Heading to Japan on a business trip? Or otherwise?

Make sure your boss sends you when one of the following is happening.

February - Sapporo Snow Festival - Hokkaido

May - Hakata Dontaku Festival - Fukuoka

July - Gion Festival - Kyoto

July - Tenjin Festival - Osaka

July - Sumida River Firework Festival - Tokyo

August - Nebuta Festival - Aomori

August - Kanto Festival - Akita

August - Sendai Tanabata Festival - Miyagi

August - Awa Odori Festival - Tokushima

September - Owara-kaze-no-bon Festival - Toyama

My personal favorite - any summer fireworks display in early August. Absolutely amazing. If someone somewhere tells you their fireworks are the best in the world, (I heard this 2001 in Las Vegas), don't believe it.

If my hometown of Sanjo, one of the smaller fireworks festival were a 10, LV would get a 2. The fireworks shows really are that much better.

If you are heading to Japan…take in a festival if you can.

Asahi Nenkan