Festivals & Events in Japan

Experience the vibrant culture and traditions of Japan through its festivals and events

Akita Kanto Matsuri - One of the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku in Akita

Akita

The Akita Kanto Festival is one of the three great festivals of Tohoku, held annually in August in central Akita City and designated as a National Imp...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
August

Animate Girls Festival - Entertainment Festival for Female Fans

Tokyo

Animate Girls Festival (AGF) is one of Japan's largest comprehensive entertainment events for the otome (female-oriented) audience, held annually sinc...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
November

Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination(Ao no Dokutsu SHIBUYA)- Japan's Largest Blue Illumination

Tokyo

Shibuya Blue Cave Illumination is Japan's largest blue illumination event, held annually in the heart of Shibuya during winter. This magical pathway o...

Illumination
December

Aomori Nebuta Festival - Summer Festival Held Every August in Aomori Prefecture

Aomori

Experience the spectacular Aomori Nebuta Festival, one of the three great festivals of Tohoku, held annually in August in Aomori City, Aomori Prefectu...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
August

Arashiyama Autumn Leaves Festival - Traditional Autumn Event in Autumn-Colored Arashiyama

Kyoto

The Arashiyama Momiji Festival (Autumn Leaves Festival) is an elegant riverboat celebration held every November in Arashiyama, Kyoto, one of Japan's m...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
November

Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination - Garden of Lights (Hikari no Hana no Niwa)

Tochigi

Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, is a botanical garden where you can enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the year. The expansi...

Illumination
January February October ...

Ashikaga Flower Park Great Wisteria Festival - Japan's Premier Wisteria Experience

Tochigi

Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the Kanto region's premier flower destinations, known for its over 350 wisteria t...

Nature & Seasonal
April May

Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) - One of Japan's three most beautiful festivals held in Hida-Takayama in October

Gifu

The Takayama Autumn Festival, held annually in October in Hida Takayama, is one of Japan's most prestigious festival celebrations, with approximately ...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
October

Awa Odori - One of Japan's Three Great Bon Festivals

Tokushima

Awa Odori is Japan's largest bon dance festival held annually during the Obon period in August in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. With over 400 ...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
August

Chichibu Night Festival - UNESCO World Heritage Winter Matsuri

Saitama

The Chichibu Night Festival is the annual grand festival of Chichibu Shrine, held every December 2nd and 3rd, boasting over 300 years of history as on...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
December

Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival - Tokyo's Historic Cherry Blossom Festival

Tokyo

This is a spring cherry blossom festival held throughout various locations in Chiyoda Ward, including the Chidorigafuchi Green Path west of the Imperi...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
March April

Comic Market - Japan's Largest Doujinshi Convention

Tokyo

Comic Market (commonly known as Comiket) is Japan's largest doujinshi convention and cultural event that has been running since 1975, held twice a yea...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
August December

Grand Sumo Tournament - Annual sumo tournaments held 6 times a year

Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka

The Grand Sumo Tournament (Ozumo Honbasho) is Japan's premier sumo competition, featuring 15-day official tournaments held six times throughout the ye...

Sports & Competition
January March May ...

Hakata Dontaku Festival - One of Japan's Largest Citizen-Participation Festivals in Fukuoka

Fukuoka

The Hakata Dontaku Festival is one of Japan's largest citizen-participation festivals held annually during Golden Week in Fukuoka City. With roots tra...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
May

Hakone Ekiden - The Premier University Relay Race Held During New Year

Kanagawa, Tokyo

Hakone Ekiden is the pinnacle of university long-distance relay racing, connecting Tokyo's Otemachi to Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture over a total dist...

Sports & Competition
January

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival - Aomori's Spectacular Cherry Blossom Destination

Aomori

The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival held annually in Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, is a historic cherry blossom celebration that...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
April May

Hitachi Seaside Park Nemophila - Sea of Blue Flowers Scenic Spot

Ibaraki

Hitachi Seaside Park is a vast national park spanning flower gardens and greenery located in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Situated on a plate...

Nature & Seasonal
April May

Huis Ten Bosch Kingdom of Light - World's Largest Illumination Event

Nagasaki

Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, is Japan's largest theme park resort faithfully recreating Dutch cityscapes. Since opening in 1992, it ...

Illumination
January February March ...

Jidai Matsuri - A Spectacular Historical Procession Tracing the History of Kyoto

Kyoto

The Jidai Matsuri, or "Festival of the Ages," is a prestigious celebration counted alongside the Aoi Matsuri and Gion Matsuri as one of Kyoto's three ...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
October

Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival - Tokyo Downtown Fireworks Festival

Tokyo

The Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival is an urban fireworks festival that began in 1980 and is held in central Tokyo. In the verdant environment of Meiji...

