Listed in Time.com's top 10 quirkiest local festivals, the event is attended by thousands of spectators each year. The colourful festivities commence with processions of children balancing on poles and dressed as traditional deities accompanied by gongs and lion dancing. The final night is the quirky bit. Competitors scramble up a bun tower - made by the locals - to collect as many buns as possible in order to claim the title of king or queen of buns. This festival dates back to the late Qing dynasty, when plague ravaged Cheung Chau island and only ceased when residents built an altar at the Pak Tai Temple to their god to drive out the evil spirits. May 14-18

Springtime in Japan is famed for its cherry blossoms. The blooms only last a week, so timing is crucial when planning your trip. It's said that if the winter has been mild, then the cherry blossom trees will open early - late March - but if the winter has been especially cold, they will bloom in April. The best areas in Tokyo to view the blooms are Ueno Park, the Imperial Palace, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen and the Yasukuni Jinja Shrine. Picnics in the park are a popular pastime. If you happen to miss the blooms in Tokyo, head for Mount Fuji, where blossoms open up two weeks later. March-April www.japan-guide.com