Takigi (Bonfire) Noh Theater (May 11-12, June 1-2)
Noh is a unique type of traditional theater in that all actors wear masks, so emotion is portrayed through subtle bodily movements rather than facial expressions or voice. Takigi Noh is a performance of Noh Theater in which fires are lit around the stage to increase the dramatic effect of the performance.

Takigi Noh will be performed on May 11-12 in Nara at Kofukuji Temple for 3500 yen (5000 yen for both days) and at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Performance details here.

Performances at Kyoto's Heian Jingu Shrine are on June 1-2 from 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., and tickets go on sale from late April. Admission fees for the 2006 performances were 3,300 yen on the day of the performance and 2,500 yen for advance tickets. Kyoto performance details here. Advance purchase is recommended for either show. Tickets can be purchased inside Japan only (at the shrine itself or at convenience stores), but some Japanese tour operators may be able to procure them for a fee.

Hotaru-ika (Firefly Squid) Sightseeing Tour (April 7 - May 6)
For one month only, visitors to Japan may view the fishing of Firefly Squid (a small type of squid with natural bioluminescence) from a tourist boat and see the squid mysteriously light up as the ship touches the fishing net. Firefly squid are also quite delicious and can be purchased as a snack. Sleepy guests arrive at the boat between 2:30 and 2:50 A.M., and the boat leaves shore at 3:00 A.M.

Reservations accepted on the day before (from 10:00 - 16:00) if space is still available, but they usually begin taking reservations around March so advance reservations are highly recommended.

To make reservations, please contact the Namerikawa City Tourism Association at 076-475-0100.
Dates: April 7 (Sat) - May 6 (Sun)
Adults: 3000 yen.
Students: (Elementary, Jr. High, High) 2000 yen.Small children not allowed.
8 min. walk from JR Namerikawa Station (JR Hokuriku Line) in Toyama Prefecture, about 3 1/2 hours by train from either Kyoto or Tokyo.
Click here for more information in English.

Cormorant Fishing (May 11 - Oct 15)
Cormorant Fishing, also known as Ukai, is a 1300 year-old fishing method used by fishermen of Nagara Town in Gifu Prefecture. A rope is tied around the neck of a cormorant so that it cannot fully swallow the fish that it catches. It then spits the fish out into the fisherman's bucket and begins "fishing" for more.

Ukai cormorant fishing takes place every night from May11 through October 15 except on the night of the harvest moon (September 26 in 2007), on nights with fireworks shows (July 28 and August 7 in 2007) and during times of high water levels in the river.

Boats depart at 6:15 P.M. (3,300 yen), 6:45 P.M and 7:15 P.M. (both 3,000 yen) and the actual fishing begins at around 7:30 P.M. Chartered boats are also available. Nagara can be reached by bus from Gifu Station, which is about 20 minutes by train from Nagoya.

For more details, and information on how to make reservations, please visit this English website.

Spring Festivals
Tokyo has 3 major festivals coming up. Click on the links for details about each festival.

Kanda Matsuri : (May 12, 13)
    one of Japan's big 3 festivals
Sanja Matsuri : (May 18-20)
    one of the largest Mikoshi (portable shrine) festivals
There are many other festivals going on throughout Japan at this time, including
    Fukuoka's extravagant Hakata Dontaku Festival (May 3, 4)
Kyoto's elegant and highly ritualized
    Aoi (Hollyhock) Festival (May 15)
Nikko's Grand Festival of Spring
    which includes a procession of 1000 men dressed as samurai warriors (May 17, 18)

Cell Phone Rental
For those who simply want to rent a number and handset in Japan, rental phone service is available from the following companies at Narita Airport, Kansai Airport, and Nagoya's Centrair Airport. Not all airports have all of the service providers listed below, so please check the respective cell phone and airport websites.

Moreover, some service providers allow foreign travelers to use their own SIM card or cell phone. In this case, it is possible to use one's U.S. phone number by simply inserting one's own SIM card into a rented handset. Some U.S. handsets are even compatible with the Japanese networks. See the websites of NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank Mobile for details.