Winter is cold and often filled with snow and short days, but it is also filled with the warmth of loved ones and illuminations that light up the night.  While you can view some illuminations throughout the year, autumn and winter are the main seasons you will see them.  We all love illuminations, but does anyone know the history of illuminations in Japan?  If you’re like me and the answer to that question is ‘No’, let’s dive into the history together.

“The Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is the annual festival of Wakamiya, a sub-shrine located within the grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine” (Nara City Tourism Association).  This festival began with a prayer by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi in 1136.  His prayer was for peace and prosperity to spread throughout the country, for bountiful harvests, and happiness for all people, and that prayer remains at the heart of the festival today.  

Today marks the third annual celebration of Giving Tuesday in Japan! As our second full year with the Giving Tuesday Global team comes to a close, we have learned (and done) a lot and have a lot to look forward to in 2026!

Every autumn across the Kanto region, a lively festival called Tori no Ichi fills the air with cheers, lantern lights, and laughter. People come to wish for good health and successful business in the year ahead. Dating back to the Edo period, this celebration was originally seen as the first event to welcome the New Year.

Japan, like many other countries, celebrates this wonderful spooky event. But just as every nation adds its own flair to this Irish-origin holiday, Japan has thoroughly adapted and curated its own unique version of the ghostly tradition. Festivities now start as early as the beginning of October and climax on the 31st.

Dwarves, fairies, ghouls, demons—mythical creatures have filled our world and our storybooks, sometimes whimsical and sometimes dark. It’s not surprising that a country like Japan has its own versions of supernatural beings—Yōkai, whose legends are still talked about to this day. With the rise of anime adaptations, it’s no wonder that the tales of Yōkai have found their way back into people’s imaginations—this time through cosplay. Let’s take a dive into the world of Yōkai Fe

Jidai Matsuri, the Festival of the Ages, is one of Kyoto’s 3 major festivals.  It is held annually on October 22nd.  It is known for its walk through history in the form of processions that showcase the different eras during which Kyoto was the capital of Japan; from 794 to 1868. 

Japan is once again ready to host the world—this time with a theme focused on shaping a human-centered, sustainable future. Expo 2025 takes place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima Island, a man-made island in Osaka Bay. This marks Japan’s third time hosting a World Expo.