Trending for 2023: The hottest things to do in Aichi, Japan

cherry blossoms at Nagoya Castle

Japan's beautiful four seasons and is well known by international travellers.

Aichi, the heart of Japan is a hot destination, relatively untapped by Australian tourists. Here are some of the hottest things to do in 2023.

Nagoya Castle with Cherry Blossoms

Everyone knows places where cherry blossoms bloom are iconic travel destinations in Japan. Enjoying cherry blossoms with a historical castle and amazing Aichi food is even more iconic.

There are around 1,000 cherry blossom trees such as Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry blossoms at Nagoya Castle grounds, which create an amazingly photogenic scenery. The cherry blossom season is usually from late March to early April, transforming Nagoya Castle into picturesque spring sight to behold. During this period the Nagoya Castle Spring Festival is held, with events such as local artist performances, local food stalls and Japanese sake attract with events such as local artist performances, local food stalls and Japanese sake attract visitors from all across Japan. In the evening during the cherry blossom season, the beautiful blooms are lit-up, providing a rarely seen experience.

Nagashino Battle Flag Festival

A Samurai’s battle for honour and kingdom right in front of your eyes.

The Nagashino Battle Flag Festival
(Nagashino Gassen Nobori Matsuri)

The Nagashino Battle Flag Festival (Nagashino Gassen Nobori Matsuri) is a festival to console the spirits of the warriors of both armies who passed away in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, which happened on the ruins of present-day Nagashino Castle in Shinshiro City. It is also known as the Nobori Matsuri, or Flag Festival, as thousands of flags bearing the emblems of both armies are raised. In addition to religious ceremonies and memorial services, there are many experiences you can enjoy such as powerful matchlock gun reenactment, Jindaiko drum performances of the Nagashino army, and archery reenactment. Also, audiences can enjoy the reality of samurai-time clothing, armour, and weapons. You can also take part in the 'Gassen Gyoretsu', a 1km parade in kimono and armour. The event is held on 5th May, the Children’s Day, a national holiday in Japan every year.

Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival & Fireworks

The Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival

The Japanese summer season is known for its various fireworks festivals held all over the country during this period. The Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival is a 600-year-old festival of the Tsushima Shrine, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site. It is considered one of the three greatest river festivals in Japan and is rated as one of the most splendid summer festivals in the country.

The two-day festival takes place over a weekend in late July, with the Yo-Sai Eve Festival held on the first day as the lead-up to the festival, and the parade of Danjiri boats (traditional festival boats) decorated with lanterns is movingly beautiful and fantastic. The following morning, the Asa-Matsuri Morning Festival is held, where visitors can enjoy the same Danjiri boats in the daylight. The festival usually includes fireworks displays and 'yatai' (food stalls), which are typical at Japanese summer festivals.

World Cosplay Summit

In the warm season, one of the hottest events is held in Aichi.
As everyone is already aware, Japan has now established anime, manga, games, and special effect films as a major part of Japanese pop culture with legions of fans across.

©World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee

Due to the popularity of Japanese pop culture all over the world, especially among the millennial and younger generations, who have grown up with Japanese animation since childhood.

The World Cosplay Summit, which started in 2003, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 and has become one of Aichi Prefecture's representative events. It is an international cultural exchange event where cosplayers from all over the world gather.

Anyone can take part in the event in cosplay as any character they like, and of course, it can also be fun just to watch the cosplayers and soak in the atmosphere. However, in order to participate as a player in the World Cosplay Championship, the competition to determine the world's best cosplay performance, the requirement is to form a pair and win in the qualifying rounds held in a partner country. Fortunately, Australia is a partner country, so one way to enjoy Japan to the fullest would be to aim for a serious cosplay victory. This event usually takes place on a weekend in early August.

Collaboration of Autumn leave and Cherry blossoms

In autumn, the magnificent green trees turn red and yellow, another breath-taking sight. Korankei in Toyota City is the area's most famous autumn foliage viewing spot. A red and yellow carpet covers the entire mountain, with the neighbouring Tomoe River and the red bridge over it exceptionally photogenic. The neighbouring Asuke Yashiki (Asuke House) offers a time-travelling experience to an old Japanese village. You will enjoy demonstrations of straw sandals, umbrellas made from Japanese paper, and weaving, which were necessities in those days, as well as participating in workshops such as indigo dyeing and paper knife making. You can also enjoy a variety of gourmet foods, as taking a break or eating whilst walking through the autumn leaves is the Japanese way.

The great thing about Toyota City is that you can enjoy the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves at the same time! The pink cherry blossoms are mixed with the red and yellow autumn leaves, and what a romantic sight it is.

The Obara Four Seasons Cherry Blossom Festival, held from mid-to-late November, offers beautiful scenery as well as traditional music and performances by local bands.

Toba Fire Festival

The Toba Fire Festival, which is believed to have started some 1,200 years ago, is held every year on the second Sunday of February under the winter night sky at Toba Shinmeisha Shrine in Nishio City.

Famous as one of the strangest festivals in Japan, it is held to predict the weather and crop yields for the year.

Two five-metre-high 'suzumi', majestic fire pillars, made of bamboo and thatch set alight, and the two representatives chosen for the year and their supporters dressed in special costumes bravely jump into the blazing fire, compete to remove sacred trees and twelve ropes from the blazes in order to offer them to the temple.

New-Year-Visit to Osu Kannon Temple and Osu Arcade’s street food

In Japan, it is common to visit shrines or temples in the New Year, which is called 'Hatsumode', to wish for happiness, health, and success in the year ahead. Osu Kannon Temple, located in the Osu Shopping Arcade, is one of the Kannon temples that offer blessings to ward off bad luck, academic success, safety, health, and prosperous business, and is considered one of the three major Kannon temples in Japan, along with Asakusa in Tokyo.

Osu Shopping Arcade

There are temples and shrines all over Japan and you can pay your first visit anywhere, but the great thing about Osu Kannon Temple is that it is in Osu Shopping Arcade. It is the largest shopping arcade in Aichi Prefecture, with some 1,200 shops. There are many popular sweets, international restaurants and cafés as well as Aichi gourmet food, and the local style is to eat your way through after Hatsumode.

The area is also lined with shops selling anime, games, fashion, and cosmetics, making it the perfect place to maximise your shopping experience in a uniquely Japanese way.

*Source: doq Pty Ltd Suite 89 Jones Bay Wharf 26-32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, NSW 2009 Australia