2月の祭り

Naked festival at Saidaiji Temple where men compete for sacred sticks.

Spectacular Chinese lantern festival with 15,000 lanterns illuminating Nagasaki.

Snow hut festival in Akita where visitors enjoy mochi and amazake inside igloos.

Early-blooming cherry blossom festival along the Kawazu River.

Snow lantern festival at Hirosaki Castle with hundreds of snow lanterns.

Hokkaido's second-largest winter festival with massive snow sculptures.

Japan's most famous winter festival with massive snow and ice sculptures.

Bean-throwing ceremony to ward off evil spirits, held at temples across Japan.

Romantic snow candle festival along Otaru's historic canal.

Festival celebrating the 'ice monsters' — snow-covered trees at Zao Onsen.

Snow festival at Koiwai Farm featuring snow sculptures and winter activities.

Ramen festival featuring Kumamoto's rich tonkotsu ramen.

Niigata's snow festival, one of Japan's three great snow festivals.

Ancient Noh performed by farmers at Kasuga Shrine in Yamagata.