Obon honors the return of ancestral spirits, who are said to visit their living relatives during this time. It’s a period of remembrance, family reunion, and cultural celebration. 

Origins of Obon 

Obon’s roots lie in Buddhist traditions surrounding the afterlife and ancestral return, with influence from the Chinese Zhongyuan Festival and other folk observances across East and Southeast Asia. 

The Obon story originates from the Buddhist tale of Maha Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), a disciple of Buddha. Upon discovering his deceased mother suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts (Preta), he sought the Buddha’s guidance. Buddha advised him to make offerings to monks on the 15th day of the 7th month. After doing so, his mother was released from suffering. 

Overcome with gratitude, Maudgalyayana is said to have danced with joy — a gesture that evolved into Bon Odori, the traditional Obon dance. This story became the basis for the Obon holiday: a joyful, spiritual occasion to thank and honor one’s ancestors. 

Celebrating Obon 

In most regions of Japan, Obon takes place in mid-August, although some areas, including parts of Tokyo and Kanagawa, observe it in mid-July. Because of the nationwide return to hometowns during Obon, this is one of Japan’s busiest travel seasons — advance planning is a must if you’re traveling during this time. 

Common Obon customs include: 

• Chochin paper lanterns 

• Bon Odori 

• Family Reunions & Grave Visits 

• Welcoming and Sending Bonfires
   

Chōchin lanterns are cylindrical or round paper lanterns that are hung in front of homes to guide ancestral spirits back. Some families create floating lanterns (tōrō nagashi) to send spirits off on water at the end of the festival. 

Bon Odori, the Obon dance, is performed in towns and parks across Japan. Rooted in Buddhist Nembutsu Odori, it’s both a spiritual offering and a joyful expression of gratitude, often accompanied by traditional music and performed in a circle.  Today it provides festive entertainment during Obon to the surrounding crowds, who watch while dances are performed. 

Family reunions are also a key part of Obon. Many return to their hometowns to clean and decorate gravesites, offer incense and flowers, and pay respects. These acts are believed to help support the spirits’ journey and express appreciation for past generations. 

Bonfires, such as the mukaebi (welcoming fire) and okuribi (sending-off fire), are lit at the beginning and end of Obon to guide the spirits’ paths. 

Popular foods during Obon festivals 

As with many Japanese festivals, street food plays a huge role in the Obon celebration. A quick tip: if you see “yaki” in the name, it likely means it’s grilled or pan-fried and served hot and fresh. 

Some of the most common Obon festival favorites include: 

• Takoyaki: bite-sized fritters of diced octopus, fried in a soft batter in a specialized iron griddle with dozens of half-sphere molds 

• Yakisoba: stir-fried wheat noodles with meat and vegetables 

• Okonomiyaki: literally, “as you like it, grilled,” a savory pancake of dashi batter and thin-sliced cabbage, with mix-ins like little thin sliced pork, nori, and other chopped seafood or vegetables, topped with Japanese mayo, sweet-savory okonomiyaki sauce, and katsuobushi flakes 

• Taiyaki: A snack of pancake batter shaped into a fish with a special mold, then filled with a usually sweet, sometimes savory filling – most commonly sweet red bean paste, custard, and chocolate.  

Thanks to the Pacific Northwest’s strong Japanese American community, Obon traditions live on across the region. Many Buddhist temples and cultural centers in the Puget Sound area host annual Obon festivals — complete with Bon Odori, lantern ceremonies, and traditional foods. 

Even if there isn’t an Obon festival near you, it’s a special time to reflect on your own ancestors, honor their legacy, and enjoy the spirit of the season — perhaps with a trip to Uwajimaya to stock up on festival snacks and make your own Obon celebration at home.