Free Festivals in Japan

Elegant court music festival on the sea at Itsukushima Shrine.

Akita's pole lantern festival where performers balance bamboo poles with lanterns.

One of Japan's three great fireworks festivals with spectacular Phoenix fireworks.

Aomori's spectacular festival with giant illuminated paper floats.

Morioka's drum and dance festival, the world's largest taiko drum parade.

One of the world's largest fireworks displays in Tondabayashi, Osaka.

Iconic bon dance event at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple with modern DJ mixes.

Massive fireworks along the Edo River, attracting over 1.3 million viewers.

Hirosaki's fan-shaped illuminated float festival, sister event to Nebuta.

Okinawan Eisa dance festival in the heart of Tokyo's Shinjuku.

Tokyo's oldest and most famous fireworks display along the Sumida River.

Samurai horse festival in Fukushima with mounted warriors in armor.

The river procession portion of Tenjin Matsuri with thousands of boats on the Okawa River.

Osaka's greatest festival with a river procession of illuminated boats.

Festival of lights at Yasukuni Shrine with 30,000 paper lanterns.

Chiba's float festival in the historic canal town of Sawara.

Star Festival celebrating the annual meeting of celestial lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi.

One of Japan's three great festivals, held in Kyoto with elaborate float processions.