Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
By month: November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027
An Edo-period festival in Kaminoyama where performers in bird-shaped straw costumes parade through town as spectators splash them with water for good fortune.
11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaminoyama · YamagataA two-day winter festival in snowy Yonezawa transforming Matsugasaki Park into a landscape of 300 snow lanterns and 3,000 snow lamps lit by candlelight.
14–15 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYonezawa · YamagataThe Zao Juhyo Festival in the Zao Mountains centres on the Snow Monsters, ice and snow formations that coat the trees, illuminated after dark.
27 Dec 2026 – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagataA multi-day festival in Yonezawa that ends with a reenactment of the 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.
29 Apr – 3 May 2027Yonezawa · YamagataThe Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is a major August event: over 10,000 dancers parade nightly with flower-decorated hanagasa hats to taiko drums and folk song.
5–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagataA summer festival transforms a town with illuminated green bamboo lanterns, folk performances, and fireworks over Takahata.
16 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTakahata · YamagataA festival in Shinjo with over 260 years of history, where 20 ornate floats themed on historical tales, legends and kabuki parade to traditional music.
24–26 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShinjo · Yamagata
