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Home / Festivals / Free Festivals in Japan

Free Festivals in Japan

Great festivals you can enjoy for free

98 free festivals

Toshikoshi Soba - Seasonal

Toshikoshi Soba

New Year's Eve tradition of eating buckwheat noodles for longevity.

KantoDecemberLow crowd

Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri - Religious

Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri

Ancient Shinto festival at Kasuga Shrine with 900 years of unbroken tradition.

KansaiDecemberModerate crowd

Sendai Pageant of Starlight - Illumination

Sendai Pageant of Starlight

Winter illumination along Sendai's zelkova-lined Jozenji-dori Avenue.

TohokuDecemberCrowded

Chichibu Night Festival - Matsuri

Chichibu Night Festival

One of Japan's three great float festivals, featuring massive illuminated floats and fireworks.

KantoDecemberExtremely crowded

Omotesando Illumination - Illumination

Omotesando Illumination

Holiday illumination along Tokyo's chic Omotesando Avenue.

KantoDecemberCrowded

Sapporo White Illumination - Illumination

Sapporo White Illumination

Sapporo's winter illumination at Odori Park, Japan's oldest illumination event.

HokkaidoDecemberCrowded

Ebisu-ko - Seasonal

Ebisu-ko

Autumn festival of the god Ebisu, especially popular in Nagano.

ChubuNovemberModerate crowd

Shichi-Go-San - Seasonal

Shichi-Go-San

Children's rite of passage at ages 3, 5, and 7, celebrated at shrines.

KantoNovemberModerate crowd

Arashiyama Autumn Leaves - Nature Festival

Arashiyama Autumn Leaves

Nature Festival

Spectacular autumn foliage at Kyoto's famous Arashiyama district.

KansaiNovemberExtremely crowded

Tokyo Midtown Illumination - Illumination

Tokyo Midtown Illumination

Elegant winter illumination at Tokyo Midtown with a starlight garden.

KantoDecemberCrowded

Marunouchi Illumination - Illumination

Marunouchi Illumination

Champagne gold LED illumination along Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue.

KantoDecemberCrowded

Miyajima Autumn Leaves - Nature Festival

Miyajima Autumn Leaves

Nature Festival

Autumn foliage at Miyajima's Momijidani Park with deer and shrine views.

ChugokuNovemberCrowded

Tsuchiura Fireworks - Fireworks

Tsuchiura Fireworks

National fireworks competition in Tsuchiura, one of Japan's top three.

KantoOctoberExtremely crowded

Tori no Ichi - Seasonal

Tori no Ichi

November rooster fair at Otori Shrine selling lucky rakes (kumade).

KantoNovemberCrowded

Karatsu Kunchi - Matsuri

Karatsu Kunchi

Saga's grand autumn festival featuring 14 massive lacquered floats.

KyushuNovemberCrowded

Shuri Castle Festival - Parade

Shuri Castle Festival

Grand procession recreating the Ryukyu Kingdom era at Shuri Castle.

OkinawaOctoberModerate crowd

Jidai Matsuri - Matsuri

Jidai Matsuri

Kyoto's Festival of Ages, a grand procession showcasing Japanese history.

KansaiOctoberCrowded

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks - Fireworks

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks

Osaka's grandest fireworks display along the Yodo River.

KansaiAugustExtremely crowded

Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu - Religious

Ise Grand Shrine Shikinen Sengu

The ritual rebuilding of Ise Grand Shrine every 20 years.

KansaiOctoberExtremely crowded

Nada no Kenka Matsuri - Matsuri

Nada no Kenka Matsuri

Himeji's 'fighting festival' where portable shrines clash violently.

KansaiOctoberCrowded

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