お盆(ぼん)

おぼん
noun
Obon festival
1. Obon; Bon Festival
A Japanese Buddhist festival to honor the spirits of ancestors, typically held in mid-August.
お盆(ぼん)に故郷(ふるさと)に帰(かえ)る。
I return to my hometown during Obon.
お盆(ぼん)休(やす)みに旅行(りょこう)する。
I travel during the Obon holiday.
お盆(ぼん)は先祖(せんぞ)の霊(れい)を迎(むか)える行事(ぎょうじ)だ。
Obon is an event to welcome the spirits of ancestors.

お盆(ぼん) (Obon) is one of Japan's three major holiday periods, along with 正月(しょうがつ) (New Year) and ゴールデンウィーク (Golden Week). It is a Buddhist festival honoring ancestral spirits.

TIMING:
Most of Japan observes Obon from August 13-16. Some regions (notably Tokyo) observe it in mid-July. Many companies give employees 盆(ぼん)休(やす)み (Obon vacation).

CULTURAL TRADITIONS:

  • 迎(むか)え火(び): welcoming fire (to guide spirits home)
  • 送(おく)り火(び): sending fire (to see spirits off)
  • 墓参(はかまい)り: visiting family graves
  • 盆踊(ぼんおど)り: Bon dance (community festival dance)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • お盆(ぼん)休(やす)み: Obon holiday/vacation
  • お盆(ぼん)に帰省(きせい)する: to return to one's hometown for Obon

Related Words

Related: お正月(しょうがつ) (New Year holiday)
Related: 墓参(はかまい)り (grave visit)
Related: 帰省(きせい) (returning to hometown)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:15 · Revised 2026.4.14 19:22
05500/05587_obon