January to March

Tamatorisai / Tamaseseri

Participants compete to grab sacred balls, known as tama, that are tossed into the crowd. This intense and chaotic scramble is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to those who successfully obtain a ball.

  • When: Jan 3
  • Where: Hakozakigu, Fukuoka

Nanokado Hadaka Mairi

The Nanokado Hadaka Mairi is a January 7 festival in Yanaizu, Fukushima, where men in loincloths brave the cold to climb icy temple steps at Fukuman Kokuzoson. This “Naked Pilgrimage” symbolizes purification, seeking blessings for health and good fortune.

  • When: Jan 7
  • Where: Enzoji Temple, Fukushima

Nishinomiya Ebisu / Kaimon Shinji Fukuotoko Erabi

Ebisu-sama is the Japanese god of good fortune, especially for fishermen and merchants. The Nishinomiya Shrine hosts the Toka Ebisu Festival, attracting many visitors seeking blessings. The main event is the “Fukuotoko(Lucky Man)” race, where participants sprint to the shrine, and the first three are crowned as lucky for the year.

  • When: Jan 10
  • Where: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref

Nozawa Fire Festival / Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri

It honors the deity Dosojin, believed to protect against evil and bring good fortune. The main event is a fiery battle where villagers defend a wooden shrine from being set on fire. It’s a dramatic and exciting tradition symbolizing community unity.

  • When: Jan 15
  • Where: Nozawa onsen, Nagano

Wakakusa Yamayaki / Wakakusa Fire

Mount Wakakusa is set on fire to mark the new year and welcome spring. The origins are debated, but it includes 600 fireworks that enhance the event.

  • When: The fourth Saturday of Jan
  • Where: Nara park, Nara

Sapporo Snow Festival

It features impressive snow and ice sculptures displayed throughout the city, including large-scale creations in Odori Park. The festival attracts millions of visitors who come to admire the intricate designs, enjoy various activities, and experience winter in Sapporo.

  • When: Early Feb
  • Where: Odori Park, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Nagasaki Lantern Festival

It features dragon dances, parades, and cultural performances, highlighting Nagasaki’s blend of Chinese and Japanese traditions. The event symbolizes good fortune and prosperity.

  • When: Mid of Feb
  • Where: Nagasaki town, Nagasaki

Toba Fire Festival / Toba no Himatsuri

The festival features two giant torches, called suzumi, made of kaya grass and bamboo. These five-meter-tall torches, wrapped with twelve ropes and containing holy trees, are placed at the Toba shrine to predict the year’s harvest and weather.

  • When: The second Saturday of Feb
  • Where: Toba Shinmeisha, Nishio, Aichi

Naked Man Festival / Saidaiji Eyo

It features thousands of men in loincloths scramble to catch sacred wooden sticks thrown by priests. The event, which celebrates good fortune and health, attracts large crowds.

  • When: The third Saturday of Feb
  • Where: Saidaiji Temple, Okayama

Yokote Kamakura

It features igloo-like snow huts—constructed by locals. Inside these huts, candles are lit to create a warm, enchanting atmosphere. The festival includes traditional performances, food stalls, and various activities, celebrating winter and showcasing the beauty of snow and ice.

  • When: Feb 15, 16
  • Where: Yokote, Akita

Omizutori Festival / Shunie

The Omizutori Festival at Todai-ji Temple, held from March 1-14, involves dramatic fire rituals and drawing sacred water. It marks the lunar new year and aims to ensure health and good fortune.

  • When: March 1 – 14
  • Where: Nigatsudo, Todaiji Temple, Nara

Honensai

Known for its lively and somewhat unconventional celebrations, it features a parade in which participants carry giant phallic symbols and other fertility-related items. The festival prays for good harvests and fertility, and its unique and colorful traditions attract many tourists.

  • When: March 15
  • Where: Tagata Shrine, Komaki, Aichi

April to June

Kanamara Festival

The festival celebrates fertility and is known for its procession featuring large, colorful phallic statues. Participants seek blessings for fertility, health, and good fortune. The event includes various stalls, performances, and traditional rituals, drawing both locals and tourists.

  • When: The first Sunday of April
  • Where: Kanayama Shrine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Shingen-ko Festival

It honors Takeda Shingen, a renowned samurai lord from the 16th century. The festival features historical reenactments, including battles and parades, as well as traditional music and dance.

