Obon
お盆
A multi-day Buddhist custom when ancestral spirits are welcomed home — one of Japan’s biggest travel periods.
- This year
- Aug 13 – Aug 16 (Sun)
- Typically August 13–16 (some regions mid-July)
History
お盆 derives from the Ullambana sutra tradition of offering to hungry spirits and evolved into a family reunion period for welcoming ancestors. Lanterns guide spirits home; at the end, floating lanterns (tōrō nagashi) or fires send them off. Tokyo and much of eastern Japan observe mid-August; some regions keep a mid-July Obon. It is not a single statutory holiday, but many companies shut down.
How it is observed
Families return to hometowns, clean graves, and dance Bon Odori in yukata. Temple bells and neighborhood festivals fill the evenings.
Travel tips
Comparable to Golden Week for domestic congestion — outbound around Aug 11–13, return Aug 15–16. Book trains early. Cities like Tokyo can feel quieter; regional hometowns and famous Bon Odori (e.g. Tokushima Awa Odori, overlapping dates) are packed.
Related shrines & temples
Places often visited around this day — open a shrine page or search the directory.