Matsuri Festivals

Ornate floats accompanied by Gion music parade through Hita's historic districts.

Chosa drum floats parade during Hiwasa Hachiman Shrine's autumn celebrations.

Portable shrines and floats parade through Sapporo during Hokkaido Shrine's early summer festival.

Floats topped with decorative figures parade along Honjo's historic Nakasendo streets.

Dance groups and local folk performances, including stacked lion dances, celebrate summer in Imabari.

Drum signals accompany encounters between portable shrines and floats in Imari.

Snow sculptures of dogs and shrines glow with candlelight during this winter celebration in Yuzawa.

Floats carrying mechanical puppets parade through Inuyama and glow with lanterns after dark.

Riverside ceremonies and celebrations honor the river and the history of flood control in Ishinomaki.

Dragon-boat races following the lunar calendar honor Itoman's fishing traditions.

Elaborately crafted floats follow carts carrying traditional Ioriuta singers through Johana.

Floats carrying musicians and dancers travel through Kakunodate, with dramatic encounters between the festival carts.

One of Tokyo's three great festivals, held at Kanda Myojin Shrine in odd-numbered years.

Danjiri floats clash during an energetic autumn festival in Katsuyama.

Musicians and dancers perform on raised platforms during Katsuyama's winter celebration.

Floats topped with elaborate figures meet in musical exchanges along Kawagoe's historic streets.

Participants splash hot-spring water in a winter celebration of Kawarayu's onsen.