamboree has been taken place from April this year. At the main venue, Heijo-kyo Palace Site, the Summer Fair is designed to be exhilarating and thought-provoking with wide ranging programme and many free events. New works, performing arts, music and visual arts are featured under the theme of ‘A Corridor of Lights’. The whole of the site will be decorated with candles and illuminations made of LED. Ancient court people wearing shining costumes will be on the night. Time parade. Art works of light created by British and Japanese artists will be exhibited. Also there will be live music, dance and more artistic light objects. Do not miss the evening spectacle at ancient palace site.
• Time: 6pm–9pm • Admission: free • Where: Kintetsu Railway Yamato Saidaiji • Tel: 0742-25-2010
Ongaku no Ehon by Zoorasian Brass and Tsuru Usagi
AUG 28
Osaka City Central Public Hall, Osaka
There will be a classical concert for parents and children presented by Zoorasian Brass and Tsuru Usakgi (the strings rabbits). This is a unique family entertainment to suit all ages. It will be a most memorable day with these animal musicians, including Indian lion and a douc langur monkey on trumpet, a Malayan tapir on horn, a Sumatra tiger on trombone, a polar bear on tuba and rabbit sisters on piano and violin, plus the conductor, an okapi (a kind of short-necked giraffe). The talented orchestra will present popular light classical music and signature music from TV programmes, plus children’s songs and popular theme tunes from films. This live orchestral music is presented in an atmospheric early 20th-century building.
• Time: 11am and 2:30pm • Admission: ¥2,000, concessions • Access: Subway Midosuji line/Keihan Railway Yodoyabashi exit 1 • Tel: 06-6208-2002
Kansai Event Listings
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Meet whales at Kujira Hama Park
Until Aug 22. Taiji-cho Town will offer an opportunity to go swimming with whales in the sea. You can watch two young whales in the fish preserve set up in the sea area of this bathing beach. They will be released in the morning and another in the afternoon while you swim there.
• Time: 9am–5pm • Admission: free • Where: Kujira Hama Kaisuiyokujo (bathing beach), Wakayama • Access: JR Taiji,
bus to Kujirahama-koen
• Tel: 0735-59-2335
Exhibition The Konoike Collection
Until Aug 30. The Konoike family was Osaka’s most powerful dynasty in the 17th to 19th centuries. In this exhibition, beautiful women’s kimonos and the sumptuous furnishings passed down from generation to generation at the family will be on display. This is a good opportunity to see Osaka’s high quality cultural treasures.
• Time: 9:30am–5pm (closed Tuesdays) • Admission: ¥600, concessions • Where: Osaka Museum of History, Osaka • Access: Subway Tanimachi/Chuo line Tanimachi 4-chome
exit 2 • Tel: 06-6946-5728
Watch sunrise at the Umeda Sky Building
Aug 1, 14, 15, 21 and 22. The Floating Garden Observatory is at the very top of this skyscraper, and visitors can feel the fresh air and enjoy 360-degree panoramic views. It will open specially early in the morning on these days so you can watch a glorious sunrise from the centre of Osaka.
• Time: 4:30am–6am • Admission: ¥500 adults, concessions • Where: Umeda Sky Building, Osaka • Access: JR Osaka/Subway/Hankyu/Hanshin Railway Umeda • Tel: 06-6440-3899
Yuredaikop
Aug 4. This viaduct is the longest suspension bridge made of steel wire in Japan and the thrill of crossing it attracts many tourists. There will be a thrilling performance of Japanese drums on the bridge as it swings in the breeze. There is no bus after the event. Staying overnight at the hot-spring resort would be ideal.
• Time: 5pm • Admission: free • Where: Tanise no Tsurihashi • Access: JR Gojo, bus to Uenoji • Tel: 0746-63-0200
Canoeing Trial Lesson
Aug 5, 6, 11, 12, 19, 20 and Sep 20. Biwako Kodomo no Kuni always offers various hands-on activities for children. On these days they will provide a canoeing lesson for adults and children over 8 years old. Please call to 0740-34-1392 for booking.
• Time: 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2pm • Admission: ¥2,000, concessions • Where: Biwako Kodomo no Kuni, Shiga • Access: JR Adogawa, bus to Kodomo no Kuni-mae • Tel: 0740-34-1392
The 7th Kisyu Yosakoi Matsuri Festival
Aug 7 & 8. This event is now winning recognition as a cultural tradition of Wakayama. Over 60 teams will perform their original dance at venues around Wakayama Castle. Enjoy powerful dance by young people in eccentric costume, which is still exotic for visitors.
• Time: at noon–9pm on 7th, 9:30am–9pm on 8th • Admission: free • Where: Wakayama Castle and venues around it, Wakayama • Access: JR Wakayama, bus
to Koen-mae • Tel: 073-426-4424
2010 Jazz Picnic in Inagawa
Aug 8. One of Kansai’s leading jazz festivals will take place in a relaxing picnic atmosphere. Top ranking Japanese musicians will perform film music and all kinds jazz. Food and drink will be available.
• Time: 5pm (held at the Azalea Hall in case of stormy weather) • Admission: ¥3,000 (¥3,500 on door) family ticket, max two adults ¥5,000 (¥6,000 on door) • Where: Inagawa Undo-koen Park, Osaka • Access: Hankyu Railway Ikeda; 15min walk • Tel: 072-761-8811 • Email: info@azaleanet.or.jp
Toro Nagashi
Aug 16. You will see hundreds of paper lanterns floating down the river. This is a Buddhist ceremony held to see off the souls of the dead who are believed to visit this world during bon (the Festival of the Dead) and return to the spirit world on this day. Also giant bonfires will be ignited on the tops of mountains.
• Time: at dusk to 9pm • Admission: free • Where: Arashiyama Nakanosima-koen Park • Access: Hankyu Railway Arashiyama; 5min walk • Tel: 080-5307-1060
Antique Kimono Display
Aug 18–30. Valuable kimono collection will be on display at a traditional Kyoto merchant’s house called machiya. This is great opportunity to observe historic and artistic kimonos. English speaking receptionists will be available.
• Time: 10am–5pm • Admission: ¥1,050 • Where: Tondaya, Kyoto • Access: JR Kyoto, bus to Ichijomodoribashi/Imadegawaomiya • Tel: 075-432-6701 • www.tondaya.co.jp/English/indexE.htm
National Goldfish Scooping Championship
Aug 22. In this event people compete for the number of goldfish they will catch. Participants try to scoop the fish with a small paper net called poi. As scooping goldfish is very popular activity the competition attracts large number of people to enter or spectate. Also you can enjoy browsing
many stalls selling goldfish goods.
• Time: 8:30am • Admission: free • Where: Kingyo Square, Nara • Access: Kintetsu Raiway Koriyama, bus to Shiei Ground-mae • Tel: 0743-53-1151
The 7th Kitayama Village Rafting Competition
Aug 29. There will be rafting races and rubber boat (ducky) races. The river Kitayama is one of most popular and significant rivers for white water sports in Japan. Thrills and spills.
• Time: 10am–3pm • Admission: free • Where: Okutoro Park, Wakayama • Access: JR Kumano, bus to Okutoro-koen • Tel: 0735-49-2119
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