  • When: Early April
  • Where: Kofu, Yamanashi

Tejikara Fire Festival / Tejikara no Himatsuri

It features dramatic fire rituals where participants carry large, flaming torches and set off fireworks. The festival, dedicated to the Tejikarao Shrine, is believed to bring good fortune and protection. The intense fire displays, combined with traditional music and performances, make it a thrilling and visually striking event.

  • When: The second Saturday of April
  • Where: Tejikarao Shrine, Gifu

Gon-Gon Festival

During the festival, show strength to hit a series of bells with a long log of pine trees. The contest held as the festival’s finale, contestants compete to see how many times they can hit the bell in one minute using a long pine log.

  • When: April 18
  • Where: Asahiyama Jonichi Temple, Himi, Toyama

Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival

The Takaoka Mikurumayama Festival features an impressive parade of lavishly decorated mikurumayama, which are large, wheeled festival floats adorned with intricate carvings, gold leaf, and traditional craftsmanship.

  • When: May 1
  • Where: City central in Takaoka, Toyama

Fukunoyotaka Festival

The Fukunoyotaka Festival is known for its exciting nighttime parade featuring large, illuminated yotaka floats, which are beautifully decorated and collide with each other in a thrilling spectacle. The highlight of the festival is the fight that begins around 11:00 p.m. on the second day. The young men break each other’s andon (lanterns). The fierce fights are so powerful that they leave the audience breathless.

  • When: May 1,2 and 3
  • Where: In front of Fukuno station, Nanto, Toyama

Hakata Dontaku

Hakata Dontaku features colorful parades with performers dressed in traditional costumes, dancers, and floats. A unique element of the festival is the use of shamoji (wooden rice paddles) by participants, which they rhythmically clap during performances.

  • When: May 3, 4
  • Where: In front of the Hakata Station, Fukuoka

Aoi Festival

The Aoi Festival is one of Kyoto’s oldest festivals and it features a grand procession of participants dressed in Heian-period costumes, making their way from the Imperial Palace to the Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. The festival originated as a way to pray for good harvests and protection from natural disasters.

  • When: May 15
  • Where: Kamigamo Shrine and Shimogamo Shrine

Kanda Festival

The Kanda Festival is one of Tokyo’s most famous Shinto festivals, held in mid-May at Kanda Myojin Shrine. It celebrates prosperity, good fortune, and the well-being of the community. The festival features grand parades with vibrant mikoshi (portable shrines), traditional music, and dancers, as well as displays of samurai culture.

  • When: Mid of May in odd-numbered year
  • Where: Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo

Yosakoi Soran Festival

The Yosakoi Soran Festival is an energetic dance festival and it combines traditional Yosakoi dance from Kochi Prefecture with the folk song Soran Bushi, which reflects Hokkaido’s fishing culture. Thousands of dancers, dressed in colorful costumes, perform choreographed routines to a mix of traditional and modern music.

  • When: Early June
  • Where: City center in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival features a grand parade with participants dressed in traditional samurai attire, as well as tea ceremonies, traditional dances, and other cultural performances.

  • When: Early June
  • Where: Central Kanazawa, Ishikawa

July to September

Gion Festival

The Gion Festival is one of Japan’s most famous and oldest festivals, held throughout July in Kyoto. Originating over 1,000 years ago to ward off plagues, it is centered around Yasaka Shrine. The highlight is the grand Yamaboko Junko, a parade of elaborately decorated floats (yamaboko) pulled through the streets. The festival also includes traditional music, dances, and ceremonies.

  • When: Whole month of July
  • Where: Mainly in Yasaka shrine, Kyoto

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival is a dynamic and centuries-old event held annually from July 1-15 in Fukuoka. The highlight is the thrilling Oiyama race on the final day, where teams of men in traditional attire race through the streets carrying heavy, beautifully decorated floats called yamakasa. The festival, dedicated to the deity of Kushida Shrine, celebrates strength, unity, and tradition, attracting large crowds for its vibrant atmosphere and intense competitions.

