In Japan, Obon brings everything to a standstill
Empty subways, deserted streets, salarymen in shorts… next week Tokyo will take on a holiday atmosphere. From August 13 to 15 is Obon, the festival of the dead.
Empty subways, deserted streets, salarymen in shorts… next week Tokyo will take on a holiday atmosphere. From August 13 to 15 is Obon, the festival of the dead. Many Japanese take this opportunity to return to their hometown, and travel agencies seize the chance to hike their prices!
Obon is Japan's third major vacation period. Indeed, every year, the Archipelago literally stops functioning between late April and early May (Golden Week) and in December for New Year festivities (Oshogatsu) and at Obon.
Obon is first and foremost the celebration of ancestors. In Buddhist tradition, they are believed to return from the afterlife during this period. This is why Japanese people take advantage of this time to return to their native lands and pay respects at their ancestors' graves.
They are offered food, and temples are adorned with glowing lanterns. The lanterns can also be set upon the water and allowed to drift with the current.
Finally, everyone dons their finest yukata (summer kimono) and sets off to dance the Bon-Odori, the dance of Obon. This dance is performed in groups. Participants execute a series of codified movements while moving on or around a platform.
According to the lunar calendar, once in effect, Obon falls in mid-July. This is why in certain regions or certain temples, such as Yasukuni for example, the return of the dead is celebrated in mid-July. August 15 is also the anniversary of Japan's surrender in 1945. Another reason to celebrate it in July!
However, the tradition is fading. In a country where it remains difficult to take time off, the living have increasingly less time for the dead. As a result, each year, more and more choose the beaches of Hawaii over the family vault.
And travel agencies have caught on. During Obon, we now see the same phenomenon as at Oshogatsu or Golden Week. Trains, planes, and hotels are swamped and prices skyrocket. Often double, sometimes triple! JR, the railway company, is even doubling the number of shinkansen on certain lines!
Despite this, it's not enough. Travelers who didn't book their tickets early enough find themselves stranded. The same goes for those who chose the road. Miles of traffic jams loom ahead.
But rest assured, by the 16th, things should return to normal. Practically everyone will have returned to work.
Frequently asked questions
The Obon festival takes place primarily from August 13 to 15 in most Japanese regions. However, in certain regions and temples that follow the lunar calendar, such as the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, celebrations occur in mid-July.
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist festival dedicated to ancestors. According to tradition, the spirits of the deceased return to the world of the living during this period. Families gather, pay respects at graves, offer food to ancestors, and light lanterns to guide the spirits.
Bon-Odori is the traditional dance performed during the Obon festival. It is danced in groups, with participants executing a series of codified and repetitive movements while moving around a central platform. For the occasion, Japanese people wear a yukata, the summer kimono.
Traveling during Obon is possible but requires careful planning. It is one of Japan's three major vacation periods (along with Golden Week and Oshogatsu): transportation, hotels, and tourist sites are heavily saturated and prices can double or even triple. It is strongly recommended to book train tickets (shinkansen) and accommodations several weeks in advance.
These are Japan's three major collective vacation periods. Golden Week takes place from late April to early May, Oshogatsu corresponds to the Japanese New Year festivities in December-January, and Obon occurs around August 13-15. All three result in high mobility among Japanese people, saturation of transportation, and significant price increases.
