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Japanese Festivals & Events

Matsuri, fireworks, seasonal celebrations, and cultural events across Japan

Japan hosts over 300,000 festivals every year, from intimate village shrine ceremonies to massive urban spectacles drawing millions. Summer brings spectacular fireworks festivals and energetic Bon Odori dances; autumn features elegant harvest celebrations; winter illuminations light up cities nationwide; and spring's cherry blossom festivals are beloved worldwide. Our comprehensive guide covers festivals across all 47 prefectures with dates, locations, crowd levels, and insider tips. Filter by month, region, or festival type to find events perfectly matched to your travel plans.

August festivalsSummer matsuri and fireworks first FireworksA clear planning path for visitors 2026 calendar guideStart from the highest-engagement guide

Browse by festival type, region, and month

Open focused landing pages for fireworks, matsuri, lanterns, snow festivals, each major region, and every month of the calendar.

Festival type

Matsuri Fireworks Seasonal events Religious festivals Food festivals Dance festivals Parades Music festivals Lantern festivals

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Nature festivals

Performing arts

Region

Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa

Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

How we review festivals

Festival results

47 festivals found

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks - Fireworks

Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks

Osaka's grandest fireworks display along the Yodo River.

KansaiAugustExtremely crowded

Super Yosakoi - Dance

Super Yosakoi

Tokyo's version of the Yosakoi dance festival held in Harajuku.

KantoAugustCrowded

Omagari Fireworks - Fireworks

Omagari Fireworks

Japan's premier fireworks competition, held annually in Daisen, Akita.

TohokuAugustExtremely crowded

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi - Seasonal

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi

Daimonji Gozan Okuribi: Kyoto's iconic mountain bonfire ritual. Aug 16, 2026. Five giant kanji characters blaze on mountainsides at dusk.

KansaiAugustExtremely crowded

Summer Sonic - Music Festival

Summer Sonic

Major rock festival held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka.

KantoAugustExtremely crowded

Comiket - Other

Comiket

World's largest self-published comic book fair at Tokyo Big Sight.

KantoAugustExtremely crowded

Rising Sun Rock Festival - Music Festival

Rising Sun Rock Festival

All-night rock festival in Hokkaido, ending at sunrise.

HokkaidoAugustCrowded

Obon - Seasonal

Obon

Annual Buddhist festival honoring ancestral spirits with bon dances and lanterns.

KantoAugustModerate crowd

Awa Odori - Matsuri

Awa Odori

Japan's largest dance festival in Tokushima, where 'the dancing fool' philosophy reigns.

ShikokuAugustExtremely crowded

Tokushima Awa Odori - Matsuri

Tokushima Awa Odori

Tokushima Awa Odori: Japan's largest dance festival. Aug 12–15, 2026. 100,000 dancers fill the streets. Join the fun — anyone can dance!

ShikokuAugustExtremely crowded

Yosakoi Matsuri - Matsuri

Yosakoi Matsuri

High-energy dance festival originating in Kochi, featuring colorful costumes and naruko clappers.

ShikokuAugustCrowded

Rock in Japan Festival - Music Festival

Rock in Japan Festival

Japan's largest outdoor rock festival in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki. Aug 8–16, 2026. 200+ artists across 5 stages over 5 days.

KantoAugustExtremely crowded

Hachioji Matsuri - Matsuri

Hachioji Matsuri

Tokyo's western suburb festival with 19 ornate floats parading through the streets.

KantoAugustModerate crowd

Biwako Fireworks - Fireworks

Biwako Fireworks

Lake Biwa's grand fireworks display with approximately 10,000 shots.

KansaiAugustExtremely crowded

Kamakura Bonbori Matsuri - Lantern Festival

Kamakura Bonbori Matsuri

Lantern Festival

Lantern festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura. Aug 6–9, 2026. 400+ hand-painted bonbori lanterns by artists and celebrities.

KantoAugustModerate crowd

Tanabata Matsuri - Matsuri

Tanabata Matsuri

Sendai Tanabata Festival: Japan's largest star festival. Aug 6–8, 2026. Thousands of handmade streamers decorate the city. Free entry, food stalls.

TohokuAugustExtremely crowded

Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri - Matsuri

Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri

Yamagata's flower hat dance festival with thousands of dancers.

TohokuAugustCrowded

Atami Fireworks - Fireworks

Atami Fireworks

Year-round fireworks at Atami Bay, famous for its amphitheater-like viewing area.

ChubuAugustCrowded

Nara Tokae - Lantern Festival

Nara Tokae

Lantern Festival

Over 20,000 candles illuminate the grounds around Nara Park temples.

KansaiAugustModerate crowd

Kanto Matsuri - Matsuri

Kanto Matsuri

Akita Kanto Festival: Mesmerizing bamboo lantern balancing. Aug 3–6, 2026. 280+ poles with 10,000 lanterns light up the night sky. Free admission.

TohokuAugustCrowded

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