What is Matsuri?
Matsuri is among the most colorful aspects of Japanese life.
The original meaning "Matsuri" Implies "to call a God".Japan was originally a county of farmers.
They gave offerings and comfort to the local deity to show thanks for good harvest and pray for an even better one for next year.

JTB SUNRISE TOURS is pleased to introduce several local festival throughout the year. They are not so large in scale and not so major, but you can enjoy a festival atmosphere with crowds of local people. All places of festivals are accessible in a single day from Tokyo, with English-speaking guide.

Mikoshi are portable shrines in which the sprit of a god reposes during festivals, carried by bearers pushing it here and there to their chorus of "Wasshoi! Wasshoi!"

Kagura are sacred misc and dance performed while Shinto festival. The performances change from place to place and usually include mythical and legendary tales mined by masked actors accompanied by Kagura orchestra of flutes, drums and other instruments.

During festivals, in some places you enjoy Dashi and in other places Mikoshi or Kagura, Dashi are sort of mobile pavilions on wheels, made of wood and usually decorated with flowers, halberds, dolls and so on. Musicians on the Dashi play traditional music instruments including flutes, drums and gongs, cheering up festival mood. Dancers play dance celebrating Shinto gods.