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Bunka no Hi

Bunka no Hi, or Culture Day, is celebrated every year on November 3.

It is a significant day on the Japanese calendar as it marks the announcement, on November 3 1946, of the newly ratified Japanese constitution at the end of WWII. Japan would no longer be a warring nation, however, it retained it's right to defend in the event of an attack.

Cultural Festivities

In and around Tokyo on November 3, or on the nearest weekend to the date, many Japanese families will visit shrines and temples wearing kimono and other clothing.

If you are lucky, you may even get to see a traditional Japanese wedding taking place. These are very serene affairs with ancient customs and behavior. Just stay back and enjoy taking in a glimpse of this age-old ceremony.

Other events that will take place at temples and shrines during this festival are a range of martial arts and the famous "Yabusame", mounted archery. Meiji Jingu Shrine near Harajuku is one of the best places to visit to catch the action in Tokyo.

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Tokyo Jidai Matsuri

On Bunko no Hi, in the area surrounding Sensoji Temple, the Tokyo Jidai Matsuri takes place. The name means "The Festival of Ages" and it's sister festival which takes place in Kyoto is far larger in size.

Still, the Tokyo matsuri is a spectacle in its own right and if you are here on Culture Day, this is another highly recommended event. Take the Ginza Line or the Toei Asakusa Line to get here.

The parade starts at 1:30pm near the Kaminarimon Gate at Sensoji. This is a very historical affair with people dressed in costume from the Edo period.

Samurais and Daimyos can be seen strutting their stuff with their ladies in waiting follow behind, and there's the famous white heron dance around Sensoji Temple itself.

If you have little ones with you, some may get a little disconcerted as the costumes are very realistic, but this is a great chance to see the culture behind the formation of modern Tokyo.

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Culture Day Ceremonies

With Tokyo being mostly destroyed by fire, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki flattened by the notorious dropping of the 'A' bomb, Bunka no Hi set out to celebrate the path to regrowth and a successful future.

The purpose of this national holiday, as the name suggests, is to promote culture, the arts, and academic success. Each year, individuals who have exceled in one of these areas are awarded merits from the Emperor, of which one of the highest is the Order of Culture. This honor is not just limited to Japanese citizens, but to anyone who has demonstrated particular devotion or effort to a worthy cause.

On Bunka no Hi in 1969, after their successful landing on the moon, the American astronauts involved in the mission were subsequently presented with the Order of Culture.