Japanese Festivals | Hey Japan!

Home
Topics
Japanese Festivals

Japan celebrates all year round. On any given week, somewhere in the country a street fills with floats, lanterns, dancers, or fireworks. From centuries-old shrine rituals to modern art and food festivals, these events are one of the best windows into Japanese culture, and many of them are free to attend.

What is a matsuri?

Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival. Traditionally it is a celebration held by a local shrine or temple, with processions, portable shrines (mikoshi), music, and food stalls. They range from small neighborhood events to huge festivals drawing millions. Read more in our guide to matsuri culture.

What are the most famous festivals in Japan?

Every region has its icons. Kyoto celebrates the Gion Matsuri with grand float processions through July. The Aomori Nebuta Festival parades giant illuminated warrior floats each August, while the Akita Kanto Festival balances poles of glowing lanterns high above the crowd. Tokushima's Awa Odori is Japan's most famous dance festival, Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri lights up the river with boats and fireworks, and the Sapporo Snow Festival turns Hokkaido's capital into a city of ice sculptures every February.

When is festival season in Japan?

Festivals run all year, but summer (June to August) is the peak, with most of the great shrine festivals, fireworks displays (hanabi taikai), and Obon dances. Spring brings cherry blossom festivals, autumn the harvest festivals and illuminated foliage, and winter the snow festivals, light displays, and New Year traditions.

Are Japanese festivals free to attend?

Most festivals are free to attend. You only pay for food and drink from the stalls (yatai), and optionally for reserved seating at big parades or fireworks displays, which can often be booked in advance. Arrive early, bring cash, and consider renting a yukata to join in.

Festival

Wajima Crab Festival

Wajima Marine Town celebrates fresh seafood and local specialties with market stalls, performances, and free crab soup each November.

23 Nov 2025 – 23 Nov 2026Wajima · Ishikawa

Festival

Kaikai Yokai Festival

Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows you can join, yokai greetings every day and limited yokai food.

12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kyoto

Festival

Niihama Taiko Festival

Towering drum-bearing floats parade through Niihama in this October celebration, drawing nearly 200,000 spectators each year.

16–18 Oct 2026Niihama · Ehime

Festival

Bizen Pottery Festival

This pottery festival in Japan's Heritage-certified Bizen production area offers visitors the chance to buy ware and try their hand at the potter's wheel.

17–18 Oct 2026Bizen · Okayama

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

Festival

Saga International Balloon Fiesta

Asia's largest hot-air balloon event, where around 100 balloons rise over the Kase River each autumn in a five-day competition and festival.

30 Oct – 3 Nov 2026Saga

Festival

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival

A large Halloween cosplay festival centered on Ikebukuro's East Exit features stage performances, parades, and gathering spaces for participants of all ages.

30 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Tokyo

Festival

Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival

Miyazaki's largest celebration honors Emperor Jimmu through a grand autumn procession featuring portable shrines and floats reenacting the legendary emperor's historic journey.

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Miyazaki

Festival

UFO Festival

A town in Fukushima that calls itself the UFO village closes its shopping street for an alien costume parade, with prizes for the most convincing.

31 Oct 2026Fukushima

Festival

Ube Festival

The largest festival of Ube in Yamaguchi, built on the Nanban Ondo, a dance that came out of the coal mines, with parades and a float drawn at the end.

1 Nov 2026Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Ohara Festival

Mass dancing in vibrant costumes and powerful taiko drumming celebrate Kagoshima's regional identity in this southern Kyushu autumn festival.

2–3 Nov 2026Kagoshima

Festival

Okawakami Birafu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

Featuring an Intangible Folk Cultural Property procession, this November festival unites a community through ceremony, dance, and spiritual communion.

3 Nov 2026Kami · Kochi

Festival

Fox's Wedding - Rice Ear Festival

The Fox's Wedding features a grand procession with white fox bride and groom, rooted in a legend of benevolent spirits said to bring marriage blessings.

3 Nov 2026Kudamatsu · Yamaguchi

Festival

Sengoku Chronicle: The Battle of Kawanakajima

A re-enactment on a river bed in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, where about seven hundred people in armour refight Takeda Shingen against Uesugi Kenshin.

8 Nov 2026Fuefuki · Yamanashi

Festival

Oyama Balloon Festival

The Oyama Balloon Festa fills autumn skies with hot air balloons competing in precision flights from dawn, and features illuminated night glows with synchronized fireworks and music.

