I prefer the tradition of having Obon in August instead of July.
On the 13th, we light a fire (mukaebi) to welcome the spirits of our ancestors, and spend the Obon period peacefully. On the 16th, we light another fire (okuribi) to send the spirits back to where they came from.
In August, with most of the country on summer vacation, it is not busy. It is the perfect time to practice the ritual.

There is much to do to prepare for Obon, even if we try to keep it simple.
We need a special shelf, special flowers, and offerings.
Bringing out the box with the Obon lanterns and assembling them is quite a job.
We need a makomo mat (a mat made of wild rice) for the shelf and another for the entrance, and the ogara sticks for the fire need to be cut into suitable lengths. I also have to keep some for the legs of the eggplant cow and cucumber horse. I must not forget to order lotus leaves at the flower shop.
It is the hottest period during the summer, and yet I am as busy as ever.

The magic of Obon is that the busyness is not stressful.
The sweet idea that our ancestors are coming to visit us makes it not tiresome.
I hope the spirits do not get lost on their way to my house.

I will do a good job of making the legs of the cucumber horse so that they can run speedily. They shall be long and stylish.
Corn silk will be used for the tail. A makomo mat will be laid in the entrance, and the horse and cow will be placed on it.
The horse will face the house, and the cow, which the spirits will ride home will face the other way.

Once the shelf is complete and the lanterns are lit, it is time to make the mukaebi fire.
I will light the ogara sticks in a horaku earthenware baking pan.
It has been a year since I last smelt mukaebi fire.
When the fire creates a lot of smoke, I ask the spirits to let the smoke direct them.

The main event of Obon is when we visit our family graves holding a lantern lit with this fire.
That said, our family grave is not within walking distance, and is three or four train stations away.
Do I have to give up my dream of visiting the grave with a lit lantern have to end as a dream?
Or, shall I make an hour-long walk to visit it?