Friendly to Senior
Cultural · Religion
お盆にはお墓参りに行かれますか？ — Do you go to visit the family grave during Obon? (Cultural · Religion, Friendly to Senior, JLPT N3)
You
お盆にはお墓参りに行かれますか？
おぼんにはおはかまいりにいかれますか？
Do you go to visit the family grave during Obon?
Romaji: Obon ni wa ohaka mairi ni ikaremasu ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, mainen kazoku zen'in de iku koto ni shite imasu.
Reply
はい、毎年家族全員で行くことにしています。
はい、まいねんかぞくぜんいんでいくことにしています。
Yes, we make a point of going as a whole family every year.
Gesture & etiquette
Calm, respectful tone. Soft eye contact. If they begin to share family memories, listen without interrupting. A small nod when they finish a thought, not constant aizuchi that might rush the reflection.
Obon (mid-August in most regions, mid-July in some) is when ancestral spirits are believed to return home. Visiting the family grave (ohaka mairi) is a major Obon practice — cleaning the grave, leaving flowers and incense, and quietly speaking with the deceased. Asking about this respectfully shows you understand the cultural and family weight of the practice. Avoid asking about specific deceased relatives unless they bring it up.