Sapporo Snow Festival May Go Online

Sapporo Snow Festival may go online

The annual Sapporo Snow Festival scheduled for January and February is expected to forgo its usual displays of snow and ice sculptures, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sapporo Mayor Akimoto Katsuhiro told reporters on Thursday that city officials have judged it would be difficult to hold the event in the usual style.

Scaled-down Intl. Film Festival Opens In Tokyo

Scaled-down intl. film festival opens in Tokyo

One of Asia's largest film festivals has opened in Tokyo, without the usual entry of actors and directors on a red carpet due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The opening of the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival was held at the Tokyo International Forum on Saturday.

Sanja Matsuri Festival Takes Place After Delay

Sanja Matsuri festival takes place after delay

The annual Sanja Matsuri festival linked to Asakusa Shrine in central Tokyo was held on a smaller scale on Saturday and Sunday after being postponed since May due to the pandemic.

The route and the time of the portable shrine's procession were not announced, and the number of participants from the parish was limited to about 100 to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Music Fans Enjoy Drive-in Festival Near Tokyo

Music fans enjoy drive-in festival near Tokyo

Music fans have had a rare opportunity to enjoy a live concert during the coronavirus outbreak at a drive-in festival in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Six groups performed at Sunday's festival in Nagara Town that was organized by an event-planning firm in Tokyo.

Kyoto Scales Down Bonfire Festival

Kyoto scales down bonfire festival

The annual bonfire festival in the city of Kyoto was held on a much smaller scale on Sunday to avoid large crowds amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Gozan Okuribi" takes place on August 16 to send off the ancestral spirits who are believed to return home during the Bon holidays.