What an incredible photo, the coloring of the floats goes perfectly with the sunset and the clouds. What an awesome looking festival. I've never heard about Murakami Taisai, but it looks like it's about 400 years old now and some of the floats created 200 years ago are still used even today. I've never actually visited Niigata but it looks like a fun place. Just inconveniently placed I guess lol. Seeing cool photos like this though really makes me want to visit. This festival is in early July as well, so not too far off. Might be cool to visit and get some of the festival food I've been missing out on. Can always make yakisoba at home but it just never really hits the same as some made at a yatai!

The night feast of the Nagara River flowing along Gifu Castle, where Oda Nobunaga departed from Tenkafubu. This dance boat serves as a prelude to the start of the Gifu Nagara River Ukai, and performs the Noryo dance on weekends from summer to autumn. Last year, unfortunately, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, dancers wore face shields. I want the Coronavirus pandemic to end as soon as possible and return to the summer bustle of the Nagara River.

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Female jockeys dressed in glossy kimono carry bows, ride on horses of Japan traditional lineage, and fly quickly through three targets while frying dust. Originally, Yabusame is an event held only by men as a Shinto ritual, but befitting the modern era of the 21st century, the gender difference between men and women has been abolished, and the ancient traditions of martial arts and equestrian arts that have been handed down from ancient Japan times have been adopted and passed on to future generations, and the world of glossy kimono fushiko is worth visiting and seeing. At the 4th "COOL JAPAN VIDEOS" Photo Contest - Spring of Japan, we were selected as one of the six winners out of 1,000 entries and received an honorable mention. 【Spring Shooting】

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Last year, it was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus, but this year it was held with corona countermeasures. The cherry blossom front reaches the northern tip of Honshu around mid-April. The Yabusame Tournament, in which petting children in glossy Japanese attire unfold, heralds the arrival of spring in this area along with the cherry blossom front.

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Female jockeys dressed in glossy kimono carry bows and, when mounted on horses of Japan traditional lineage, run through the dust and quickly shoot through the three targets. This year's tournament was full of cherry blossoms.

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Last year, it was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus, but this year it was held with corona countermeasures. The cherry blossom front reaches the northern tip of Honshu around mid-April. The Yabusame Tournament, in which petting children in glossy Japanese attire unfold, heralds the arrival of spring in this area along with the cherry blossom front.

Hirosaki Castle, illuminated by the lights, and the competition of the most honored cherry blossoms in the Japan were in perfect harmony. Thank you to the citizens of Hirosaki for organizing the cherry blossom festival! Thanks!.

It is a row of cherry blossom trees in the inner moat of Hirosaki Park, Aomori Prefecture, lit up at the cherry blossom festival. The rows of cherry blossom trees reflected in the moat were magnificent.

Aghhh! I wish I got to get out and see some beautiful illuminations this winter but with everything happening in the world it wasn't exactly possible. Really wanted to check out the one in Hibiya but next year will have to do. I know a lot of events were canceled this winter as well but things can hopefully start opening up again as vaccines start rolling out around the country. Slow process for now, but hopefully it starts to speed up soon. I'd like to visit some flower parks this spring, I know there are a few that have illuminations as well and my girlfriend would love to visit them and see the cherry blossoms and wisteria, so if everything goes well hopefully we'll get the chance. That and I'm seriously missing going out to festivals, so hopefully we can get some of those soon!

Whoa! Now those are some fireworks! Holy crud, this is insane. I don't think I've ever seen fireworks this bright and colorful and I've been to the Omagari Fireworks Festival before! Didn't know that Mie had such amazing fireworks. All of the good fireworks festivals are so far away from Tokyo 😂. Just more reason to explore other areas of Japan though I suppose. Apparently this is the Kihoku Lantern Festival too so I'd get to see some beautiful lanterns on the water as well. Hopefully I can get out some this summer, been cooped up indoors for way too long at this point, and I'm starting to miss the fresh nippon breeze 😂. Hopefully spring comes somewhat early this year so I can see some cherry blossoms and drink some plum wine while barbecuing lol!

