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The month's best festivals, exhibitions, and pop-ups in Japan, in one email. Free, monthly.

Free when you joinThe First-Timer's Japan Guide, our 16-page PDF, in your welcome email.

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The First-Timer's Japan Guide16-page PDF, in your welcome email.

The First-Timer's Japan Guide

Guides, places, and what's on across Japan, written at street level.

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Festival

Fukagawa Matsuri

One of Tokyo's three greatest Shinto festivals, this mid-August celebration centers on water-splashing processions with portable shrines through the city.

15 Aug 2027Tokyo · Kanto

Festival

Aodake Chochin Festival (Green Bamboo Lantern Festival)

A summer festival transforms a town with illuminated green bamboo lanterns, folk performances, and fireworks over Takahata.

16 Aug 2027Yamagata · Tohoku

Festival

Wajima Taisai Festivals

Ornate lacquered lanterns parade through Wajima's four districts, symbolizing the path for visiting deities, accompanied by taiko drums and portable shrine processions.

Festival

Fukagawa Matsuri

One of Tokyo's three greatest Shinto festivals, this mid-August celebration centers on water-splashing processions with portable shrines through the city.

15 Aug 2027Tokyo · Kanto

Festival

Aodake Chochin Festival (Green Bamboo Lantern Festival)

A summer festival transforms a town with illuminated green bamboo lanterns, folk performances, and fireworks over Takahata.

16 Aug 2027Yamagata · Tohoku

Festival

Wajima Taisai Festivals

Ornate lacquered lanterns parade through Wajima's four districts, symbolizing the path for visiting deities, accompanied by taiko drums and portable shrine processions.

22–25 Aug 2027

Ishikawa · Chubu

Festival

Okayama Momotaro Dance Festival

An Okayama City summer festival inspired by the Momotaro folk tale, featuring demon-costumed Uraja dancing, parades, and fireworks across the city in August.

22–23 Aug 2027Okayama · Chugoku

Festival

Shinjo Matsuri

A festival with over 260 years of history, where 20 ornate floats themed on historical tales, legends, and kabuki parade through the streets with traditional music.

24–26 Aug 2027Yamagata · Tohoku

Festival

Yoshida Fire Festival

The Yoshida Fire Festival marks the end of the Mount Fuji climbing season on 26–27 August, with some 80 giant torches set ablaze along the streets of Kamiyoshida.

26–27 Aug 2027Yamanashi · Chubu

Festival

Guzuyaki Matsuri

A festival centred on a giant papier-mache fish, or guzu, paraded through the streets, danced with, and finally burned at Fuhashi Shrine, rooted in local legend.

29–30 Aug 2027Ishikawa · Chubu

Festival

Ogi Minato Matsuri

A summer festival in the port town of Ogi on Sado Island, with traditional dances, portable shrines, and a fireworks display rooted in prayers for maritime safety.

29–30 Aug 2027Niigata · Chubu

Festival

Hassaku Festival

An autumn festival at Yamashiro Onsen features a parade with a large lion and traditional Urayasu Dance of gratitude performed at Hatori Shrine for the harvest.

1 Sep 2027Ishikawa · Chubu

Festival

Owara Kaze no Bon (Harvest Wind Festival)

This traditional harvest festival features processions of lantern-lit dancers in matching happi coats moving through Yatsuo to shamisen and kokyū music for three September days.

1–3 Sep 2027Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Towada City Autumn Festival

A three-day festival in Towada, Aomori, begun as a prayer for the harvest, with floats and drum carts drawn through the streets and lit at night.

4–6 Sep 2027Aomori · Tohoku

Festival

Kakunodate Festival

A 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 2027Akita · Tohoku

Festival

Katakai Matsuri

The autumn festival of Asahara Shrine at Ojiya in Niigata, where the fireworks are offerings and include the four-shaku shell, said to be the world's largest.

11–12 Sep 2027Niigata · Chubu

Festival

Hanamaki Festival

This centuries-old festival features over 100 mikoshi shrines and floats, with the Shishi-Odori deer dance and sacred Kagura-Gongenmai performance.

11–13 Sep 2027Iwate · Tohoku

Festival

Morioka Fall Festival

One of Iwate's most enduring celebrations, this autumn festival originated as prayers for harvest, now featuring ornate floats and traditional parades.

14–16 Sep 2027Iwate · Tohoku

Festival

Kuji Autumn Festival

This over 650-year-old festival in a northern mountain town expresses gratitude for the harvest while praying for protection from disaster and the arrival of good fortune.

17–20 Sep 2027Iwate · Tohoku

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 2027Osaka · Kansai

Festival

Tono Festival

Two days in September when more than fifty groups bring out the performing arts of Tono in Iwate, with a mass deer dance and horseback archery at the shrine.

19–20 Sep 2027Iwate · Tohoku