Sumer Festivals during 2016?

Hi,

I'm planning a trip to Japan as a college trip with cousins and friends in the year 2016. I plan on going Late July to Early August.I am aiming to try and land a trip to Hiroshima and pay our respects but at the same time would also like to land some summer festivals. Is there any festivals at the following locations and days in the year 2016? (Full days and days where we will mostly be in the city shown)

Tokyo: July 27 - August 1
Kyoto August 2 - August 3
Himeji: August 4
Hiroshima: August 4 - August 6
Nara: August 7
Mount Koya: August 8
Tokyo: August 10 (Hoping to depart midnight)

I am aware of the Sumida Fireworks festival and would like to know if it is in the last Saturday of July that year. Half the sources I searched claim the festival will be in the 4th Saturday while half say it's the last Saturday. Since July 2016 has 5 weeks, this brings me concern. Basically, will I be around for the Sumida Fireworks Festival 2016?

If there are any noteworthy festivals anywhere south of Tokyo (also aware of many Tokhou Festivals, but we aren't going north of Tokyo)? If they are around the areas listed above, I would gladly like to know. On the other hand, if anyone knows any festivals that do not fit the order of my planned trip above, I am willing to rearrange so long as we keep August 6 for Hiroshima.

I am also aware since 2016 is kinda far away, I know some information will not be present. But some guesstimation will be appreciated.

Thanks.

For the time period that you are talking about (around the first week of August), if you are really interested in a Festival Hop, I would suggest going north of Tokyo and hitting the Northern Festivals. There is also the Fireworks at Nagaoka on the 2nd and 3th. I would personally love to see one of the Phoenix Shells go off, which is one of the signature fireworks at Nagaoka.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2267.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3755.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3627.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5158.html

Kyoto also celebrates Tanabata in August, and you could go there after Sendai. You might be able to catch the fireworks at Lake Biwa just north of Kyoto.

Here is a general link to festivals. You can get an idea of what may be available:

http://www.goldenjipangu.com/201408.html

I hope this helps.

I would also try to get to Hiroshima around the 10th or 11th, depending on when they schedule it, for the Miyajima Fireworks.

This is not exactly what you asked for, but it may give you ideas on what to do.

Yes... I AM aware that you said that you didn't want to go north of Tokyo, but I thought it was stil worth mentioning.

I also understand the heart of you trip appears to be the World Peace Ceremony at Hiroshima on August 6th. Are you planning to fold 1000 paper cranes and donate them to world peace at the Kiosks near the stature of Sadako Sasaki?

Anyway, I just wanted to mention the Yosakoi Dance Festival in Kuchi occurs a few days after the world peace ceremony, and Shikoku Island is not vewry far from Hiroshima.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/events/2014/07/31/traditional-festivals-th...

A note on the festival link I gave you earlier, I would go to the first festival and then page down. There are more festivals list than there are listed on the August main page, so poke around.

I am most definitely familiar with the three great festivals of Tokhou and would very much like to go. However while I would like to participate in many festivals as much as possible, I would also like time to spend at Himeji, Nara, and the Temple stay at Mount Koya. Also I would like to be back at home before college starts mid August.

As of the thousand paper cranes. I never actually thought about it and I'm even familiar with the story of Sadoko-san. Funny because just recently my sister asked if I can donate a single crane. However, 999 more would be more fitting for the peace ceremony. I most definitely will attempt to do the thousand cranes.

Also, thanks for the website of festivals. It is most definitely helpful for planning.

If you did not know of this, there is a Childrens Monument at Peace Park. There are about 8 plastic Kiosks that people can bring their 1000 cranes and hang them up inside. You normally string 40 or 50 cranes together with a bead on the end. All the strands are then tied to a ring or carabine so that it can be clipped or tied to the bar that is in the Kiosk.

The followig website has a good photo of the peace monument, with the Kiosks behind it.

http://www.gojapango.com/travel/japan.php?poi_id=336

I delivered 1000 cranes two year ago, when I went to Japan. I used 150 mm paper for my cranes, and it was rather bulky.

I wash ther this year. And it's to big! Morning tranins is nothing to this. Stand on one place and lift up your feet and you will end up on another street. It whas a experiance i will never forget. But we dident even come close to the park streets whas over crowded every where.If your there for alot of ppl and see fireworks from distancs thene go for it. But try to get to a smaller festival to get a experiance of a japanes festival.