Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
Nanao's festival honors samurai heritage through a dramatic parade of locals dressed in full armor and helmets, accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.
20 Sep 2026Ishikawa · ChubuThe Johana Mugiya Festival celebrates Mugiya-bushi, a historic folk song and dance rooted in Gokayama's rural heritage, with costumed dancers and traditional instruments.
20 Sep 2026Toyama · ChubuNagano's largest anime song festival celebrates the genre through live performances by voice actors and musicians, alongside regional food and cultural showcases.
19–20 Sep 2026Nagano · ChubuTakaoka Craft Ichibamachi celebrates the city's copperware and lacquerware heritage across preserved townscapes with exhibitions, markets, and craftspeople workshops.
18–20 Sep 2026Toyama · ChubuOne of Japan's largest jazz events transforms Kanazawa's historic streets, shrines, and public spaces into stages for world-class musicians each September.
19–21 Sep 2026Ishikawa · ChubuAn exhibition explores pattern in Japanese craft, from natural motifs to technical mastery, including a Pokemon and Edo-komon collaboration.
3 Jul – 23 Sep 2026Ishikawa · ChubuThe Gokayama Mugiya Festival features Mugiya-bushi, a folk song and dance tradition rooted in the Heike clan, designated as Japan's Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
23 Sep 2026Toyama · ChubuStreets fill with folk songs, dances, and lion performances, culminating in a communal circle dance accompanied by the rhythmic playing of a bamboo whisk instrument.
25–26 Sep 2026Toyama · ChubuAn autumn parade brings the Warring States period to life with over 250 participants in samurai and historical costumes, honoring the Sanada clan.
10–11 Oct 2026Nagano · ChubuThis exhibition celebrates Evangelion's 30th anniversary with production materials from the original TV series and Rebuild films.
4 Sep – 12 Oct 2026Aichi · ChubuA free after-dark light show projecting digital art onto two of Nagoya's historic "imperial crown style" civic landmarks, near Nagoya Castle.
17 Sep – 24 Oct 2026Aichi · ChubuThis festival transforms rice straw into massive sculptures created through collaboration between university students and local residents in Niigata.
29 Aug – 31 Oct 2026Niigata · ChubuParticipatory reenactment of a legendary Sengoku-era battle where visitors don authentic armor and join either the Takeda or Uesugi army on the battlefield.
9 Nov 2026Yamanashi · ChubuPersimmons harvested from a shrine tree are distributed among parishioners as part of this harvest celebration.
14 Nov 2026Ishikawa · ChubuA seasonal seafood festival in Fukui celebrates the local crab fishing industry with traditional dishes, street food, performances, and a crab-catching activity.
15–16 Nov 2026Fukui · ChubuWajima Marine Town celebrates fresh seafood and local specialties with market stalls, performances, and free crab soup each November.
23 Nov 2026Ishikawa · ChubuDōsojin, a folk deity protecting travelers and villages, is honored through this traditional festival featuring ceremonial fire and ritual.
15 Jan 2027Nagano · ChubuAn exhibition in Nagoya of swords carved on the blade, with dragons, deities and Sanskrit letters cut into the steel, shown in two changes of display.
1 Oct 2026 – 17 Jan 2027Aichi · Chubu
