Festivals & Events in Japan

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...

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

AnimeJapan is one of the world's largest comprehensive anime events, held annually in March at Tokyo Big Sight. Born in 2014 from the merger of the To...

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

The Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto's three great festivals, is formally known as "Kamo Matsuri" and is an ancient ceremonial festival held at Shimogamo Shr...

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

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

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

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...

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

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 ...

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...

Chion-in Temple, located in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, is a venerable temple known as the head temple of the Jodo sect. It is within walking distan...

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

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...

Cycling Shimanami is Japan's largest non-competitive cycling event, held biennially on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, which connects Onomichi City in H...

The Edogawa Fireworks Festival is one of Tokyo's largest fireworks events, held simultaneously by Edogawa Ward in Tokyo and Ichikawa City in Chiba Pre...

Eikando Lightup is a special evening viewing event held annually in autumn at Zenrinji Temple (commonly known as Eikando) in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto Prefect...

Farm Tomita in Nakafurano, Hokkaido is one of Japan's most renowned lavender tourist farms, spreading across rolling hills. Since the land was first c...

The Fuji Shibazakura Festival, held every spring at Fuji Motosuko Resort in Yamanashi Prefecture, is one of the Tokyo metropolitan area's largest flor...

FUJIROCK FESTIVAL, held at the Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, is Japan's largest outdoor music event that was founded in 1997. S...

Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri is one of the "Three Great Festivals of Edo," held every year in mid-August at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto Ward, Tokyo...

Experience Japan's most spectacular festival, the Gion Matsuri, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event that transforms Kyoto into a vibrant celeb...

Gozan Okuribi is a traditional summer festival held on the night of August 16th every year in Kyoto, serving as a Buddhist ritual to send ancestral sp...

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

Gujo Odori is one of Japan's three great bon dances, held in the castle town of Gujo Hachiman in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. It has a history of over ...

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

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

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

Held annually each autumn at Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this spectacular event features an entire hillside dyed cri...

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

Hogouin Temple, a sub-temple of Tenryuji in Kyoto's Arashiyama district, is a Zen temple founded in 1461 during the Muromachi period. After being dest...

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

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 ...

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...

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 ...

Jump Festa is one of Japan's largest manga and anime festivals, hosted by Shueisha. Held every December at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, this sp...

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

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival is Kanazawa's grandest festival, commemorating the day in 1583 when Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain, ...

The Kanda–Jinbocho area in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward is famed as one of Japan's premier "curry towns," home to more than 400 curry restaurants. To showcase...

Kanda Matsuri is the signature festival of Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda City. Ranked among both the Three Great Festivals of Edo and the Thr...

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...

The Little Edo Kawagoe Spring Festival, held in the central downtown area of Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, is a spring tradition where visitors ca...

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

Held annually in September and October at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, the Kitano Matsuri is the most important annual event of this...

The Kitano Tenmangu Plum Festival is a sacred ceremony held every year on February 25th, the anniversary of the death of Sugawara no Michizane, the go...

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...

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...

Korankei, a picturesque gorge stretching along the Tomoe River in the Asuke district of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, is renowned as one of the Tokai...

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...

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...

The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (Kyomaf) is Western Japan's largest comprehensive exhibition for manga, anime, and gaming. Since its inaugura...

The Kyoto Marathon is a full marathon event held annually in February in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Established in 2012, it is an officially certif...

A comprehensive entertainment event for anime and game fans, held twice a year in spring and autumn in downtown Tokushima City. Since its inaugural ev...

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...

The Miharu Takizakura in Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, stands as one of Japan's Three Great Cherry Trees with an estimated age of over 1,000 year...

Kairakuen Garden in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of Japan's three most famous gardens, created in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th lord of t...

The All-Japan Triathlon Miyakojima, held annually in April in Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, is one of Japan's premier long-distance triathlons,...

Held in the heart of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, the Morioka Sansa Odori is one of Tohoku's hallmark summer dance festivals. To the rhythms of tai...

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

The Nachi Fire Festival is an annual grand festival held at Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Officially known as...

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

Nagasaki Kunchi is a traditional festival held annually from October 7th to 9th as the autumn grand festival of Suwa Shrine, the guardian shrine of Na...

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...

Naha Hari is Okinawa's iconic sea festival with roots tracing back to the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Crews aboard haryu-sen (dragon boats) adorned with drago...

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...

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

The Narita Gion Festival is a summer grand festival held at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and the Omotesando approach area in Narita City, Chiba Prefectu...

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

The Oigawa Railway is a precious railway line where authentic steam locomotives, preserved in operational condition since 1976, continue to run in act...

The Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri is the prefecture's largest eisa festival, held annually on the first weekend after Obon (the lunar calendar's bon fest...

The Osaka Marathon is a large-scale public marathon event that was launched in 2011. The urban course is characterized by starting from the front of O...

Owara Kaze no Bon Festival is a wind festival held in the Yatsuo district of Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. Dating back to the mid-Edo period, it beg...

Rikugien Garden is a classic strolling garden of the Edo period, created over seven years beginning in 1695. Inspired by scenes from classical waka po...

Rikugien Gardens is a traditional Japanese stroll garden designed around scenic spots from classical poetry, built in 1695 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu and...

ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL is Japan's largest rock and pop festival that has been held since 2000. Organized by the music magazine "ROCKIN'ON JAPAN," this...

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...

The Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine, located in Akasaka, Tokyo, is a prestigious festival celebrated as one of the Three Great Festivals of Edo. It is als...

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...

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...

The Sawara Grand Festival (Sawara no Taisai) in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, is one of the Kanto region's most impressive float festivals with a his...

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...

The Shingen-ko Matsuri, held annually in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a historic festival that honors the legacy of Takeda Shingen, the legenda...

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...

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...

The National Showa Memorial Park, spanning approximately 180 hectares across Tachikawa City and Akishima City in Tokyo, is a vast national park develo...

The Shurijo Castle Restoration Festival is an autumn celebration in Okinawa where you can experience the vibrant history and culture of the Ryukyu Kin...

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...

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 ...

Summer Sonic Osaka is one of Japan's largest popular music festivals that began in 2000. It features a unique twin-city format, with simultaneous even...

Summer Sonic is Japan's largest urban music festival that has been held since 2000. It features a unique twin-city format where both Tokyo and Osaka h...

Susukino Ice World is an ice festival renowned as the Susukino site of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Approximately 60 ice sculptures stand in the heart o...

Located in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, Takada Castle Park is renowned as a cherry blossom viewing destination with approximately 4,000 Yoshino ch...

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...

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

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...

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...

The Tokyo Marathon is an international marathon held in Tokyo, Japan's capital city. Since its inaugural event in 2007, it has continuously developed ...

Tokyo Ramen Festa is Japan's largest outdoor ramen event, held annually in autumn at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo. This beloved food festival brings...

Held annually in spring at Tonami Tulip Park in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, this is Japan's largest tulip festival. Launched in 1952 to commemorat...

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...

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...

The Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival is Japan's largest gyoza food festival, held at Utsunomiya Castle Park in the heart of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefectu...

Wonder Festival is one of the world's largest figure and model conventions, held twice a year at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture. Originating from ...

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

The YOSAKOI Soran Festival is one of Japan's largest dance festivals, coloring the early summer of Sapporo, Hokkaido. Born in 1992 through the fusion ...

The Yoshida Fire Festival, held at Kitaguchihogu Fuji Sengen Shrine and Suwa Shrine in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is a traditional autumn...

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...

The Zama Sunflower Festival is a beloved summer tradition in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, featuring approximately 550,000 sunflowers blooming along...