1.
Obon holiday; summer vacation period around mid-August
The period of time off work or school during the Obon festival, typically around August 13-16, when many people return to their hometowns.
お盆休みは実家に帰る。
I'm going back to my hometown for the Obon holiday.
今年のお盆休みは何日間ですか。
How many days is this year's Obon holiday?
お盆休みの時期は高速道路がとても混む。
The highways get very congested during the Obon holiday period.
One of the three major holiday periods in Japan, along with 年末年始 (New Year) and ゴールデンウィーク (Golden Week). Most companies give employees several days off, and it is customary to return to one's hometown to visit family graves and spend time with relatives.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お盆休みに入る: to start the Obon holiday
- お盆休み中: during the Obon holiday
- お盆休みを取る: to take the Obon holiday off
- お盆休みの帰省ラッシュ: the homecoming rush during Obon
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Obon is a Buddhist tradition honoring the spirits of ancestors. During this period, families clean graves, make offerings, and some regions hold 盆踊り (Bon dances). The travel rush before and after お盆休み causes major traffic jams and crowded trains, which are widely reported in the news each year.