Festivals, exhibitions, pop-ups, and seasonal happenings across all nine regions.
By month: October 2026, November 2026, December 2026, January 2027
A 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 in central Sendai, with wooden huts shipped from Germany, mulled wine, a tall Christmas tree and concerts on winter evenings.
4–25 Dec 2026Sendai · MiyagiThe Munich Christmas Market brings German Christmas food and crafts to Sapporo, a sister-city celebration held every year since 2002.
20 Nov – 25 Dec 2026Sapporo · HokkaidoA 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 2026TokyoAn exhibition in Osaka on the Japanese hell, following the path of the dead through full-size reproductions of painted scrolls and moving projections.
28 Nov – 27 Dec 2026OsakaAbout 480,000 LEDs light the 127 zelkova trees of Jozenji-dori in central Sendai each December, and several times a night the lights go out for a minute.
4–27 Dec 2026Sendai · MiyagiA 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 · KanagawaThe poop-themed Unko Museum holds Christmas events at three locations, with seasonal exhibits, decorations and interactive photo spots for families.
28 Nov – 29 Dec 2026Exact date not confirmed yetOkinawaA 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 2026TokyoA New Year countdown festival in Kobe with millions of lights, drone shows, bubble performances and live music, one of Japan's largest illumination displays.
31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKobe · HyogoThe 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 digital art exhibition that animates more than 300 ukiyo-e prints with projection mapping, with Gifu-only scenes of Oda Nobunaga and cormorant fishing.
6 Nov 2026 – 11 Jan 2027GifuA 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 2027TokyoA night-time art exhibition by teamLab among the stone walls of Fukuoka Castle Ruins, where the works change with wind, rain and the people walking through.
30 Oct 2026 – 11 Jan 2027FukuokaThe Evangelion 30th anniversary exhibition comes to Hirakata Park in Osaka, with about 270 hand-painted cels, design material and film artwork.
18 Oct 2026 – 11 Jan 2027OsakaMasked demons swing blazing torches through a temple hall in an ancient winter ritual held twice a day, a prayer for protection from misfortune.
14 Jan 2027Gojo · NaraAn annual winter ritual in Sendai features the ceremonial burning of New Year decorations followed by a sacred pilgrimage procession in traditional attire.
14 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSendai · MiyagiDosojin, a folk deity protecting travelers and villages, is honored through this traditional festival featuring ceremonial fire and ritual.
15 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNozawaonsen · Nagano
