BON FESTIVAL
Japan
Given Japan’s long history of customs and traditions, it is perhaps no surprise that traditional practices are still widely upheld in modern Japanese society. While no exact number is confirmed, Japan celebrates an incredible 200,000 festivals, large and small, each year to show gratitude and pay homage to ancestors. Among these, the Bon Festival – or Obon matsuri – is one of the largest, and celebrates the dead. The Japanese believe that the souls of loved ones return to the mortal world during this time.
Among these, the Bon Festival – or Obon matsuri – is one of the largest, and celebrates the dead. The Japanese believe that the souls of loved ones return to the mortal world during this time
EXPEDITION INFORMATION
WHEN TO GO The Bon Festival is celebrated at different times of the year according to region, but the months of July and August are a safe bet. Check for exact dates before visiting
GETTING AROUND The most convenient way to get around Japan is to travel by rail. The Shinkansen (bullet train) travels at a maximum speed of 300 km/h through the countryside
GETTING THERE Japan is home to two international airports - Narita International Airport in Tokyo and Kansai International Airport in Osaka. Additionally, many visitors are increasingly choosing to fly to New Chitose International Airport in Hokkaido.
Buddhist Roots
This story is from the AG 05/2021 - 150 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the AG 05/2021 - 150 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Green Dreams
With its tea plantations and rice paddies, dense jungles and expansive forests, the region is well known as a green paradise. But many of the most impressive Asian landscapes have names you may never have heard of. Journey with us as we reveal just some of the incredible locations that make the rest of the world green with envy!
Life On The Edge
In the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the remote northern Russian Far East, indigenous ethnic groups like the Chukchi and the Yupik live in the most extreme conditions, hunting seals in their traditional kayaks as they have for millennia
The Karakoram Anomaly Decoded
For decades, scientists have believed that glaciers in the Karakoram Range are defying the trend of those across the globe-resisting glacial melt due to human-induced global warming. But as we trek up the Karakoram's second-longest glacier in July, as the United Nations announces the world's hottest ever month on record, does the melting ice beneath our feet suggest the so-called Karakoram Anomaly is slowing? Or is there a ray of hope it will continue to delay the inevitable?
Green Water Revolution
Southeast Asia's Quest to Sustainable Wastewater Management in an Era of Climate Sensitivity
Green Philippines
The Philippine Archipelago may be synonymous with perfect beach holidays, but the Southeast Asian nation is also a great choice for your next ecotourism adventure
Why so Green?
From the Green Dome of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina to the fluorescent greens of flags and political campaigns, Islam has established itself as the world's \"green\" religion
Pilgrimage To Japan
The Land of the Rising Sun is as eclectic as it is fascinating, an exotic blend of ancient and modern. But two destinations in particular offer visitors an authentic taste of this unique nation: Wakayama, its spiritual centre, and Kyoto, its cultural heartland.
The Silk Road Through Uzbekistan
High-speed trains may ply some of this route today, but the historical, religious and cultural significance of the great cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva remains intact
10 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Visit Sri Lanka
From eye-popping temples and tea estates to jaw-dropping national parks and natural wonders, the "teardrop island" has it all
Nepal: In The Shadow Of Giants
Sandwiched between China to the north and India to the south, Nepal receives influences from Asia's two major powers, but this unique land bordered by the greatest mountain range on Earth promises experiences offered nowhere else
