Wake Up Your Ears This Summer! Six Japanese Wind Chime Festivals in 2024.

In Japanese anime, summer often features the sound of 'wind chimes.' In the second season of 'Natsume's Book of Friends,' titled 'Humans and Yokai,' characters gather in the courtyard to enjoy snacks and flowers, with wind chimes ringing in the breeze. Every time the wind blows and the chimes ring, it feels like a voice saying 'hello!' Especially on sweltering nights, the sound of wind chimes brings a refreshing coolness. Every July and August, various wind chime festivals are held across Japan. Let's take a look! 01 Kumano Taisha Enmusubi Wind Chime Festival Since ancient times, wind chimes in Japan have been used to convey wishes and thoughts. The famous haiku poet Santoka Taneda once wrote, 'As if you want to come and see me, I hear the wind chimes now.' The Kumano Wind Chime Summer Festival focuses on wishes for romantic relationships. As the summer breeze gently blows, it makes lovers' hearts flutter and helps singles find good matches. 02 Hōtokuji 'Feel the Coolness' Wind Chime Festival Starting July 13, about 3,000 wind chimes will be hung along the wind chime path at Hōtokuji, swaying in the wind like a dazzling rainbow. The ancient temple's dry landscape garden creates a picturesque summer scene. Additionally, there are wishes for warding off bad luck and ensuring safety! From August 31 to September 16, weekend evenings will feature a light show, offering another wonderful experience. 03 Sakura-yama Wind Chime Festival Sakura-yama Hachiman Shrine in Gifu Prefecture is one of Japan's famous matchmaking shrines. During the wind chime festival, the ema hall of Sakura-yama Hachiman Shrine will be adorned with about 2,000 wind chimes in summer colors, creating a dreamy atmosphere that complements the beautiful flower water nearby. Thousands of wind chimes ring in the wind, like a symphony of summer, creating a magical experience! Every Saturday evening from July 27 to August 24, a lighting event will be held, allowing visitors to enjoy the enchanting wind chimes under the night sky. The simultaneous ringing of the wind chimes makes one forget the summer heat. 04 Minase Shrine Good Fortune Wind Chime Festival It is said that the sound of wind chimes was originally used to ward off disasters brought by the wind and to pray for safety. From late July to early September, Osaka's Minase Shrine hosts a wind chime festival focused on wishes for good fortune. Visitors hang their written wishes on the wind chime path and then proceed to the main hall to pray. Located in Shimamoto Town, Mishima District, Osaka Prefecture, Minase Shrine is known for its blessings for academic and athletic success. It also features 'Rikyu Water,' selected as one of Japan's 'Top 100 Famous Waters,' which is said to make tea leaves more fragrant. 05 Sannoji Wind Chime Festival Sannoji Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture is famous as one of the 88 sacred sites of Sasaguri Shikoku. Due to the numerous cute tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines found throughout the temple, it is also known as 'Tanuki Temple.' From May to early October each year, Sannoji holds a wind chime festival. The 4,000 colorful wind chimes decorated by the temple's priests create a spectacular and resonant scene! In September, the evening lights make the night view even more stunning. Visitors can also paint and offer their own wind chimes on-site. 06 Kobō Kannon Wind Chime Festival Located in Nara Prefecture, Kōbō Kannon Temple of the Kōyasan Shingon sect holds a wind chime festival from early July to late September each year, with over 2,500 wind chimes decorating the temple. These wind chimes come from all over Japan, including Ryukyu glass wind chimes from Okinawa, Beppu wind chimes combining wind chimes and bamboo crafts, and Kiyomizu ware wind chimes from Kyoto. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this a showcase of Japanese wind chime craftsmanship. Additionally, visitors can purchase about 90 types of wind chimes from all over Japan, including Nara wind chimes, Odawara wind chimes from Kanagawa, and Nambu wind chimes from Iwate, at the wind chime exhibition and sale in front of the temple office. This summer, make sure to visit Japan for a wind chime festival! As the wind chimes sway, may all your wishes come true.