  • When: July 1 – 15
  • Where: Central Hakata, Fukuoka

Nachi Fire Festival(Nachi no Ogi Matsuri)

Nachi Fire Festival, also known as the Nachi no Ogi Matsuri, is one of Japan’s most famous fire festivals, celebrating the spirits of the 12 deities enshrined at Nachi Falls. The festival features large, flaming torches carried by men dressed in white, symbolizing the purification of the waterfall. The dramatic sight of the torches and the waterfall creates a powerful and sacred atmosphere, honoring nature and the gods.

  • When: July 14
  • Where: Kumanonachi Taisha Shrine, Wakayama

Gujo Odori Festival

The Gujo Odori Festival is a traditional dance festival held in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Prefecture, from mid-July to early September. It is one of Japan’s longest-running dance festivals, with roots going back over 400 years. The highlight is the All-Night Dance held for four consecutive nights in mid-August. Participants of all ages, including locals and visitors, dance together in the streets to traditional songs. The festival promotes community spirit and is celebrated for its open, welcoming atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to join the dance.

  • When: Mid July – Early September
  • Where: Central Gujo Hachiman, Gifu

Tenjin Festival

The Tenjin Festival is one of Japan’s most famous festivals. The festival features a grand river procession with illuminated boats, a lively land parade with portable shrines, and spectacular fireworks. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, traditional performances, and historical costumes, it celebrates Osaka’s rich cultural heritage and is one of the city’s biggest events.

  • When: July 24 – 25
  • Where: Osaka Tenmangu, Osaka

Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival

The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is an annual festival held from July 31 to August 4 in Hachinohe, Aomori. It honors the deities of three local shrines and features grand parades with elaborately decorated floats, traditional music, and performances. The festival also includes a procession of costumed participants, horses, and lively performances of traditional Japanese arts.

  • When: July 31 – August 4
  • Where: Central Hachinohe, Aomori

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival

The Morioka Sansa Odori Festival is known for its large-scale parades featuring thousands of dancers and taiko drummers performing in unison through the city streets. The festival celebrates local folklore and is rooted in a legend of driving away demons with drumming.

  • When: August 1 – 4
  • Where: Central Morioka, Iwate

Nebuta Festival

The Nebuta Festival features large, illuminated paper floats, called Nebuta, which depict historical figures, mythological characters, and warriors. These colorful floats are paraded through the streets, accompanied by dancers known as haneto, drummers, and musicians. The festival celebrates Japanese folklore and history, attracting millions of visitors with its lively atmosphere, stunning floats, and energetic performances.

  • When: August 2 – 7
  • Where: Central Aomori, Aomori

Akita Kanto Festival

The Akita Kanto Festival is known for the impressive display of large kanto, long bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns. Skilled participants balance these kanto, which can weigh up to 50 kg and reach 12 meters in height, on their hands, shoulders, and foreheads. The festival, a prayer for a good harvest, is accompanied by traditional music and cheers from spectators, creating a lively and captivating atmosphere.

  • When: August 3 – 6
  • Where: Central Akita, Akita

Yamagata Hanagasa Festival

The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival features large processions of dancers wearing colorful costumes and carrying hanagasa (flower-adorned hats). Participants dance to the rhythm of traditional music and chants of “Yassho, makasho!” while celebrating local culture and community spirit.

  • When: August 5 – 7
  • Where: Central Yamagata, Yamagata

Fukagawa Festival

The Fukagawa Festival, also known as the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri, is a major Shinto festival held at Tomioka Hachiman Shrine in Tokyo. The event features a lively procession of mikoshi (portable shrines) carried through the streets while participants splash water on the mikoshi and carriers to cool them down. The water-splashing has earned it the nickname “water festival.”

  • When: Mid of August
  • Where: Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, Tokyo

Awa Odori

Awa Odori is one of Japan’s most famous traditional dance festivals, held annually from August 12-15 in Tokushima. It features large groups of dancers, known as ren, performing lively, rhythmic dances in colorful costumes to the accompaniment of traditional instruments like shamisen, drums, and flutes. The dance style is energetic and vibrant, with a unique mix of graceful and exaggerated movements.

  • When: August 12 – 15
  • Where: Central Tokushima, Tokushima

Yamaga Toro(Lantern) Festival

The Yamaga Toro Festival is known for its beautiful display of women dressed in traditional yukata, dancing gracefully while balancing gold and silver lanterns (toro) on their heads. The highlight is the “Thousand Lantern Dance” performed at night, creating a magical and elegant atmosphere.

