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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

Kaikai Yokai Festival

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

12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kyoto

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 Festa

Two days of hot air ballooning on a park field in Oyama, Tochigi: morning competition flights, tethered rides and a balloon glow set to music and fireworks.

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

Festival

Hofu Tenmangu Gojinko-sai Festival (Naked Monk Festival)

Hofu Tenmangu's main festival: about 5,000 men in white escort the deity to the shore where Sugawara no Michizane once landed, and back to the shrine by night.

28 Nov 2026Hofu · Yamaguchi

Festival

Chichibu Night Festival

The grand festival of Chichibu Shrine, in which six lantern-lit floats are pulled through the town and up a steep slope as fireworks burst overhead.

2–3 Dec 2026Chichibu · Saitama

Festival

Zao Juhyo Festival

The Zao Juhyo Festival in the Zao Mountains centres on the Snow Monsters, ice and snow formations that coat the trees, illuminated after dark.

27 Dec 2026 – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagata

Festival

Motsu-ji Temple Hatsukayasai Festival

The final day of this week-long Buddhist observance at a UNESCO World Heritage temple features torchlit processions and prayers for good fortune.

14–20 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHiraizumi · Iwate

Festival

Dadado-no-onihashiri

Masked 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 · Nara

Festival

Dontosai Festival

An 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 · Miyagi

Festival

Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Festival

Dosojin, 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

Festival

New Year’s Bonfire (Sagicho-shinji)

Sagicho-shinji burns New Year decorations on January 15 at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, in a fire believed to purify and bring a good harvest.

15 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKamakura · Kanagawa

Festival

Fire Festival at Cape Shionomisaki

At Cape Shionomisaki, a practical piece of land management becomes a spectacular celebration as flaming arrows set the grasslands ablaze each winter.

16 Jan 2027Kushimoto · Wakayama

Festival

Oiso Sagicho Festival

A National Important Folk Cultural Property, this Little New Year fire ritual purifies homes and communities through burning traditional new-year decorations.

17 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOiso · Kanagawa

Festival

Echizen Ono Hina Festival

A Doll's Day celebration in Echizen Ono with hina doll displays at two venues, including a 20-step arrangement at a historic National Cultural Property.

24 Jan – 8 Mar 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOno · Fukui

Festival

Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival

Hundreds of small snow huts, each holding a candle, light up the riverbed at Yunishigawa Onsen, a mountain hot spring village tied to Heike clan legends.

29 Jan – 28 Feb 2027Nikko · Tochigi

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

Kaikai Yokai Festival

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

12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kyoto

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 Festa

Two days of hot air ballooning on a park field in Oyama, Tochigi: morning competition flights, tethered rides and a balloon glow set to music and fireworks.

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

Festival

Hofu Tenmangu Gojinko-sai Festival (Naked Monk Festival)

Hofu Tenmangu's main festival: about 5,000 men in white escort the deity to the shore where Sugawara no Michizane once landed, and back to the shrine by night.

28 Nov 2026Hofu · Yamaguchi

Festival

Chichibu Night Festival

The grand festival of Chichibu Shrine, in which six lantern-lit floats are pulled through the town and up a steep slope as fireworks burst overhead.

2–3 Dec 2026Chichibu · Saitama

Festival

Zao Juhyo Festival

The Zao Juhyo Festival in the Zao Mountains centres on the Snow Monsters, ice and snow formations that coat the trees, illuminated after dark.

27 Dec 2026 – 23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYamagata

Festival

Motsu-ji Temple Hatsukayasai Festival

The final day of this week-long Buddhist observance at a UNESCO World Heritage temple features torchlit processions and prayers for good fortune.

14–20 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHiraizumi · Iwate

Festival

Dadado-no-onihashiri

Masked 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 · Nara

Festival

Dontosai Festival

An 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 · Miyagi

Festival

Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Festival

Dosojin, 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

Festival

New Year’s Bonfire (Sagicho-shinji)

Sagicho-shinji burns New Year decorations on January 15 at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, in a fire believed to purify and bring a good harvest.

15 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKamakura · Kanagawa

Festival

Fire Festival at Cape Shionomisaki

At Cape Shionomisaki, a practical piece of land management becomes a spectacular celebration as flaming arrows set the grasslands ablaze each winter.

16 Jan 2027Kushimoto · Wakayama

Festival

Oiso Sagicho Festival

A National Important Folk Cultural Property, this Little New Year fire ritual purifies homes and communities through burning traditional new-year decorations.

17 Jan 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOiso · Kanagawa

Festival

Echizen Ono Hina Festival

A Doll's Day celebration in Echizen Ono with hina doll displays at two venues, including a 20-step arrangement at a historic National Cultural Property.

24 Jan – 8 Mar 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOno · Fukui

Festival

Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival

Hundreds of small snow huts, each holding a candle, light up the riverbed at Yunishigawa Onsen, a mountain hot spring village tied to Heike clan legends.

29 Jan – 28 Feb 2027Nikko · Tochigi

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