Osaka Tenjin Festival
Over 1,000 years old, the Tenjin Festival (Matsuri) is one of Japan’s three main festivals (alongside Kyoto Gion Matsuri and Tokyo Kanda Matsuri).Is is also the world’s greatest boat festival.
One of the highlights of the festival is the land procession, which is a parade of some 3,000 people dressed in the imperial-court style of the 8th-12th Centuries marching beside Mikoshi(神輿/portable shrines).
The other highlight is the boat procession, when the same 3,000 people board some 100 boats from the approach of the Tenmabashi Bridge and sail upstream.
At dusk, the boats lit up with fires which are ignited to illuminate the surroundings for patrolling or fishing are reflected on the river surface, creating an exquisite view.
And on the riverbanks where pavilions are set up, the citizens and tourists enjoy the cool evening air as they cheer at the Tenjin Matsuri Hono Hanabi fireworks display taking place at the same time.
When: July 24, 2011 – July 25, 2011
Place: Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
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