Journal Set 1

Japanese Festivals
Nothing can attract me more than  cultures and traditions of different countries. I have been interested in  East Asian cultures since I was 12 years old. The culture of these countries seemed to me so interesting and mysterious.  I am mostly familiar with Japanese culture, for I am obsessed with that country. One of the most interesting and  catching part of Japanese culture are festivals. That is why, now i am going to show show  my favorite Japanese festivals.
1) Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki-matsuri)

Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan's largest and most specific winter events. Yuki-matsuri, which means Snow Festival, celebrates everything about winter and its temporal medium.
It started in 1950 and held annually during one week in February. History of festival started when students built a snow statues in Odori Park. With the lapse of time it developed into a  large, festal event. Every February more than two million visitors from Japan and across the world visit  to see   transformation of silent city Sapporo into the magical snow kingdom full of building and sculptures made of snow. Sapporo snow festival divided into three festival sites: Odori Park with its snow giants, the detailed crystal sculptures at the Suskino Ice Festival and the ice slides and kid-friendly playground of Tsu Dome. 

Tsu Dome.

Suskino Ice Festival. 

2) Japan's winter lights festival 

Japan's winter lights festival runs from mid-November to March 31 at the Nabano No Sato botanical garden in Kuwana, Japan.  Nabano no Sato botanical garden sprouted by  millions LED lights every winter. Flower-shaped lights create gorgeous scenes, such as Mount Fuji  and a rainbow across the sky. Here are some pictures, I am sure you will be surprised by glory of this festival.

Tunnel of Light  made up of 1.2 million light bulbs arranged in flower shapes.

100-meter-long Cherry Kawazu tunnel.

3) Tanabata Matsuri

This festival held at various days between July and August.
Tanabata Matsuri or The Star Festival originated from a folk legend about two stars (Orihime and Hikoboshi) who were lovers. They could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month. Tanabata matsuri celebrates meeting of  Orihime and Hikoboshi. People generally celebrate this day by writing wishes on small pieces of paper, called tanzaku, and attaching them on bamboo, which are often set afloat on a river or burned after the festival. 

Tanzaku.

Tanabata Matsuri in Hiratsuka.

These were my favorite Japanese festivals. I  wish I could introduce  Japanese festivals and give general image of how they held. Thanks  for  attention. ^____^