Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
A month-long Kyoto festival centered on Yasaka Jinja Shrine features sacred rituals, food stalls, illuminated floats, and culminates in a grand procession and parade.
1–31 Jul 2026Kyoto · KansaiKishu Odori Bundara-bushi, one of Wakayama's largest summer events, returns on 1 August, with thousands of dancers around Wakayama Castle.
31 Jul – 1 Aug 2026Wakayama · KansaiThe Issaki Hōtō Festival features six massive illuminated lantern towers, each 10 meters tall, carried through the streets by teams in traditional festival attire.
This Utsunomiya summer festival brings residents together for parades, traditional performances, and displays of local culture.
1–2 Aug 2026Tochigi · KantoImmersive volleyball experience event where visitors participate as players on a real court guided by characters from the anime series.
27 Jun – 2 Aug 2026Osaka · KansaiThe Tsuyama Gongo Festival is a lively summer event in Tsuyama City featuring kappa-themed dances along Yakko-dori Street and one of Okayama's largest fireworks displays.
1–2 Aug 2026Okayama · ChugokuThe Nagano Binzuru Dance Festival draws over 10,000 participants in coordinated yukata processions through closed-off city streets in a fully participatory summer celebration.
2 Aug 2026Nagano · ChubuThe Summer Grand Festival honours Onominato Shrine's deities with Kanazawa's largest mikoshi procession, traditional dances, and rituals from the 1600s.
30 Jul – 2 Aug 2026Ishikawa · ChubuJapan's largest dedicated idol music festival spans three days with multiple stages hosting both established and emerging idol groups across a sprawling waterfront venue in Odaiba.
31 Jul – 2 Aug 2026Tokyo · KantoMajor summer dance festival originating from legend about a demon's defeat, featuring traditional Sansa Odori dance and powerful taiko performances.
1–4 Aug 2026Iwate · TohokuHachinohe Sansha Taisai combines traditional shrine processions with elaborately decorated floats and is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
31 Jul – 4 Aug 2026Aomori · TohokuThe Chikugo River Fireworks Festival in Kurume, Fukuoka, launches around 18,000 fireworks over Kyushu's longest river, with roots tracing back over 350 years.
5 Aug 2026Fukuoka · KyushuA summer harvest festival features towering bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns, paraded through streets with traditional music and daytime balancing performances.
3–6 Aug 2026Akita · TohokuJapan's only seaside onsen fireworks display illuminates Wakura Port on the first Thursday of August during this 50-year tradition.
6 Aug 2026Ishikawa · ChubuThe Hirosaki Neputa Festival features giant illuminated floats up to 10 meters tall, paraded nightly through the city with taiko drums and traditional chanting.
1–7 Aug 2026Aomori · TohokuThe Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is a major August event where over 10,000 dancers parade nightly with flower-decorated hanagasa hats to taiko drums and folk song.
5–7 Aug 2026Yamagata · TohokuAomori's most iconic summer festival features glowing nebuta floats and energetic haneto dancers who leap through illuminated parades and water processions.
2–7 Aug 2026Aomori · TohokuThe Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival is an Aomori summer festival famous for its illuminated floats, some up to 23 metres tall, paraded nightly to taiko drums and flutes.
4–8 Aug 2026Aomori · Tohoku
