Japanese Festivals | Hey Japan!

Home
Topics
Japanese Festivals

Festival

Ogimachi Sakura Festival

A cherry blossom festival in Osaka features night illuminations and LED lantern releases alongside traditional Japanese instrument performances.

3–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOsaka

Festival

The Hida Living Hina Doll Festival

A Hina Matsuri doll festival blended with regional silk-industry heritage, held a month after the national holiday because spring comes late to the mountains.

3 Apr 2027Takayama · Gifu

Festival

All Japan Chindon Contest

Japan's only national competition for chindon, a street performance art from the 19th century that promoted shop openings with music and costumes.

3–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Inuyama Festival

Historic shrine festival featuring thirteen elaborate floats equipped with mechanical puppets performing traditional ceremonies on the first weekend of April.

4–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetInuyama · Aichi

Festival

Kanamara Matsuri "Festival of the Steel Phallus"

An annual Shinto festival at Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki featuring distinctive phallic imagery in decorations and parades while raising funds for HIV research.

5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKawasaki · Kanagawa

Festival

Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori

A 40-year-old spring tradition in Jozankei: about 400 carp streamers, repurposed from donated family heirlooms, hang above the hot spring town.

10 Apr – 10 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Bunsui Geisha Parade

A spring parade in Niigata features courtesans in Edo-period dress and 70 followers moving gracefully among blooming cherry blossom trees.

12 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsubame · Niigata

Festival

Sanno Festival

Seven portable shrines and demon-drum performances mark this Sado festival, run jointly by six local communities in a tradition of over 800 years.

12–14 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Festival (Reitaisai)

Each April, Kumano Hongu Taisha holds its Reitaisai - three days of purification rites, beautiful sacred dance performances, and a grand palanquin procession.

13–15 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTanabe · Wakayama

Festival

Sosha Shrine Annual Festival Eve Kyogen Performance

Sagiryu Kyogen, a rare comic theatre form found in only three places in Japan, is performed on this festival eve by preservation groups and local students.

14 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

The Spring Takayama Festival

A spring festival in Takayama showcases ornate floats with mechanical dolls and centuries-old craftsmanship, illuminated by lanterns during evening processions.

14–15 Apr 2027Takayama · Gifu

Festival

Marumage Festival

An annual festival in Himi centers on Senju-ji Temple, where unmarried women pray for happiness using a traditional married woman's hairstyle in ritual.

17 Apr 2027Himi · Toyama

Festival

Otawara Yatai Festival

A spring festival dating to the Edo period features nine elaborately decorated floats paraded through city streets accompanied by traditional music.

18–19 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtawara · Tochigi

Festival

Ishioka Spring Shishi Festival

Ishioka's spring festival of lion dance culture, with performances by neighborhood groups, competitions by age category, food stalls and carnival games.

29 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetIshioka · Ibaraki

Festival

The Yonezawa Uesugi Matsuri

A multi-day festival in Yonezawa that ends with a reenactment of the 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.

29 Apr – 3 May 2027Yonezawa · Yamagata

Festival

Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival

A traditional spring festival in Takaoka features ornate wheeled floats originating from a 16th-century court carriage.

1 May 2027Takaoka · Toyama

Festival

Hakata Dontaku

One of Japan's largest festivals, dating back to 1179, with parades of the Three Lucky Gods, children's processions, and modern Flower Cars.

2–4 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetFukuoka

Festival

Senteisai festival (Akama-jingu Shrine)

A shrine festival at Akama-jingu in Shimonoseki honoring Emperor Antoku with Shinto rituals, offerings and performances that mark the young emperor's death.

2–4 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShimonoseki · Yamaguchi

Festival

Ogimachi Sakura Festival

A cherry blossom festival in Osaka features night illuminations and LED lantern releases alongside traditional Japanese instrument performances.

3–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOsaka

Festival

The Hida Living Hina Doll Festival

A Hina Matsuri doll festival blended with regional silk-industry heritage, held a month after the national holiday because spring comes late to the mountains.

3 Apr 2027Takayama · Gifu

Festival

All Japan Chindon Contest

Japan's only national competition for chindon, a street performance art from the 19th century that promoted shop openings with music and costumes.

3–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Inuyama Festival

Historic shrine festival featuring thirteen elaborate floats equipped with mechanical puppets performing traditional ceremonies on the first weekend of April.

4–5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetInuyama · Aichi

Festival

Kanamara Matsuri "Festival of the Steel Phallus"

An annual Shinto festival at Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki featuring distinctive phallic imagery in decorations and parades while raising funds for HIV research.

5 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKawasaki · Kanagawa

Festival

Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori

A 40-year-old spring tradition in Jozankei: about 400 carp streamers, repurposed from donated family heirlooms, hang above the hot spring town.

10 Apr – 10 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Bunsui Geisha Parade

A spring parade in Niigata features courtesans in Edo-period dress and 70 followers moving gracefully among blooming cherry blossom trees.

12 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsubame · Niigata

Festival

Sanno Festival

Seven portable shrines and demon-drum performances mark this Sado festival, run jointly by six local communities in a tradition of over 800 years.

12–14 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Festival (Reitaisai)

Each April, Kumano Hongu Taisha holds its Reitaisai - three days of purification rites, beautiful sacred dance performances, and a grand palanquin procession.

13–15 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTanabe · Wakayama

Festival

Sosha Shrine Annual Festival Eve Kyogen Performance

Sagiryu Kyogen, a rare comic theatre form found in only three places in Japan, is performed on this festival eve by preservation groups and local students.

14 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

The Spring Takayama Festival

A spring festival in Takayama showcases ornate floats with mechanical dolls and centuries-old craftsmanship, illuminated by lanterns during evening processions.

14–15 Apr 2027Takayama · Gifu

Festival

Marumage Festival

An annual festival in Himi centers on Senju-ji Temple, where unmarried women pray for happiness using a traditional married woman's hairstyle in ritual.

17 Apr 2027Himi · Toyama

Festival

Otawara Yatai Festival

A spring festival dating to the Edo period features nine elaborately decorated floats paraded through city streets accompanied by traditional music.

18–19 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOtawara · Tochigi

Festival

Ishioka Spring Shishi Festival

Ishioka's spring festival of lion dance culture, with performances by neighborhood groups, competitions by age category, food stalls and carnival games.

29 Apr 2027Exact date not confirmed yetIshioka · Ibaraki

Festival

The Yonezawa Uesugi Matsuri

A multi-day festival in Yonezawa that ends with a reenactment of the 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.

29 Apr – 3 May 2027Yonezawa · Yamagata

Festival

Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival

A traditional spring festival in Takaoka features ornate wheeled floats originating from a 16th-century court carriage.

1 May 2027Takaoka · Toyama

Festival

Hakata Dontaku

One of Japan's largest festivals, dating back to 1179, with parades of the Three Lucky Gods, children's processions, and modern Flower Cars.

2–4 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetFukuoka

Festival

Senteisai festival (Akama-jingu Shrine)

A shrine festival at Akama-jingu in Shimonoseki honoring Emperor Antoku with Shinto rituals, offerings and performances that mark the young emperor's death.

2–4 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShimonoseki · Yamaguchi

Never miss what's on

Results

Results