Fireworks (hanabi)
August

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival - Autumn Event Featuring Ginkgo Tree Avenue and Gourmet Food

Tokyo

The Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival, held annually at Meiji Jingu Gaien in central Tokyo, is one of the city center's largest autumn events that has been ...

Nature & Seasonal
November December

Kanazawa Castle & Kenrokuen Four Seasons Story - Castle and Garden Illumination Event

Ishikawa

Kanazawa Castle & Kenrokuen Four Seasons Story is Ishikawa Prefecture's representative seasonal event, staged at the Special Place of Scenic Beauty "K...

Light-Up
February March April ...

Karatsu Kunchi - Kyushu's Greatest Traditional Float Festival

Saga

Karatsu Kunchi is a traditional autumn festival held annually from November 2nd to 4th in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, boasting over 400 years of hi...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
November

Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival - Cherry Blossom Festival in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka

The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual early-blooming cherry blossom festival held in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, featuring one of Japa...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
February March

Kiyomizu-dera Special Night Illumination - Seasonal Light-up Events Throughout Spring, Summer and Autumn

Kyoto

Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama district is an ancient temple with more than 1,200 years of history since its founding in 778, a...

Light-Up
March April August ...

Kodai-ji Temple Night Illumination - A Historic Temple Illumination Event

Kyoto

Nestled at the end of a picturesque stone-paved path in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, Kōdai-ji is a historic Zen temple where Nene, the widow of Toyot...

Light-Up
March April May ...

Kumano Fireworks Festival - Japan's Premier Fireworks Festival with 300 Years of History

Mie

The Kumano Fireworks Festival, held annually in August along the Shichiri Mihama Coast in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, is one of Japan's most prestigi...

Fireworks (hanabi)
August

Kurama Fire Festival - One of Kyoto's Three Most Unusual Festivals

Kyoto

The Kurama Fire Festival, held annually on October 22nd in Kurama, northern Kyoto, is a traditional event with over 1,000 years of history as the annu...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
October

Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival - One of Japan's premier cherry blossom destinations

Hokkaido

Matsumae Park, located in Matsumae Town at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, is one of Japan's premier cherry blossom destinations with over 250 varie...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
April May

Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination - One of Japan's largest illumination events

Mie

Nabana no Sato, a theme park devoted to flowers, greenery, and cuisine inside Nagashima Resort in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, spreads across roughly ...

Illumination
January February March ...

Nagaoka Fireworks Festival - Japan's Premier Fireworks Display

Niigata

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, held annually on August 2nd and 3rd in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, is one of Japan's most spectacular fireworks ...

Fireworks (hanabi)
August

Nagasaki Lantern Festival - Japan's Largest Chinese New Year Celebration

Nagasaki

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival began in 1994, when a modest "Spring Festival" held by the Chinese community in Shinchi Chinatown was expanded to fill t...

Illumination Traditional Festival (matsuri)
February

Naha Ōtsunahiki - A Powerful Festival That Shakes Naha City

Okinawa

The Naha Great Tug-of-War, boasting a history of approximately 600 years, is one of Okinawa's largest tug-of-war festivals, continuing since the era o...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
October

NARITA Fireworks Festival at Inbanuma - Autumn Fireworks Spectacular in Chiba

Chiba

The NARITA Fireworks Festival is an autumn tradition held annually on November 2nd in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. Initiated in 2006 as an independe...

Fireworks (hanabi)
November

Niconico Chokaigi - User-Participatory Event by Video Community 'Niconico'

Chiba

Niconico Chokaigi is Japan's largest user-participatory festival that brings all aspects of the video community "Niconico" into the real world. Since ...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
April

Sanja Matsuri - One of Tokyo's Greatest Mikoshi Festivals

Tokyo

Sanja Matsuri, the annual festival of Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, is one of the city's grandest mikoshi (portable shrine) festivals that has been celebra...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
May

Sapporo Autumn Fest - Hokkaido's Largest Food Festival

Hokkaido

Sapporo Autumn Fest is Hokkaido's largest food festival that started in 2008. Under the theme of "promoting Hokkaido and Sapporo's food culture and re...

Food & Culture
September October

Sapporo Snow Festival - Japan's largest snow and ice festival

Hokkaido

The Sapporo Snow Festival is Japan's largest snow and ice festival, held annually in early February in Sapporo, Hokkaido. This event began in 1950 whe...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
February

Sendai Tanabata Matsuri - Japan's Largest Star Festival

Miyagi

The Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is one of Japan's largest star festivals, held annually in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Based on the ancient Chinese le...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
August

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up Festival - A Night of Snow and Light at a World Heritage Site

Gifu

The Shirakawa-go Light-up, held in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Ogimachi gassho-zukuri village in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, is a winter-only eve...

