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Obon Explained: Japan's Summer Festival for Honoring Ancestors

Obon is a summer festival for welcoming and honoring the spirits of ancestors. Here are its origins and the meaning behind its best-known customs.

What is Obon

A traditional Japanese observance for welcoming and honoring the spirits of ancestors. It is believed to have taken root through the merging of a Buddhist observance with Japan's indigenous ancestor-spirit beliefs.

Timing varies by region

Nationally, the most common period is mid-August (roughly the 13th–16th), known as the "month-late Bon," though some urban areas, including parts of Tokyo, observe an earlier "new Bon" in mid-July instead.

Welcoming and send-off fires

On the first day of Obon, a "welcoming fire" (mukaebi) is lit to guide ancestral spirits home, and on the last day a "send-off fire" (okuribi) is lit to see them off. Kyoto's Gozan Okuribi is a famous large-scale version of this send-off custom.

Why lanterns are displayed

Bon lanterns are hung near the entrance or household altar as a marker to help ancestral spirits find their way home without getting lost.

The meaning of the cucumber horse and eggplant ox

Small figures made from a cucumber (as a horse) and an eggplant (as an ox), symbolizing a wish for ancestors to "arrive quickly by horse, and return home slowly by ox."

The first Obon after a death is observed more formally

The first Obon after the 49-day mourning period following a death is called "hatsubon" or "niibon," and is typically marked with a more formal memorial service than a regular Obon.

The custom of Obon holidays

Not a legal holiday, but many companies customarily grant summer leave around this period, which also creates the year's peak travel rush as people head to their hometowns.

Its connection to grave visits

It is widely customary for families to visit and clean ancestral graves during Obon, offering flowers and incense.

What Obon and New Year have in common

Both Obon and New Year center on welcoming spirits into the home β€” ancestral spirits for Obon, the new year's deity for New Year β€” and the custom of returning to one's hometown for both holidays is thought to stem from this shared spirit-welcoming tradition.

Regional variation in customs

Details like how welcoming and send-off fires are lit, or whether cucumber-horse figures are made, vary by region and household religious tradition. Following local or family custom is the general approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Obon holiday a legal holiday?

No β€” it is not a legal holiday, but a customary summer break that many companies grant. Whether time off is given, and how much, depends on the employer's policies.

Is it necessary to make the cucumber and eggplant figures?

No β€” this custom varies by region and household, with some observing it and others not. Following local or family custom is generally fine.

Is it okay to travel during Obon?

There's no religious restriction, but since many families travel home or visit graves during this period, transportation and highways tend to be heavily congested, so booking and planning ahead is recommended.

What preparations are needed for a first Obon (hatsubon)?

It typically involves inviting a Buddhist priest for a memorial service and preparing a white lantern, among other more formal observances than a regular Obon β€” but the specifics vary by sect, region, and the family temple's practice, so checking in advance is reassuring.