Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
By month: October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, January 2027
Shiro EXPO is Japan's largest annual castle festival, with specialist talks, regional performances and booths representing castles nationwide.
19–20 Dec 2026Yokohama · KanagawaJump Festa, Japan's largest manga and anime fan convention, draws 100,000 fans over two December days for new series debuts, artist appearances and merchandise.
20–21 Dec 2026Exact date not confirmed yetChibaA German-style Christmas market at two Tokyo venues, the Shin-Toyosu waterfront and Shiba Park below Tokyo Tower, each with a Christmas pyramid about 14 m tall.
20 Nov – 25 Dec 2026TokyoA food festival project running roughly 100 days across four consecutive events celebrating curry, ramen, Chinese noodles, gyoza, and garlic risotto.
11 Sep – 25 Dec 2026TokyoA German-style Christmas market under the big roof of Roppongi Hills, modelled on the Stuttgart market, with Käthe Wohlfahrt decorations, Glühwein and sausages.
21 Nov – 25 Dec 2026TokyoA year-end market features daruma dolls, traditional symbols of resilience, accompanied by a distinctive soul-insertion ritual using flint sparks.
28 Dec 2026Exact date not confirmed yetMatsuda · KanagawaA new autumn and winter arts festival in Tokyo, with outdoor works, circus and night events across Odaiba, Hibiya and Marunouchi, and Yoyogi and Shibuya.
10 Oct – 31 Dec 2026TokyoThe last special exhibition at Art Aquarium Museum Ginza before it leaves Ginza Mitsukoshi: goldfish tanks set among autumn leaves, wisteria and cherry blossom.
2 Oct 2026 – 6 Jan 2027TokyoA 1.8 km walk-through illumination in Yoyogi Park, with 17 zones of light and music, modeled on the winter illuminations held in European parks.
13 Nov 2026 – 11 Jan 2027TokyoSagicho-shinji burns New Year decorations on January 15 at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, in a fire believed to purify and bring a good harvest.
15 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKamakura · KanagawaA National Important Folk Cultural Property, this Little New Year fire ritual purifies homes and communities through burning traditional new-year decorations.
17 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOiso · KanagawaAn exhibition in Tokyo of Nara ittobori, carved and brightly painted wooden figures from Nara, shown with the tools used to make them.
19 Dec 2026 – 17 Jan 2027TokyoAn annual show of custom cars and parts at Makuhari Messe, where Japanese carmakers also unveil new models and announce their motorsport plans.
15–17 Jan 2027ChibaAn ice sculpture competition with works by professional carvers, displayed in the grounds of Meiji Jingu, a Tokyo shrine.
17–18 Jan 2027TokyoA room in Tennoz showing craft from workshops around Japan, most of it from Ishikawa, with the pieces for sale and tours to the makers to follow.
15 Sep 2026 – 30 Jan 2027TokyoA free weekend of coffee from independent shops in the United Nations University courtyard near Omotesando, held since 2015.
30–31 Jan 2027TokyoA February festival in which a procession of 200 costumed samurai in traditional armor marches to Bannaji Temple for a purification ceremony.
31 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAshikaga · TochigiA free light and sound installation linking Takeshiba, Takanawa and Oimachi in Tokyo, where visitors' movements set off light, sound and fountains.
19 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2027Tokyo