  • When: August 15 – 16
  • Where: Central Yamaga and Yamaga elementary school, Kumamoto

Gozan Okuribi(Daimonji)

Gozan Okuribi, also known as the Daimonji Festival, is a traditional event held on August 16 in Kyoto. It marks the end of the Obon festival, when the spirits of ancestors are believed to return to the afterlife. Large bonfires in the shape of kanji characters and other symbols are lit on five mountains surrounding Kyoto, with the most famous being the “Daimonji” character. These fires guide the spirits back to the spiritual realm and are a striking visual spectacle that draws many visitors.

  • When: August 16
  • Where: Kyoto

Yoshida no Himatsuri(Yoshida Fire Festival)

Yoshida no Himatsuri, or the Yoshida Fire Festival, is an annual event held on August 26-27 in Fujiyoshida City, at the base of Mount Fuji. It is considered one of Japan’s most significant fire festivals and is meant to calm the spirit of Mount Fuji and prevent volcanic eruptions. The festival features large torches and bonfires set along the streets, creating a dramatic and fiery atmosphere. It marks the end of the Mount Fuji climbing season and is a celebration of nature and protection.

  • When: August 26, 27
  • Where: In front of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, Yamanashi

Asakusa Samba Carnival

The Asakusa Samba Carnival features vibrant parades with dancers in colorful costumes, samba music, and elaborately decorated floats. Participants, both local and international, compete in dance and performance competitions. The carnival brings a festive atmosphere to Asakusa, blending Brazilian and Japanese cultures and attracting large crowds of spectators.

  • When: Late August
  • Where: Asakusa, Tokyo

Owara Kaze no Bon

Owara Kaze no Bon features a graceful, melancholic dance performed by locals wearing yukata and straw hats, accompanied by traditional music played on shamisen, kokyū, and taiko drums. The festival is meant to pray for protection from strong winds and a good harvest. The atmosphere is serene and hauntingly beautiful, with dancers moving slowly through the town’s narrow, lantern-lit streets.

  • When: September 1 – 3
  • Where: Yatsuo, Toyama

Kakunodate Matsuri no Yamagyoji

The Kakunodate Matsuri no Yamagyoji features parades of elaborately decorated yama floats through the town’s historic samurai district. The festival is a celebration of local culture and serves as a prayer for good harvests and community prosperity. One of the highlights is the dramatic float clashes, where teams collide their floats in friendly competition.

  • When: September 7 – 9
  • Where: Central Kakunodate, Akita

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival features teams pulling large, intricately decorated wooden floats called danjiri through the streets at high speeds. The event is known for its daring and energetic atmosphere, as participants race and make sharp turns with the heavy floats, showcasing strength, teamwork, and skill. The festival, which dates back over 300 years, is celebrated as a way to pray for a good harvest and community prosperity.

  • When: Mid of September
  • Where: Central Kishiwada

Aizu Festival

The Aizu Festival celebrates the rich history and samurai heritage of the Aizu region Fukushima. The festival features a grand samurai procession where participants dressed in traditional armor and attire reenact historical events. It also includes parades, traditional performances, and ceremonies to honor the region’s leaders, particularly the Aizu clan.

  • When: Late September
  • Where: Central Aizuwakamatsu and Tsuruga Castle

Ohara Hadaka Festival

The Ohara Hadaka Festival, also known as the Ohara Naked Festival, is an annual event held in September in Ohara, Chiba. Participants, dressed in traditional loincloths, carry portable shrines (mikoshi) into the sea as part of a ritual to pray for a good harvest and abundant fish. The festival’s highlight is the energetic and competitive atmosphere as the participants brave the water, symbolizing purification and strength. The event reflects the region’s deep connection to fishing and local traditions.

  • When: Late September
  • Where: Isumi, Chiba

September to December

Iizaka Fighting Festival / Iizaka Kenka Matsuri

The Iizaka Fighting Festival, or Iizaka Kenka Matsuri, is an energetic annual event held in October at Iizaka Onsen, in Fukushima. It involves a dramatic and intense competition where participants carrying large, ornate mikoshi (portable shrines) clash them together in a symbolic “fight.” This ritual is believed to bring good luck, ward off evil spirits, and ensure a bountiful harvest.

