Obon
SeasonalAnnual Buddhist festival honoring ancestral spirits with bon dances and lanterns.
Search matsuri, fireworks, and seasonal events by date, month, region, or type
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.
Open focused landing pages for fireworks, matsuri, lanterns, snow festivals, each major region, and every month of the calendar.
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195 festivals found
Annual Buddhist festival honoring ancestral spirits with bon dances and lanterns.
Tokushima Awa Odori: Japan's largest dance festival. Aug 12–15, 2026. 100,000 dancers fill the streets. Join the fun — anyone can dance!
Japan's largest dance festival in Tokushima, where 'the dancing fool' philosophy reigns.
High-energy dance festival originating in Kochi, featuring colorful costumes and naruko clappers.
Japan's largest outdoor rock festival in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki. Aug 8–16, 2026. 200+ artists across 5 stages over 5 days.
Osaka's celebration of its iconic street food with vendors from across the city.
Tokyo's western suburb festival with 19 ornate floats parading through the streets.
Sendai Tanabata Festival: Japan's largest star festival. Aug 6–8, 2026. Thousands of handmade streamers decorate the city. Free entry, food stalls.
Lantern festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura. Aug 6–9, 2026. 400+ hand-painted bonbori lanterns by artists and celebrities.
Lake Biwa's grand fireworks display with approximately 10,000 shots.
Year-round fireworks at Atami Bay, famous for its amphitheater-like viewing area.
Yamagata's flower hat dance festival with thousands of dancers.
Over 20,000 candles illuminate the grounds around Nara Park temples.
Elegant court music festival on the sea at Itsukushima Shrine.
Akita Kanto Festival: Mesmerizing bamboo lantern balancing. Aug 3–6, 2026. 280+ poles with 10,000 lanterns light up the night sky. Free admission.
One of Japan's three great fireworks festivals with spectacular Phoenix fireworks.
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri: Japan's most spectacular summer festival. Aug 2–7, 2026. Giant illuminated warrior floats parade through streets. Free to watch.
Hirosaki's fan-shaped illuminated float festival, sister event to Nebuta.
Massive fireworks along the Edo River, attracting over 1.3 million viewers.
Iconic bon dance at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Tokyo. Aug 1–4, 2026. Modern DJ remixes meet traditional dance. Free entry, food stalls.