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Aug 12, 2018

Obon and hometown migration

Something we've noticed out here in the Niigata countryside this weekend is just how much more crowded the roads are. Our local Aeon had a packed parking lot yesterday, and we were thinking "what's the deal?" since it's usually relatively calm and peaceful, and you have no problem snagging a convenient parking spot.


Then we realized - all these people must be coming back from elsewhere for Obon. It made my heart sink a little to be honest, since it made me think at a certain point in time this area was probably bustling. I love the sleepiness of my countryside home on a day-to-day basis, but I do worry about what urban migration means for the future of this area in another generation's time. 

Obon and hometown migration photo

Roads here usually look like this. Not quite the case this weekend, though!


If you live in a rural/countryside area, have you noticed the influx in people coming home for obon this weekend?


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