Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
The Sado Island Endurance Challenge draws competitors from around the world for a 210-kilometre bike course circling the entire island alongside running events.
6 Sep 2026Niigata · ChubuTokyo National Museum marks the 1,250th anniversary of Kukai's birth with 88 Shingon temple treasures, including 15 National Treasures and nine secret statues.
14 Jul – 6 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoTeamLab: Learn & Play! Future Park comes to Obihiro, Hokkaido with interactive installations where visitors co-create artworks through movement and touch responses.
11 Jul – 6 Sep 2026Hokkaido · HokkaidoUltra Acosta! 2026 is the fifth edition of this expanded cosplay event at Sunshine City Ikebukuro, drawing 20,000 visitors for photography sessions and social interactions.
4–6 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoA 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 2026Akita · TohokuThis autumn festival's signature Hanabi-llusion concept synchronizes fireworks with movie soundtracks to celebrate Chofu's identity as Tokyo's historic film center.
12 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoAinokura village light-up events transform the historic gassho-style settlement with seasonal illuminations, each named after natural phenomena throughout the year.
12–13 Sep 2026Toyama · ChubuAn interactive volleyball experience where visitors participate in jumping and spiking activities on a full-scale court, guided by anime characters throughout.
7 Aug – 13 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoThe flagship Spice and Wolf 20th anniversary show in Tokyo, with the series' biggest-ever illustration display and new spring and summer artwork.
9–13 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoSpecial exhibition at Fukuoka City Museum featuring around 100 carefully selected Edo-period ghost and yokai paintings exploring their cultural significance.
19 Jul – 13 Sep 2026Fukuoka · KyushuA summer festival lights up an aquarium with 30+ jellyfish-shaped lanterns, interactive zones, and water-based fortune-telling games.
11 Jul – 13 Sep 2026Osaka · KansaiThis centuries-old festival features over 100 mikoshi shrines and floats, with the Shishi-Odori deer dance and sacred Kagura-Gongenmai performance.
11–13 Sep 2026Iwate · TohokuThe Fate/Grand Order exhibition -stargazer- runs at Mori Arts Center Gallery from 17 July to 14 September, with a tie-in cafe on the same floor.
17 Jul – 14 Sep 2026Tokyo · KantoOne of Iwate's most enduring celebrations, this autumn festival originated as prayers for harvest, now featuring ornate floats and traditional parades.
14–16 Sep 2026Iwate · TohokuNanao'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 · ChubuPremier manga and anime fair in western Japan attracting 40,000 visitors annually to explore exclusive announcements, live performances, and merchandise.
19–20 Sep 2026Kyoto · KansaiOne of Japan's most dynamic float festivals with a 300-year history, known for its signature yarimawashi maneuver where massive floats are swung around corners.
18–20 Sep 2026Osaka · Kansai
