Travel Japan through English 英語で日本旅行

Hinamatsuri, the Doll's Festival, is observed on March 3rd in Japan.

The families with girls display Hinamatsuri dolls to celebrate the growth of their girls.

The dolls representing the Emperor and Emperess are dressed in beautiful Heian-era costumes like the ones below.


Graphics © Mugenkatei

Snow Festival - Yukimatsuri - is held in Sapporo in February.

You can enjoy viwing different types of snow statues, which were constructed along the main streets.

Below is the Nagoya Castle made of snow.

It is an amazing work, isn't it?




I myself enjoy this festival in the TV; I have got no chance to go to Sapporo to see it yet.

"Yuki" is snow, while "matsuri" means festival.

It is written as "雪祭り"　using Kanji;

"ゆきまつり"using Hiranaga only.

People, espacially kids, cry out this phrase to "demons" while they throw beans on Setsubun Day.

The meaning is:
"Out with the demon and in with fortune！"

This phrase is written:
鬼は外！福は内！in Kanji

おにはそと！ふくはうち！
in Hiragana