In Tsukiji, Tokyo
The Tsukiji Hongwanji Bon Dance is a vibrant and culturally rich celebration that takes place in the heart of Tokyo. This annual event, rooted in Japanese tradition, brings together locals and visitors alike to honor and remember departed loved ones while reveling in the joyful spirit of dance. The event takes place in early August at Tsukiji Hongwanji, a Buddhist temple belonging to the Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) sect. The temple is modeled after ancient Buddhist architecture found in India as well as other Asian countries.
During Obon, participants clad in traditional yukata come together to perform dance routines, around a yugara tower, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of taiko drums. Obon in Japan is a traditional Buddhist festival that serves as a time to honor and pay respect to deceased ancestors' spirits through various rituals and cultural celebrations, with bon dance or bon-odori being one of them. This festival not only showcases Japan's deep respect for its ancestors but also offers a captivating glimpse into the country's rich cultural heritage. The temple also advertises this event as "the most delicious Bon Dance in Japan", as visitors can purchase festival food from the stalls run by restaurants in the Tsukiji Outer Market.
My experience
We visited the festival on August 4 (Friday) and it was quite packed! The temple is really close to Tsukiji station, so it took us less than a minute to walk over. The temple itself was beautifully lit up and had a very unique design compared to other Buddhist temples in Japan. You can really see the Indian influence in the architecture and design.
We arrived around 19:00 and the venue was already crowded when we arrived! The bon dance circle was set up off to the side in the court yard in front of the temple. They also set up a designated area for seating, which included some tables, but there were many people that also just placed mats and sat on the ground as well. The stairs of the temple were a surprisingly popular seating choice too. I was kind of surprised people were allowed to sit there, but I'm sure the people there had a really nice view of the dance circle!
The line for the beer and other food stalls were also a little long and slightly difficult to navigate as they were placed right next to the dance circle, so the crowds tended to blend together. The lines did move quite quickly though, so we were luckily able to get our food in a relatively short amount of time! We bought some beer, karaage and onigiris. They also had other regular festival food as well like takoyaki, etc. We ended up just standing off to the side and ate our food, since we didn't buy a lot and didn't feel like going through the crowd to procure a seat.
Overall I felt the vibe of the bon dance circle was very welcoming! There were many experienced dancers as well as newbies (and surprisingly quite a bit of foreigners) that were participating. They played mostly traditional songs at this bon dance (compared to some of the more modern bon dances in Japan). The dances are generally not that difficult, so you can easily follow along to those around if you don't know the dance!
The Tsukiji Bon Dance Festival is truly a wonderful celebration of Japanese culture and traditions, offering a unique blend of dance, music, and community spirit. It's a special event where you can pay respect to your ancestors and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of this cultural festival.
Address
3 Chome-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo
Date
Early August (August 2 - 5 in 2023)
19:00 - 21:00 (18:30 - 20:30 on Saturday)
Access
Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line): 1 minute walk
Official Site
Comentários