Upcoming Festivals

Hokkaido's largest food festival in Odori Park featuring local cuisine.

Japan's largest German beer festival at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

Kure's autumn shrine festival includes sacred-grain rites and a mikoshi procession.

A great tug-of-war on the lunar calendar's eighth-month full moon offers prayers for harvests, fishing and health.

Large illuminated floats depicting Goto history and folklore parade through Fukue.

Decorated daytime floats become lantern floats for an evening procession through Shinminato.

Moon viewing tradition with dango offerings and pampas grass decorations.

Theater about Benkei, geta dancing and yosakoi performances animate Tanabe.

Fukushima's spectacular lantern festival with 3,000 paper lanterns on floats.

Stages and stalls fill the streets around Matsudo Station during this community autumn festival.

Armored participants reenact a battle at Shiroishi Castle in a festival linked to the Katakura clan.

Teams lift richly decorated chosa drum floats through Toyohama during its autumn festival.

Danbee dancing, mikoshi and Gion floats bring an autumn celebration to central Maebashi.

Grand parade of the three great warlords — Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu.

Nagoya's grand festival featuring a parade of the three great warlords.

Elaborately carved wooden floats parade through Kanuma and exchange lively festival music.

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

The ritual rebuilding of Ise Grand Shrine every 20 years.

Osaka's grandest fireworks display along the Yodo River.

One of Japan's largest illumination events with millions of LED lights.

Potters and workshops gather in Imbe for a celebration of Bizen ceramics.

Annual ramen festival in Komazawa Olympic Park, Tokyo. Oct 22–Nov 3, 2026. 36 shops from across Japan serve limited-edition bowls.

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

Grand procession recreating the Ryukyu Kingdom era at Shuri Castle.

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

Historical-costume processions and community events celebrate autumn in Ozu.

November rooster fair at Otori Shrine, Tokyo. Nov 5, 17, 29, 2026. Buy ornate kumade rakes for good luck. Street food, lively atmosphere.

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

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

Elegant winter illumination at Tokyo Midtown with a starlight garden.

Champagne gold LED illumination along Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue.

Massive illumination at Sagamiko Resort with over 6 million lights.

Spectacular autumn foliage at Kyoto's famous Arashiyama district.

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

A daimyo procession brings historical pageantry to the former castle town of Hagi.

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

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

German-style Christmas market with illumination at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

Winter illumination at Enoshima Island with ocean views.

Imperial harvest thanksgiving ritual held at the Imperial Palace.

Holiday illumination along Tokyo's chic Omotesando Avenue.

Annual all-star kabuki performance at Kyoto's Minamiza Theatre in December.

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

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

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