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2026/08/09

Festival · Kyoto · Kansai

Tanabata Sky Lantern Festival 2026

Visitors release up to 3,500 LED sky lanterns carrying handwritten wishes into the night sky, accompanied by stage performances and festival activities.

Joyo · 7–16 Aug 2026

Shrine · Wakayama · Kansai

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

In Shingu, Wakayama, Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands as one of the three grand Kumano shrines – a "land of rebirth" where pilgrims have sought renewal for centuries.

Shingu

Entertainment · Osaka · Kansai

Hatsune Miku "Magical Mirai 2026"

Virtual singers including Hatsune Miku perform with a live band across six shows, accompanied by an exhibition of creator artwork, hands-on workshops, and exclusive merchandise.

Osaka · 14–16 Aug 2026

Shrine · Wakayama · Kansai

Kumano Hongu Taisha

Kumano Hongu Taisha, heart of the Kumano Sanzan, traces its origins to before Emperor Jinmu – where legend says three moons descended to found the shrine.

Tanabe

Weather

Osaka27°
Kyoto26°
Nara26°
Otsu26°
Kobe27°

05:1318:53Osaka

Yen

1 US Dollar¥158.2
1 Euro¥182.5
1 Singapore Dollar¥123.6
1 Canadian Dollar¥113

Reference rates · 2026/08/07

Quick poll

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Festival

Tanabata Sky Lantern Festival 2026

Visitors release up to 3,500 LED sky lanterns carrying handwritten wishes into the night sky, accompanied by stage performances and festival activities.

7–16 Aug 2026Joyo · Kyoto

Entertainment

Hatsune Miku "Magical Mirai 2026"

Virtual singers including Hatsune Miku perform with a live band across six shows, accompanied by an exhibition of creator artwork, hands-on workshops, and exclusive merchandise.

14–16 Aug 2026Osaka

Festival

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

One 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 2026Kishiwada · Osaka

Expo & Convention

Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair

Premier manga and anime fair in western Japan attracting 40,000 visitors annually to explore exclusive announcements, live performances, and merchandise.

19–20 Sep 2026Kyoto

Music

Monster Hunter Orchestra Concert ~Hunting Music Festival 2026~

The Monster Hunter Orchestra Concert features live orchestral performances of game music by the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, conducted by Hirofumi Kurita.

22–23 Sep 2026Nishinomiya · Hyogo

Exhibition

Spice and Wolf 20th Anniversary Exhibition – Osaka

The Osaka leg of the Spice and Wolf 20th anniversary show, with newly drawn autumn and winter artwork and the series' largest illustration display.

26 Sep – 4 Oct 2026Osaka

Festival

Gobo Festival

Each October in Gobo, Wakayama, the region's largest autumn festival fills the streets with rival parish groups, dance, and towering, massive drum floats.

4–5 Oct 2026Gobo · Wakayama

Festival

Mifune Festival

Each October, Kumano Hayatama Taisha holds the Mifune Matsuri, two days of sacred processions culminating in a thrilling fast-boat race on the Kumano River.

15–16 Oct 2026Shingu · Wakayama

Food Fair

OSAKA SAKE SQUARE 2026

Each autumn, breweries from across Kansai gather in central Osaka for two days of tasting, with more than seventy sake between twenty-five makers.

17–18 Oct 2026Osaka

Festival

Jidai Festival

Kyoto's signature historical reenactment features costumed processions of figures from different Japanese eras traveling from the Imperial Palace to the Heian Shrine.

22 Oct 2026Kyoto

Expo & Convention

Japanese Sake Festival Washu Fes at Osaka Bay Tower

Seasonal sake tasting festival offering samples of 120+ varieties from breweries across Japan, paired with seasonal cuisine and live performances.

25–26 Oct 2026Osaka

Firework

Osaka Art Fireworks 2026

Osaka Art Fireworks presents a 50-minute display synchronizing fireworks with music from Marble Beach, offering views of Osaka Bay and one of Japan's Top 100 Sunsets.

31 Oct 2026Izumisano · Osaka

Historic Site

Asuka-Fujiwara

The Nara-Prefecture ruins where Japan's first centralised state took shape, newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2026.

Kashihara · Nara

Shrine

Kumano Hongu Taisha

Kumano Hongu Taisha, heart of the Kumano Sanzan, traces its origins to before Emperor Jinmu – where legend says three moons descended to found the shrine.

Tanabe · Wakayama

Shrine

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

In Shingu, Wakayama, Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands as one of the three grand Kumano shrines – a "land of rebirth" where pilgrims have sought renewal for centuries.

Shingu · Wakayama

Shrine

Kumano Nachi Taisha

One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, beside Japan's tallest waterfall – and spiritual home of the Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow on Japan's football crest.

Wakayama

Castle

Himeji Castle

Iconic castle with brilliant white exterior, designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure, fully restored to its original appearance in 2015.

Himeji · Hyogo

Castle

Wakayama Castle

Sixteenth-century castle with traditional Japanese architecture, surrounded by moat and stone walls, featuring a museum and scenic garden.

Wakayama

Castle

Akashi Castle Ruins

Built in just one year starting 1617, this fortress commanded the Seto Inland Sea with 20 towers and 27 gates as a backup to Himeji Castle.

Akashi · Hyogo

Castle

Takeda Castle Ruins

Positioned on a 353-meter mountain, Takeda Castle ranks among Japan's top hundred castles and is famed for its sea-of-clouds phenomenon in early autumn mornings.

Asago · Hyogo

Castle

Hikone Castle

Seventeenth-century castle built by the Ii clan near Lake Biwa with defensive double moats, recognized as one of Japan's best-preserved castles.

Hikone · Shiga

Amusement Park

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka offers movie and TV-themed attractions including Hogwarts, roller coaster rides, live shows, and character meet-and-greets.

Osaka