Taiko and More Summer Festival Fun To Enjoy!

Natsu matsuri (summer festivals) are a highlight that makes Japanese summers lively and cheerful. When people join these events, it’s easy to get swept up in the festive atmosphere, enjoy unique performances, and discover special cultural traditions. The following elements are almost always present and essential in creating summer festivals’ exciting spirit and character! Let’s start with the powerful beat of taiko drums!

Taiko

Taiko is a super cool Japanese drum that has been around for thousands of years! You can find taiko in temples, festival stages, and theaters. Taiko drums are big, round, and loud, made from hollowed-out wood and animal skin. People play them using thick sticks called bachi. The beat feels intense and exciting when they do, like a giant heartbeat!

Long ago, taiko drums were used for important things like talking to the gods, scaring enemies in battle, or helping soldiers march in step. Over time, taiko became part of festivals, especially summer ones like Obon. During these events, drummers climb up tall platforms, wear colorful headbands, and play for everyone to dance in circles.

Skilled artists make taiko drums. It can take years to make just one! The wood must dry for a long time, and the drum skin has to be stretched just right. There are many kinds of taiko, too! Some examples are nagado-daiko (long body drum), shime-daiko (tight small drum), and okedo-daiko (lightweight barrel drum). Each sounds a little different and has its job in a show.

Yukata 

Yukata are traditional, comfortable garments that people in Japan love to wear during the hot summer months. If you visit a ryokan (traditional inn) in Japan, they’ll give you a yukata to wear around the inn or town! They’re made from light cotton or cool synthetic fabric that helps you feel breezy when the weather is hot. You tie them with an obi belt and wear special sandals called geta to complete the look.

These kimonos are super colorful and come in many designs. Girls often wear bright ones with flowers, while boys usually wear dark colors or stylish patterns. Some yukata have patterns that match the season, like dragonflies for the end of summer or autumn leaves. Everyone looks cheerful in their yukata during summer activities such as hanabi (fireworks) and Bon Odori (Bon festival dance).

Chochin

Chochin are traditional Japanese lanterns that have been lighting up Japan for centuries! They are made from soft washi paper and bendy bamboo and can fold up when unused. They started in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), first used for important events like funerals. Later, thanks to the ease of candle-making, chochin became popular among everyday people. 

These lanterns come in different colors and sizes! Red chochin often hangs outside restaurants and shops. They’re bright, fun, and are thought to bring good luck in business. Meanwhile, white chochin are used for more sacred events. You’ll see them at places like shrines or during Obon, a special time in summer when families remember their ancestors.

Some chochin are shaped like goldfish, especially in Yanai’s Goldfish Lantern Festival, where thousands of glowing fish lanterns light up the streets! And at the Mikawa Isshiki Chochin Matsuri, you can spot giant lanterns as tall as houses! At festivals, it’s common to see lanterns being danced around, carried in parades, or floated down rivers.

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Mikoshi

Mikoshi are mini portable shrines. They resemble tiny wooden houses adorned with shiny gold, intricate carvings, and sometimes even a phoenix on top. Inside, they carry a kami, a sacred spirit from a local shrine. 

There are many unique shapes and sizes! Some are square, some are hexagonal, and some even have roofs like temples. Mikoshi sit on long wooden poles and are lifted and moved by teams of people through streets during matsuri.

When people carry them, they chant, dance, and shake them wildly to entertain the kami. The noise, the movement, and the fun all help protect the neighborhood and make everyone feel lucky and happy. Some even purify the mikoshi with water, like in Kyoto’s Gion Festival. Moreover, you can also find mikoshi in big summer celebrations such as the Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo, the Kurayami Festival at night, or the Satte Summer Festival. 

Yatai

It wouldn’t be a summer festival without the small food stalls called yatai! These little booths are often set up on streets near shrines, parks, or event areas. Even though they started in the 1700s, today’s yatai are still full of joy and flavor. They’re like tiny restaurants on wheels, usually made of wood or tents.

At yatai, you can grab all kinds of tasty Japanese street food. Try takoyaki, which is a hot round ball with an octopus inside. Or yakisoba, stir-fried noodles that are full of flavor. Love sweets? Then go for chocolate-covered bananas, colorful kakigori (shaved ice), or fluffy taiyaki shaped like fish with sweet fillings. There‘s also crispy karaage (fried chicken) and grilled squid on sticks. Each dish is easy to eat while walking, which makes it perfect for busy festivals!

Why are these elements essential in a Japanese summer festival?

All these elements—taiko, yukata, chochin, mikoshi, and yatai—play a special part in creating the feeling of a real natsu matsuri. They bring together sound, light, color, taste, and movement. Each has deep cultural meaning, but also brings fun and joy to everyone, young and old.

Moreover, they show how Japan honors its traditions while celebrating with family, friends, and strangers. These parts may seem simple, but they help keep stories, feelings, and local pride alive yearly. Do you have a favorite part of a summer festival? Or maybe there’s something you’d love to try one day? Let me know in the comments!