Wonderful post, thanks so much for sharing it. I have always been interested in the culture and history of Japan. However, after hearing some of your stories about the festivals there, I am definitely interested in going to several of them.
I am just curious. What's on your list of festivals you are thinking of going to next year?
That's a good question. I often forget their names, but I'd like to go to the Tanabata Festival in Sendai and a festival that is known for its parade-like paper floats in Aomori (I think), and the fire throwing festival that I mentioned, which might be in Kyushu, and the snow festivals in Hokkaido and Tokamachi, and, and, and ...