【The Summer Heat has Returned!】 Firework Festivals and Summer Festivals in Japan Recommended for Overseas Visitors ～Introducing the Best Ways to Enjoy Summer as told by MIMARU’s Foreign National Staff and Guests～

Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd. operates APARTMENT HOTEL MIMARU, a hotel with spacious guest rooms equipped with kitchens where you can stay together with your family and friends. Our Japan-loving staff who come from 25 different regions and countries around the world welcome guests every day.

In 2023, events that could not be held during the COVID-19 crisis such as summer festivals, firework festivals, and Tanabata (also known as the Star Festival) will be revived across the country. We will introduce the Japanese summer festivals and firework festivals that the MIMARU staff recommend to our overseas visitors in each region as they all come to life. By introducing the festivals steeped in the magnificence and charm of Japan’s traditional culture and regions, we hope to help boost Japan’s tourism industry.

We surveyed the MIMARU staff who welcome overseas visitors in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka about what Japanese festivals they recommend. The resulting list showed not only the charm of large-scale festivals, but also the beauty of Japan’s fireworks, festival day customs, and more, brimming with discoveries and excitement from a foreign national’s point of view. Each facility will introduce our guests to the individual appeal of and information about local festivals and firework festivals.

■ The Most Popular is the Kyoto Gion Matsuri! The Entire City Catches the Festival Fever in Kyoto’s Summer.

The streets of Kyoto fill with the Gion Matsuri celebrations, accompanied by the Gion traditional performances throughout July. Gion Matsuri, famous even overseas, is held at Yasaka Shrine. The highlight of the festival is Yamaboko Junko, a procession of floats that has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. At MIMARU Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo, these heroic floats parade down the street right before your eyes. You can experience the power of Gion Matsuri up close and personal together with your friends and family.

Gion Matsuri Dates: July 1-31, 2023

Yamaboko Junko Pre-Festival: July 16 / Post-Festival: July 24

Other events with low barriers for participation that guests can enjoy taking part in include Honganji Noryo Bon-Odori Festival, which offers a taste of Japan with its temple, Bon-Odori dancing, and night stalls; the Kyo no Tanabata Festival, held at various locations in Kyoto from July to August of the lunar calendar; and the Kobo-ichi and Tenjin-ichi markets held each month. Additionally, many staff enjoy the Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival where the stunning fireworks in the sky are reflected on the lake’s surface. Lake Biwa is only a 10-minute train ride from Kyoto Station. MIMARU has six facilities in Kyoto City where you can enjoy the overflowing elegance of the city streets, and the fun that only summer in Kyoto can bring, to your heart’s content.

■ Tenjin Matsuri Fills the City of Osaka with Excitement with its Fireworks and Gyaru-Mikoshi!

Osaka’s Tenjin Matsuri, one of the three major festivals in Japan, will be held for the first time in four years. Around 1.3 million visitors attend this festival, making it one of the most popular festivals in Osaka. The Tenjin Matsuri’s finale culminates in the dedicated firework show. Around 3,000 fireworks brighten the night sky while around 100 boats carrying bonfires (called kagaribi) float atop the river, giving the Tenjin Matsuri its other name: the Festival of Fire and Water. With the plentiful festival stalls and the Tenjin Matsuri Gal (Gyaru) Mikoshi, you can truly experience Osaka’s characteristic passion for yourself.

Tenjin Matsuri Dates: July 24 and 25, 2023

The impressive Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri where floats (danjiri) run through the city was also very popular, and many also recommended the Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival due to the fun of its festival stalls and the Osaka-like boisterous atmosphere. Including MIMARU Osaka Namba North with its lobby designed to resemble a festival, there are 5 unique MIMARU hotels in the Namba and Shinsaibashi areas of Osaka, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s liveliness during their trip.

■Tanabata Festivals and Fireworks Festivals... Summer in Tokyo is Chock-Full of Events!

Summer in Tokyo is jam-packed with festivals, fireworks festivals, and events in all the different areas of the city. July 7th is the Tanabata Festival, where everyone writes their wishes on long, narrow strips of paper (called tanzaku) and hang them on bamboo grass. The Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri that stretches between Asakusa and Ueno takes place in early July, and the Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri with its interesting paper decorations (called haribote) is scheduled to take place in August of the lunar year. Additionally, there is also the Sumida River Fireworks Festival where pyrotechnicians engage in a beautiful competition of fireworks with Skytree as a backdrop, the Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival with live guest performances, as well as many other local fireworks festivals in Adachi, Katsushika, Edogawa, and other downtown areas. Many staff members also commented that they hoped overseas guests could see the fireworks in Japan as they are of overwhelmingly high quality and beauty, and that Japan’s culture can be felt through the ephemerality of the fireworks as they fade away.

Sumida River Fireworks Festival Date and Time: July 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

MIMARU has 15 establishments in popular areas of Tokyo, including central Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ueno, Asakusa, and more. You have the advantage of being able to continue the party afterward with everyone in your own room.

■ Both Street Stalls and Cheap Snacks (called dagashi) are also a Part of Japanese Culture. They are also Popular with Overseas Guests!

In the survey, many overseas guests also answered that they enjoyed local festivals and Bon Odori in addition to the famous events like the Nebuta Festival, Awaodori, and Snow Festival. Events where guests could enjoy food and games at the street stalls or participate in the dancing are very popular. Furthermore, overseas guests were surprisingly pleased by the cheap snacks that are given as game prizes. They seem to be appreciated for their unique culture that can only be found in Japan, as well as the interesting and cute packaging.

MIMARU Osaka Namba North

MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi East

MIMARU Tokyo Ueno North

We have prepared some fun settings at our hotels such as MIMARU Osaka Namba North with its lobby modeled after a festival, and MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi East’s lobby with the izakaya stand created with the image of noren curtains, lanterns, and sake barrels where guests can enjoy a welcome service of Japanese rice wine and the dagashi mentioned above. MIMARU Ueno North features a portable shrine (called omikoshi) and a traditional Japanese helmet. We will continue to introduce summer festivals and Japanese culture to connect our overseas guests with the local communities through communication.