January Festivals
Okera Mairi: held in Kyoto, this is a religious festival when people visit the Yasaka Shrine to obtain a medicinal herb that they take back to their homes. The herb is believed to cleanse the evil forces of the previous year. New Year: although this is one of the most significant festivals in the calendar, it doesn't share the public displays seen in other countries. Homes are decorated with plum trees and bamboo, and traditional meals are served to family members. Many people visit their local shrine and wait for the tolling of the bells to ring in the New Year. Emburi Harvest Festival: is an ancient ceremony when people pray for a successful rice harvest later in the year. A gala procession is held in the streets featuring dances that portray the rice-growing process. March Festivals
Spring Equinox Day: is celebrated all over Japan and is a time when people visit the graves of ancestors and leave gifts of fruit and rice cakes. It is believed that it will make the journey into the afterlife easier. May Festivals
Sanja Festival: more than two million people crowd the streets of Tokyo for a weekend of processions and celebrations. Large shrines known as mikoshi are carried through the streets of Asakusa district, with costumed bearers weaving in and out of the large crowds. The last day is the grand parade and usually lasts from early morning through to the evening. Tanabata (Star Festival): is celebrated throughout Japan. However, the festival in Sendai is one of the biggest and attracts over two million people every August. The streets are filled with amazing structures made from bamboo and paper, and good luck wishes are written on bits of paper and decorative balls and then attached to the Tanabata. | 
