Festival/Holiday Questions
 

Hey everyone. I'm just curious of this now. For those of you who have been to Japan or have lived there, currently or previously, did you attend any of the many festivals there? If so, which ones? Did you dress up for it? If so, did you get something custom made for the event? What events or games did you participate in at the festival? Did you get strange looks for attending the festivals for being a Gaijin? Out of the ones attended, which did you like best? The ones in the summer months, or the ones that may occur at other parts of the year? Has anyone ever seen the celebrating of holidays like Kodomo no Hi or Hina Matsuri?

I still attend festivals, to many to name or count the most recent one was Thursdays Aoi festival at kamigamojinja, its not a very exciting even lots of people dress up and parade around, and yes there are always looks but there more out of curiosity or what will the gaijin do looks than what the hell is here doing here looks. Kodomo no hi is celebrated many different ways mainly by the hanging of the fish windsock things for boys and girls, sometime children's games in the park ect. Hina Matsuri is more from what I have seen a private festival where the family brings out traditional dolls and departments have displays, but it is possible some city's have large gatherings its not a golden week holiday or a day off so when it falls on a week day its hard to do much. Hope that helped bed time here