Japan's Golden Week begins at the end of April. Hakata Dontaku Minato Matsuri (Port Festival) held on May 3 and 4 in Fukuoka-city, Fukuoka Prefecture is one of the most popular festivals take place during the Golden Week period in Japan. The origin of the festival is believed to date back to a local New Year's celebration in the late 12th century, and it grew into a big festival of Fukuoka-city. It's said that the word, dontaku, came from the Dutch word, zontag, which means a holiday. It's a lively festival where people parade on the street in costumes, beating shamoji rice spatulas and present various performances on over 30 stages. Visit this fun festival in spring and enjoy the festivities. Fukuoka is located in northern Kyushu region, and it takes about 2 and a half hours by Shinkansen Nozomi trains to Hakata Station from Shin-osaka Station.

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• Hakata Dontaku Port Festival
• Fukuoka Attractions

If you are interested in mysterious ninja and want to visit ninja related spots in Japan, Iga-city in Mie prefecture is a destination you might want to consider. It's located about 35 miles east of Osaka. Iga Ueno Ninja Festa has been held until May 5, 2011 in Iga-city where Iga-style ninja originated. Ninja events take place during the weekends and visitors can experience fun ninja skills in several places. Ninja costume rentals are also available for visitors. It might be fun to try on a ninja costume and walk around the town during this time. If you go to Iga-city, stop by the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum to see various hidden mechanisms of a ninja house and ninja tools, and so on.
Access to Iga: From Nagoya, Kyoto, or Osaka, take a Kintetsu train to Iga-kanbe Station or take a JR train to Iga-ueno Station. Transfer to the Iga Railway at either station and go to Ueno-shi Station.

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• Ninja Attractions in Japan
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Hundreds of sakura trees at Matsumoto-jo in Nagano Prefecture are beautifully blooming. If you are interested in Japanese castles, Matsumoto-jo is a good place to visit. The 5-layer, 6-story donjon (tenshukaku) built around 1593/1594 is known as one of the oldest donjons exist in Japan and is a designated Japanese National Treasure. The donjon and cherry blossoms have been illuminated at night until April 21, 2011. Visit Matsumoto to see this beautiful scenes. It takes about 2 hours from Nagoya or about 3 hours from Shinjuku to get to Matsumoto Station by JR limited express trains.

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• Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Chubu Region
• Japanese Castles
• Pictures of Myojinkan Ryokan in Matsumoto, from About.com Honeymoons / Romantic Travel
• Matsumoto City Official Website

Photo (c) Shizuko Mishima, licensed to About.com

Japanese geisha are trained in a number of skills such as traditional Japanese dance, singing, playing musical instruments, and more. Geisha shows are great opportunities for tourists to see beautiful performances of geisha. Two of Kyoto's famous geisha shows are currently taking place. Miyako Odori by Kyoto Gion Kobu geisha women is held through April 30, 2011 at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo, and Kyo Odori by Kyoto Miyagawacho geisha women is held until April 17, 2011 at Miyagawacho Kaburenjo. Tickets for geisha shows are relatively reasonable compared to partying with geisha. Cherry blossoms have also reached their peak in Kyoto. Enjoy the flower and geisha shows on a nice spring day.

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• Top Japanese Geisha Shows
  
• Kyoto Sakura Spots