Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
The Utasu Jinja Shrine Setsubun Festival marks the seasonal transition through purification rituals and Mamemaki, the traditional ceremony of throwing roasted soybeans.
3 Feb 2027Ishikawa · ChubuThousands of handmade snowmen light up after dark, transforming two mountain towns into a glowing winter spectacle, while local food vendors offer regional specialties to visitors.
6 Feb 2027Ishikawa · ChubuWith a record 2,264 dealer groups, this world-renowned festival showcases garage kits, dolls, sculptures, and original artworks from professionals and amateurs.
8 Feb 2027Chiba · KantoAn ancient Shinto ritual held on February 10 features young men in white ceremonial clothing splitting bamboo stalks to symbolize strength and readiness.
10 Feb 2027Ishikawa · ChubuFire-lit pillars adorned with sacred paper stand on beaches as the community performs ceremonial dances twice daily, seeking protection from illness and calamity.
11 Feb 2027Yamaguchi · ChugokuSnow and ice sculptures crafted by the Japan Self-Defense Force and local artists fill three Sapporo sites for Japan's most celebrated winter festival.
4–11 Feb 2027Hokkaido · HokkaidoThis Edo-period Kasedori Festival features performers in bird-shaped straw costumes paraded through Kaminoyama while spectators splash water on them for good fortune.
11 Feb 2027Yamagata · TohokuThe Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Festival transforms the castle park into a winter wonderland with illuminated snow lanterns, dome-shaped kamakura huts, and intricate sculptures.
6–11 Feb 2027Aomori · TohokuMen of unlucky ages run through icy waters in this harsh February ritual that has cleansed misfortune since the devastating Edo-period Great Fire.
11 Feb 2027Iwate · TohokuA traveling exhibition celebrates the decades-long partnership between Friday Road Show, Japan's most-watched film slot, and Studio Ghibli.
3 Nov 2026 – 14 Feb 2027Saga · KyushuA winter festival illuminates Otaru's snow-covered streets, canal, and historic sites with handcrafted candles and lanterns created by the community since 1999.
7–14 Feb 2027Hokkaido · HokkaidoSNOW MIKU 2027 is an annual winter festival celebrating Hokkaido with exhibitions, live performances, and a creators' market, themed around 'Happiness Pâtisserie.'
6–15 Feb 2027Hokkaido · HokkaidoTraditional hina dolls and intricately crafted miniature furnishings reveal the artistry and cultural significance of this centuries-old celebration.
30 Jan – 15 Feb 2027Kanagawa · KantoMatsumoto Castle features projection mapping with ukiyo-e imagery, traditional crafts, and seasonal scenes unfolding in three phases with interactive illuminations throughout the park.
13 Dec 2026 – 15 Feb 2027Nagano · ChubuA renowned winter festival recreates the Namahage tradition where demon-like figures visit shrines and homes, recognized as one of Japan's three strangest festivals.
13–15 Feb 2027Akita · TohokuA 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 2027Yamagata · TohokuA winter festival in Yokohama celebrates the legacy of a historic plum grove, with around 100 trees blooming at Myōhōji Temple, reviving centuries of tradition.
14–15 Feb 2027Kanagawa · KantoHistoric winter celebration over 800 years old marking the end of the cold season with traditional performances and prayers for a bountiful rice harvest.
17–20 Feb 2027Aomori · Tohoku