Light-Up Nature & Seasonal
January February

Shonan no Hoseki - A Jeweled Light Festival at Enoshima

Kanagawa

Shonan no Hoseki is a winter-only illumination event held at Enoshima Island in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture. With over 20 years of history, thi...

Illumination
January February November ...

Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) - One of Japan's Three Most Beautiful Festivals Held in Hida Takayama in April

Gifu

The Takayama Spring Festival is an annual traditional festival held on April 14th and 15th at Hie Shrine in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, and is rec...

Traditional Festival (matsuri)
April

Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival - Tokyo's Historic Hanami Spot

Tokyo

The Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Tokyo's most historic cherry blossom spots, held annually in spring at Sumida Park. The Sumida Park ...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
March April

Takato Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival - Historic Castle Cherry Blossom Site

Nagano

The Takato Castle Ruins Park in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's premier cherry blossom viewing sites, featuring historic castle ruins t...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
March April

TAMASHII NATION - Japan's Premier Annual Figure Festival

Tokyo

TAMASHII NATION is an annual figure festival held every autumn by BANDAI SPIRITS, featuring their adult collector's toy brand "TAMASHII NATIONS." Sinc...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
November

Tokyo Comic Con - Technology and Pop Culture Festival

Chiba

Comic conventions, commonly known as "comic cons," are pop culture events that originated in the United States. In Japan, Tokyo Comic Con has been hel...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
December

Tokyo Game Show - Asia's Largest Comprehensive Gaming Event

Chiba

Tokyo Game Show (TOKYO GAME SHOW) is Asia's largest comprehensive gaming event held annually at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture. It serves as a pla...

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture
September

Tour de France Saitama Criterium - Experience the Excitement of the Tour de France in Japan

Saitama

The Tour de France Saitama Criterium was born in 2013 as the world's first event to bear the "Tour de France" name. Established in the commemorative y...

Sports & Competition
November

Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival - Japan's Premier Cherry Blossom Viewing Destination

Tokyo

The "Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival" held annually at Ueno Onshi Park in Tokyo has been cherished as one of Japan's premier hanami destinations since th...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
March April

Yokohama Oktoberfest - Japan's largest German beer festival

Kanagawa

Yokohama Oktoberfest is Japan's largest German beer festival, held annually in autumn (with occasional cancellations) at the historic Red Brick Wareho...

Food & Culture
September October

Yoshino Mountain Cherry Blossom Festival - One of Japan's Historic Cherry Blossom Sites

Nara

Yoshino Mountain, located in Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture, is one of Japan's most famous cherry blossom sites with over 1,300 years of history as a s...

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)
March April

Browse by Areas × Categories

Akita

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Tokyo

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture

4 events available

Tokyo

Illumination

1 event available

Kyoto

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

6 events available

Aomori

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Tochigi

Illumination

1 event available

Tochigi

Nature & Seasonal

1 event available

Gifu

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

2 events available

Tokushima

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Saitama

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Tokyo

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

3 events available

Kyoto

Light-Up

3 events available

Niigata

Music

1 event available

Tokyo

Sports & Competition

3 events available

Osaka

Sports & Competition

1 event available

Aichi

Sports & Competition

1 event available

Fukuoka

Sports & Competition

1 event available

Fukuoka

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Kanagawa

Sports & Competition

1 event available

Aomori

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

1 event available

Ibaraki

Nature & Seasonal

1 event available

Nagasaki

Illumination

2 events available

Tokyo

Fireworks (hanabi)

1 event available

Tokyo

Nature & Seasonal

1 event available

Chiba

Anime, Comic & Pop Culture

4 events available

Ishikawa

Light-Up

1 event available

Saga

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Shizuoka

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

1 event available

Mie

Fireworks (hanabi)

1 event available

Hokkaido

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

1 event available

Mie

Illumination

1 event available

Niigata

Fireworks (hanabi)

1 event available

Nagasaki

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Okinawa

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Chiba

Fireworks (hanabi)

1 event available

Chiba

Music

1 event available

Tokyo

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Hokkaido

Food & Culture

1 event available

Hokkaido

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Miyagi

Traditional Festival (matsuri)

1 event available

Gifu

Light-Up

1 event available

Gifu

Nature & Seasonal

1 event available

Kanagawa

Illumination

1 event available

Osaka

Music

1 event available

Tokyo

Music

1 event available

Nagano

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

1 event available

Tokyo

Food & Culture

1 event available

Saitama

Sports & Competition

1 event available

Tochigi

Food & Culture

1 event available

Kanagawa

Food & Culture

1 event available

Nara

Cherry Blossom (sakura / hanami)

1 event available