Japanese Festivals & Events

Grand procession recreating the Ryukyu Kingdom era at Shuri Castle.

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

Annual ramen festival in Tokyo gathering ramen shops from across Japan.

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

Osaka's grandest fireworks display along the Yodo River.

The ritual rebuilding of Ise Grand Shrine every 20 years.

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

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

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

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

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

Moon viewing tradition with dango offerings and pampas grass decorations.

Adrenaline-fueled festival where massive wooden carts race through narrow streets.

Free street jazz festival along Sendai's tree-lined Jozenji-dori.

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

Elegant evening dance festival in Toyama's Yatsuo district.

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

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

Five great bonfires on Kyoto's mountains to send off ancestral spirits.

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