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

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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

Johana Mugiya Festival

The Johana Mugiya Festival celebrates Mugiya-bushi, a historic folk song and dance rooted in Gokayama's rural heritage, with costumed dancers and traditional instruments.

20 Sep 2026Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Ohara Hadaka Festival

The 'Naked Festival' features mikoshi carried into the sea, a boisterous parade through town, and shrines tossed high against fireworks and songs of joy.

23–24 Sep 2026Chiba · Kanto

Festival

Gokayama Mugiya Festival

The Gokayama Mugiya Festival features Mugiya-bushi, a folk song and dance tradition rooted in the Heike clan, designated as Japan's Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Festival

Johana Mugiya Festival

The Johana Mugiya Festival celebrates Mugiya-bushi, a historic folk song and dance rooted in Gokayama's rural heritage, with costumed dancers and traditional instruments.

20 Sep 2026Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Ohara Hadaka Festival

The 'Naked Festival' features mikoshi carried into the sea, a boisterous parade through town, and shrines tossed high against fireworks and songs of joy.

23–24 Sep 2026Chiba · Kanto

Festival

Gokayama Mugiya Festival

The Gokayama Mugiya Festival features Mugiya-bushi, a folk song and dance tradition rooted in the Heike clan, designated as Japan's Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

23 Sep 2026

Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Gokayama Kokiriko Festival

Streets fill with folk songs, dances, and lion performances, culminating in a communal circle dance accompanied by the rhythmic playing of a bamboo whisk instrument.

25–26 Sep 2026Toyama · Chubu

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 2026Wakayama · Kansai

Festival

Matsuyama Dogo Autumn Festival

Ancient shrine festival featuring portable shrines carried through Matsuyama's districts in ritual performances believed to enhance spiritual power.

5–7 Oct 2026Ehime · Shikoku

Festival

Nagasaki Kunchi / Okunchi

This 380-year-old shrine festival blends Japanese folk dances with dragon processions and Dutch-influenced performances held across four venues in Nagasaki.

7–9 Oct 2026Nagasaki · Kyushu

Festival

Sakura Autumn Festival

Each October the old castle town of Sakura fills with towering doll floats, portable shrines and Edo-descended music for three days of procession.

9–11 Oct 2026Chiba · Kanto

Festival

Kanuma Autumn Festival

An autumn festival held in October with origins tracing to a 1608 rainmaking ritual, featuring 27 ornately carved musical floats from the Edo period.

10–11 Oct 2026Tochigi · Kanto

Festival

Matsushiro Sanada Jumangoku Festival

An autumn parade brings the Warring States period to life with over 250 participants in samurai and historical costumes, honoring the Sanada clan.

11–12 Oct 2026Nagano · Chubu

Festival

Dogeza Festival

An October festival features a grand procession with a portable shrine led by samurai-clad participants, with local residents bowing in reverence along the streets.

15 Oct 2026Okayama · Chugoku

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 2026Wakayama · Kansai

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 2026Ehime · Shikoku

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.

18–19 Oct 2026Okayama · Chugoku

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 · Kansai

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.

26 Oct 2026Miyazaki · Kyushu

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 · Kyushu

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 · Kanto