Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
By month: November 2026, December 2026, January 2027, February 2027
Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival, held in June in Iwate Prefecture, honors decorated working horses, reflecting the region's horse breeding and farming heritage.
14 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTakizawa · IwateElaborate floats and traditional performances honor this port town's spiritual guardian, a shrine established in 1620 by local leaders.
20–21 Jul 2027AkitaSummer Festa in Koriyama turns JR Koriyama Station into a beer garden inspired by a 1993 delegation visit to Munich's Oktoberfest, drawing 60,000 visitors.
24–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKoriyama · FukushimaMajor summer dance festival originating from legend about a demon's defeat, featuring traditional Sansa Odori dance and powerful taiko performances.
1–4 Aug 2027Morioka · IwateHachinohe Sansha Taisai combines traditional shrine processions with elaborately decorated floats and is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
31 Jul – 4 Aug 2027Hachinohe · AomoriA summer harvest festival in Akita where tall bamboo poles hung with paper lanterns parade to traditional music, with daytime balancing performances.
3–6 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAkitaThe 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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHirosaki · AomoriThe 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 yetYamagataAomori's most iconic summer festival features glowing nebuta floats and energetic haneto dancers who leap through illuminated parades and water processions.
2–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAomoriAn Aomori summer festival in Goshogawara known for its illuminated tachineputa floats, some up to 23 metres tall, paraded nightly to taiko drums and flutes.
4–8 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetGoshogawara · AomoriHeld 6-8 August, the Sendai Tanabata Festival fills the city with vast colourful paper streamers and kusudama ornaments, rooted in the Tanabata legend.
6–8 Aug 2027Sendai · MiyagiA 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 · YamagataA festival celebrating one of Japan's largest lotus-covered wetlands in Miyagi Prefecture, featuring boat tours through millions of vibrant pink blooms.
25 Jul – 30 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTome · MiyagiA retro-themed summer train on the Tsugaru Railway Line adorned with furin, traditional Japanese wind bells that create soothing tinkling sounds.
1 Jul – 31 Aug 2027Goshogawara · AomoriA three-day festival in Towada, Aomori, begun as a prayer for the harvest, with floats and drum carts drawn through the streets and lit at night.
4–6 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTowada · AomoriA traditional autumn festival with 400 years of history, held in September in Kakunodate, featuring large wooden floats decorated with samurai warrior dolls.
7–9 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSemboku · AkitaThis centuries-old festival features over 100 mikoshi shrines and floats, with the Shishi-Odori deer dance and sacred Kagura-Gongenmai performance.
11–13 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHanamaki · Iwate