  • When: Early October
  • Where: Hachiman Shrine, Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima

Nakasaki Kunchi

Nagasaki Kunchi is a vibrant annual festival held in early October at Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, celebrating the city’s multicultural heritage and its historical connection to trade. The festival dates back over 400 years and features colorful parades, traditional dances, and performances representing influences from Japan, China, and the Netherlands. One of the highlights is the dragon dance and large, beautifully decorated floats called hoko.

  • When: October 7 – 9
  • Where: Central Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Autumn Takayama Festival

The Autumn Takayama Festival is celebrated at Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine and features beautifully crafted yatai (floats) that are paraded through the streets. These elaborately decorated floats, adorned with lanterns and intricate carvings, are considered some of Japan’s finest. The festival also includes traditional performances like karakuri puppet shows.

  • When: October 9, 10
  • Where: Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine, Takayama, Gifu

Nada Fighting Festival / Nada no Kenka Matsuri

The Nada Fighting Festival, or Nada no Kenka Matsuri is famous for the dramatic clashes between large, ornate mikoshi (portable shrines), which are violently bumped and shaken by participants. The festival’s name comes from these “fights” between the mikoshi, symbolizing strength, courage, and a prayer for a bountiful harvest. The powerful atmosphere and physical nature of the event draw many spectators every year.

  • When: October 14, 15
  • Where: Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, Himeji, Hyogo

Niihama Taiko Festival

The Niihama Taiko Festival features large, ornately decorated taiko-dai (drum floats), each weighing several tons, which are paraded through the streets and lifted high into the air by teams of men. The festival is known for its intense competitions, where teams show their strength by lifting and carrying the massive floats. It is a celebration of local pride and spirit, honoring the gods and praying for a good harvest.

  • When: October 16 – 18
  • Where: Niihama, Ehime

Kawagoe Festival

The Kawagoe Festival is famous for its elaborate dashi (floats) adorned with intricate carvings and lanterns. The highlight of the festival is the hikawa parade, where these floats are pulled through the streets, accompanied by traditional music and performers. During the evening, the floats are illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere. A unique feature of the festival is the float “battles,” where the floats face off, each trying to outplay the other with their musicians and performances.

  • When: The third Saturday of October
  • Where: Central Kawagoe, Saitama

Jidai Festival

The Jidai Festival festival features a grand procession of participants dressed in traditional costumes representing different periods of Japanese history, from the Meiji Restoration back to the Heian period. The parade moves from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine, showcasing the evolution of Kyoto’s cultural and political significance. It is one of Kyoto’s three major festivals, along with the Gion and Aoi Festivals.

  • When: October 22
  • Where: Heian Shrine, Kyoto

Taimatsu Akashi

Taimatsu Akashi features large taimatsu (torches), some reaching up to 10 meters in height, which are paraded through the streets and then set ablaze on a hillside. The festival commemorates local warriors and the victims of historical conflicts, including the devastation of Sukagawa Castle in the 16th century.

  • When: The second Saturday of November
  • Where: Midorigaoka Park, Sukagawa, Fukushima

Chichibu Yomatsuri

The Chichibu Yomatsuri is one of Japan’s three largest float festivals, featuring beautifully decorated yatai (floats) adorned with lanterns, tapestries, and carvings. The floats are paraded through the streets during the day and illuminated at night, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The highlight is the climactic fireworks display that accompanies the float procession through the city.

  • When: December 2, 3
  • Where: Chichibu Shrine, Saitama

Oga no Namahage

Oga no Namahage is a traditional New Year’s ritual held in the Oga Peninsula of Akita Prefecture. During the event, men dressed as Namahage, fierce demon-like figures wearing straw garments and masks, visit homes to warn against laziness and bad behavior while offering blessings for health and good fortune in the coming year. The Namahage, symbolizing mountain deities, roam the village, calling out and scaring children, but ultimately their presence is meant to encourage people to lead better lives. The ritual is a unique cultural practice that blends folklore, tradition, and community.

  • When: December 31
  • Where: Whole peninsula of Oga, Akita
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