Glossy day In Kyoto

Ahhhh! I've got to see Soma Nomaoi. It looks cooler and cooler the more I hear about it. Sending signals with a conch is super cool. It sounds like something that you'd hear about in a myth or folklore, but the fact that this was actually used is really interesting. A bit of a tangent, but it's awesome seeing all of the different helmet styles used in Japan. It's not exactly something unique to Japan, but Japan definitely has some of the coolest looking styles. This one kind of reminds me of traditional Japanese lacquerware and I like how it's very sleek and practical. Hopefully I'll be able to check this out this year. I want to visit Fukushima anyways so it'd be great if I could get it all to line up!

Awesome photo. I've heard of Soma-Nomaoi before. I really want to check it out actually and see all the horse races and stuff. I guess they do drills that were used by the military back in the day which would be really cool to watch as well. I'm a huge fan of horseback archery and archery in general so if they have that that'd be awesome as well. I didn't know there were portable shrines as well. I'd have to read up more on the festival but it definitely looks interesting. I have a friend over in Fukushima Prefecture so if I could get out there and meet them when this is happening it'd be awesome. Hopefully corona has settled down by July, but if not then I guess there's always next year. I'll have to eat some tasty festival food somewhere else I guess 😂

Ahhh I love watching these kinds of videos. Getting to see food truck/food stall vendors make food is just so organic. It's nice since I'm not able to travel much these days as well (not that anybody is really). I've never had gohei mochi, let alone heard of it before, but it reminds me of Akita's Kiritanpo. I think the last food truck item I got was ツブ, snail I guess? I didn't even know that until now lol. My girlfriend loved it, I was a bigger fan of the bacon that went with it. Really hoping I can visit another food stall again soon though as I really miss the yakisoba that they make. The yakisoba from the convenience store is alright, but it doesn't really hold a candle to the food stalls 😂. Just gonna have to keep waiting until it's okay to travel again though. Until then I'm gonna keep watching videos to stay sane lol!

It was a beach contest! I couldn't win, but it was a lot of fun! It felt so good to be able to beat the miso six great drums! !!

There are many arquebus guns in the Japan. However, the shape of the gun is different for each area, so it is interesting to see various museums and demonstration groups. Guns also have fine patterns and inlays, and some of them are beautiful works of art.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. There is the courage of the mounted warrior and the quietness of the sacred ritual.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. There is the courage of the mounted warrior and the quietness of the sacred ritual.

The arquebus is filled with gunpowder in two places. Gunpowder for firing balls. A mouth powder that ignites firing gunpowder. This photo shows the moment when the arquebus fire ignited the mouthpiece of the fire dish.

Practicing arquebuses. Overseas, samurai used to shoot with caliber guns called cannons in their hands.

A performance of archery in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture. Unlike the sports kyudo, it is characterized by a practical old shooting method.

Shitaragahara Decisive Battlefield Festival held in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. We, who are active in Fukushima Prefecture, also gave a demonstration to the state.

Fireworks at the Kihoku Lantern Festival in Mie Prefecture. The highlight of this firework is a firework called Colored Senwa, Colorful flowers dye the sky and the river.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. Both people and horses are so upset that they are powerful.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. Older warriors also have an astringent taste and are cool.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. Horses from all over the world gather at the main venue Unjakugahara in Minamisoma City.

Soma Nomaoi held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. It sends signals with various blowing patterns.

It is held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture and is held in Soma Nomaoi. The appearance of wearing armor and handling a horse is the same as the Warring States period.

Soma Nomaoi is held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. It is a spectacular sight where about 450 horses gather at the main venue.

Soma Nomaoi is held in July in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture. It is a spectacular sight where about 450 horses gather at the main venue.