Guides

Know before you go

Short, practical guides to the festivals themselves: what they mean, what happens, and how to take part respectfully.

• Festival etiquette, accessibility, and what to bring

  Practical advice for first-time visitors: respect, photos, food lines, accessibility questions, weather, and how to confirm details before going.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Obon vs. Bon Odori: what is the difference?

  A clear guide to Obon, Bon Odori, temple festivals, and why North American event names use these words in different ways.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Taiko at festivals: a first-timer's primer

  What taiko is, why it appears at so many Japanese cultural festivals, and how to enjoy a performance respectfully.

  Updated July 4, 2026

• Bon Odori for beginners: how to join the dance circle

  What to expect at your first Bon Odori: the common dances, what to wear, how to follow along, and why everyone is welcome in the circle.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• Taking your kids to their first matsuri

  A family guide to Japanese festivals: when to arrive, parking and transit, food kids will eat, strollers and seating, quiet corners, and weather.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• The Japanese festival year in North America

  How the festival calendar runs in the US and Canada: mochitsuki and Oshogatsu, sakura season, Obon, fall festivals, and how event dates get announced.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• Matsuri food, explained: what to eat at a Japanese festival

  A guide to festival food at Japanese events in North America: takoyaki, yakisoba, dango, imagawayaki, shave ice, rough costs, and how to handle cash and lines.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• What is Obon? A first-timer's guide to the season of remembrance

  What Obon is, how temple Obon festivals in the US and Canada actually run, when the season falls, and how first-timers can join respectfully.

  Updated July 2, 2026

• Wearing a yukata to a summer festival

  What a yukata is, how it differs from a kimono, where to get one, how to wear it (left over right), footwear, and notes for kids and non-Japanese attendees.

  Updated July 2, 2026