Upcoming Festivals

Boys' Day with carp streamers and samurai helmet displays.

One of Kyoto's three great festivals with a Heian-era imperial procession.

Tokyo's wildest festival at Asakusa Shrine with over 100 portable shrines.

Kobe's biggest spring festival with samba parades and multicultural performances.

Grand festival at Nikko Toshogu with a 'Thousand Warrior' samurai procession.

Festival in Yamagata featuring a grand procession and traditional performances.

National taiko drumming festival showcasing Japan's powerful percussion tradition.

Outdoor Noh theater by torchlight at Kofukuji Temple in Nara.

Fukui's grand festival with towering warrior floats parading through the old port town.

World-renowned wisteria displays at Ashikaga Flower Park.

Fukuoka's largest festival with over 2 million visitors, featuring parades and stages.

Festival featuring Nagoya's signature miso katsu and other local dishes.

Free outdoor jazz festival in the streets of Osaka.

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

Alternate-year festival at Hie Shrine in Tokyo with an imperial procession.

Sapporo's dynamic dance festival blending Yosakoi and Soran traditions.

Rice planting festival at Sumiyoshi Taisha with traditional music and dance.

Aizen Matsuri is Osaka's summer festival opening, held at Shoman-in Aizendo Temple — the start of the city's festival season.

Mid-year purification ceremony where visitors walk through a reed ring.

Annual celebration of Yokohama's port opening with fireworks and parades.

Festival at one of Japan's three great morning markets in Wajima.

Gion Matsuri: Kyoto's legendary month-long festival. Jul 1–31, 2026. Grand float processions on Jul 17 & 24. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Fukuoka's high-energy festival where teams race through the streets carrying massive floats.

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

UNESCO-listed float festival in Sawara, Chiba. Jul 10–12, 2026. Edo-period streets, towering dashi floats, and traditional bayashi music.

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

Fuji Rock Festival: Asia's largest outdoor music festival. Jul 24–26, 2026. 200+ artists at Naeba Ski Resort. Camping, food, mountain setting.

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

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

Sumida River Fireworks Festival: Tokyo's oldest and most famous hanabi. Jul 25, 2026. Over 20,000 fireworks. Best viewed from Asakusa area.

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

Samurai horse festival in Fukushima with mounted warriors in armor.

Elegant court music festival on the sea at Itsukushima Shrine.

Lavender fields in bloom at Furano and Kamifurano in central Hokkaido.

Festival celebrating the traditional women pearl divers of Mie Prefecture.

National fireworks competition dedicated to Ise Grand Shrine.

Yokohama's waterfront fireworks display over the Minato Mirai skyline.

Ancient fire festival at Nachi Falls where giant torches are carried down the mountainside.

Nagoya Port's annual fireworks festival with over 3,000 fireworks.

Fan festival at Kumano Nachi Shrine with ancient fire rituals.

Festival celebrating Hakodate's famous squid catch with fresh preparations.