A Family Affair:

The Obon Festival has transformed into a family reunion of sorts. It’s common for urban dwellers to visit their hometowns and adorn their ancestors' graves with flowers, and many homes have altars dedicated to the spirits with food offerings and chochin lanterns. One of the most common and beautiful rituals is releasing toro nagashi (floating lanterns) into the ocean, rivers and lakes, carrying the spirit of ones ancestors back to the afterlife. Fire also plays a central role and is used in purification ceremonies (most temples have a candle-lighting ceremony).

Awa Odori in Obon Festival 2020:

The Awa Odori is perhaps the best part of the Obon Festival and takes place every August 13th through the 15th at Tokushima on Shikoku Island. Though the island’s population is only around 250,000, nearly 1.3 million visitors attend every year. The rowdy, street-dancing riot of color and culture originated in 1586, when a feudal lord hosted a sake-drenched party of epic proportions to inaugurate the Tokushima Castle. The ancient rules were strict: dancing in the streets was only allowed for these 3 days, samurai were only permitted to dance at home with the door closed, and there was no dancing at temples or with swords or masks.

Obon Festival 2020 Shifting Dates:

The Obon Festival lasts for 3 days and is celebrated at different times in different regions. Due to a shift from the lunar to the Gregorian calendar, there can be up to three different dates. Shichigatsu Bon (Bon in July) is celebrated in eastern cities such as Tokyo on July 15th. Hachigatsu Bon (Bon in August) and Kyu Bon (Old Bon) are based on the lunar calendar, and both are usually celebrated around August 15th. That can change yearly, however, so it’s best to check in advance.