14–15 Nov 2026Oyama · Tochigi

Festival

Tochigi Float Festival

Tall doll floats built in the 19th century are drawn through the storehouse streets of Tochigi over two days, in a festival held every second year.

14–15 Nov 2026Tochigi

Festival

Kurakake Castle Festival

A castle festival features an armored warrior procession, parades, and traditional performances including taiko drumming and Shinto kagura dance.

16 Nov 2026Iwakuni · Yamaguchi

Festival

Kamiari Festival

Once a year the gods of Japan are said to abandon their shrines for Izumo, where a season of quiet rites welcomes, hosts, and finally sends them home again.

18–25 Nov 2026Izumo · Shimane

What is a matsuri?

What are the most famous festivals in Japan?

When is festival season in Japan?

Are Japanese festivals free to attend?

Festival

Wajima Crab Festival

Wajima Marine Town celebrates fresh seafood and local specialties with market stalls, performances, and free crab soup each November.

23 Nov 2025 – 23 Nov 2026Wajima · Ishikawa

Festival

Kaikai Yokai Festival

Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows you can join, yokai greetings every day and limited yokai food.

12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kyoto

Festival

Niihama Taiko Festival

Towering drum-bearing floats parade through Niihama in this October celebration, drawing nearly 200,000 spectators each year.

16–18 Oct 2026Niihama · Ehime

Festival

Bizen Pottery Festival

This pottery festival in Japan's Heritage-certified Bizen production area offers visitors the chance to buy ware and try their hand at the potter's wheel.

17–18 Oct 2026Bizen · Okayama

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

Festival

Saga International Balloon Fiesta

Asia's largest hot-air balloon event, where around 100 balloons rise over the Kase River each autumn in a five-day competition and festival.

30 Oct – 3 Nov 2026Saga

Festival

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival

A large Halloween cosplay festival centered on Ikebukuro's East Exit features stage performances, parades, and gathering spaces for participants of all ages.

30 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Tokyo

Festival

Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival

Miyazaki's largest celebration honors Emperor Jimmu through a grand autumn procession featuring portable shrines and floats reenacting the legendary emperor's historic journey.

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Miyazaki

Festival

UFO Festival

A town in Fukushima that calls itself the UFO village closes its shopping street for an alien costume parade, with prizes for the most convincing.

31 Oct 2026Fukushima

Festival

Ube Festival

The largest festival of Ube in Yamaguchi, built on the Nanban Ondo, a dance that came out of the coal mines, with parades and a float drawn at the end.

1 Nov 2026Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Ohara Festival

Mass dancing in vibrant costumes and powerful taiko drumming celebrate Kagoshima's regional identity in this southern Kyushu autumn festival.

2–3 Nov 2026Kagoshima

Festival

Okawakami Birafu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

Featuring an Intangible Folk Cultural Property procession, this November festival unites a community through ceremony, dance, and spiritual communion.

3 Nov 2026Kami · Kochi

Festival

Fox's Wedding - Rice Ear Festival

The Fox's Wedding features a grand procession with white fox bride and groom, rooted in a legend of benevolent spirits said to bring marriage blessings.

3 Nov 2026Kudamatsu · Yamaguchi

Festival

Sengoku Chronicle: The Battle of Kawanakajima

A re-enactment on a river bed in Fuefuki, Yamanashi, where about seven hundred people in armour refight Takeda Shingen against Uesugi Kenshin.

8 Nov 2026Fuefuki · Yamanashi

Festival

Oyama Balloon Festival

The Oyama Balloon Festa fills autumn skies with hot air balloons competing in precision flights from dawn, and features illuminated night glows with synchronized fireworks and music.

14–15 Nov 2026Oyama · Tochigi

Festival

Tochigi Float Festival

Tall doll floats built in the 19th century are drawn through the storehouse streets of Tochigi over two days, in a festival held every second year.

14–15 Nov 2026Tochigi

Festival

Kurakake Castle Festival

A castle festival features an armored warrior procession, parades, and traditional performances including taiko drumming and Shinto kagura dance.

16 Nov 2026Iwakuni · Yamaguchi

Festival

Kamiari Festival

Once a year the gods of Japan are said to abandon their shrines for Izumo, where a season of quiet rites welcomes, hosts, and finally sends them home again.

18–25 Nov 2026Izumo · Shimane

Never miss what's on