SUMMER FESTIVALS

Obon is a summer event during which people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. It's considered Japan’s most significant occasion next to New Year’s, but the customs followed can vary considerably by region.

Also known as the Star Festival, Tanabata is traditionally held on the seventh day of the seventh month of the old lunar calendar, celebrating the legend of the one day of the year when the deities Hikoboshi and Orihime are allowed to meet.

One of the centerpieces of the Japanese summer is the fireworks festivals that run through July and August. Find out how to get the most out of the experience!

In this adorable commercial, Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku offers an extra-sweet tip on how to enjoy your chocolate sticks this summer. First step: don't eat them right away!

Designed to resemble traditional 'uchiwa' fans, these exquisite lollipops are among the prettiest sweets in Tokyo.

The largest city in Tohoku, Sendai is steeped in the history of Date Masamune, known as the 'one-eyed dragon.'

With lanterns, cocktails and 1,000 unusual goldfish, this is the coolest place to hang out in your 'yukata' this summer.

From lounging felines to deep space imagery, this traditional Japanese clothing retailer is bound to have the perfect 'obi' for you!