Festivals

Traditional Japanese festivals were held on specified days as a way for people to communicate with Shinto gods through Shinto ceremonies. Because festivals often contain a mixture of many different folk beliefs, they vary in style. However, festivals are held just about anywhere in Japan, so long as there is a Shinto shrine in the area. At traditional festivals, people carry portable shrines or pull floats that are decorated with things that are said to harbor Shinto gods: mountains, spears and dolls. This is accompanied by lively festival music played by such instruments as flutes, drums and gongs.