Japanese Festivals | Hey Japan!

Home
Topics
Japanese Festivals

Festival

Hita Gion Festival

A traditional summer festival over 400 years old features large ornate floats adorned with embroidery, dedicated to a protective deity.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHita · Oita

Festival

Matsunami Ningyo Kiriko Festival

Festival combining traditional puppet theatre with illuminated wooden lantern processions, featuring elaborate puppet shows depicting classical Japanese tales.

25 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNoto · Ishikawa

Festival

Omuta Daijayama Festival

A festival featuring massive serpent-shaped wooden floats that spew fire and smoke as they parade through Omuta City streets in July.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOmuta · Fukuoka

Festival

Tenno Matsuri

A 600-year-old river festival in Tsushima, Aichi, each July: lantern-lit boats float down the Tenno River to flute music, honouring the deity Gozu Tenno.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsushima · Aichi

Festival

Summer Grand Festival

The Summer Grand Festival honours Onominato Shrine's deities with Kanazawa's largest mikoshi procession, traditional dances, and rituals from the 1600s.

30 Jul – 2 Aug 2027Kanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Kishu Odori "Bundara-bushi"

Kishu Odori Bundara-bushi, one of Wakayama's largest summer events, returns on 1 August, with thousands of dancers around Wakayama Castle.

31 Jul – 1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetWakayama

Festival

The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai

Hachinohe Sansha Taisai combines traditional shrine processions with elaborately decorated floats and is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

31 Jul – 4 Aug 2027Hachinohe · Aomori

Festival

Furusato Miya Matsuri

This Utsunomiya summer festival brings residents together for parades, traditional performances, and displays of local culture.

1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetUtsunomiya · Tochigi

Festival

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival

Major summer dance festival originating from legend about a demon's defeat, featuring traditional Sansa Odori dance and powerful taiko performances.

1–4 Aug 2027Morioka · Iwate

Festival

Tsuyama Gongo Festival

The Tsuyama Gongo Festival is a summer event in Tsuyama City with kappa-themed dances along Yakko-dori Street and one of Okayama's largest fireworks displays.

1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsuyama · Okayama

Festival

Takaoka Tanabata Festival

A festival celebrating the legend of star-crossed lovers transforms the city with colorful bamboo displays, streamers, and a traditional parade.

1–8 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTakaoka · Toyama

Festival

Hirosaki Neputa Festival

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival features giant illuminated floats up to 10 meters tall, paraded nightly through the city with taiko drums and traditional chanting.

1–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHirosaki · Aomori

Festival

Issaki Hoto Festival

The Issaki Hoto Festival: six illuminated lantern towers, each 10 meters tall, carried through the streets by teams in traditional festival dress.

1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Nagano Binzuru

The Nagano Binzuru Dance Festival draws over 10,000 participants in yukata processions through closed-off city streets in a fully participatory summer festival.

2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagano

Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival

Aomori's most iconic summer festival features glowing nebuta floats and energetic haneto dancers who leap through illuminated parades and water processions.

2–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAomori

Festival

Akita Kanto

A summer harvest festival in Akita where tall bamboo poles hung with paper lanterns parade to traditional music, with daytime balancing performances.

3–6 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAkita

Festival

Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival

An Aomori summer festival in Goshogawara known for its illuminated tachineputa floats, some up to 23 metres tall, paraded nightly to taiko drums and flutes.

4–8 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetGoshogawara · Aomori

Festival

Yaegaki Shrine Gion Festival

Every 4-5 August, ten neighbourhoods of Yokaichiba send mikoshi through the streets while crowds throw water over them. A Chiba festival nearly 500 years old.

4–5 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSosa · Chiba

Festival

Hita Gion Festival

A traditional summer festival over 400 years old features large ornate floats adorned with embroidery, dedicated to a protective deity.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHita · Oita

Festival

Matsunami Ningyo Kiriko Festival

Festival combining traditional puppet theatre with illuminated wooden lantern processions, featuring elaborate puppet shows depicting classical Japanese tales.

25 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNoto · Ishikawa

Festival

Omuta Daijayama Festival

A festival featuring massive serpent-shaped wooden floats that spew fire and smoke as they parade through Omuta City streets in July.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOmuta · Fukuoka

Festival

Tenno Matsuri

A 600-year-old river festival in Tsushima, Aichi, each July: lantern-lit boats float down the Tenno River to flute music, honouring the deity Gozu Tenno.

25–26 Jul 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsushima · Aichi

Festival

Summer Grand Festival

The Summer Grand Festival honours Onominato Shrine's deities with Kanazawa's largest mikoshi procession, traditional dances, and rituals from the 1600s.

30 Jul – 2 Aug 2027Kanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Kishu Odori "Bundara-bushi"

Kishu Odori Bundara-bushi, one of Wakayama's largest summer events, returns on 1 August, with thousands of dancers around Wakayama Castle.

31 Jul – 1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetWakayama

Festival

The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai

Hachinohe Sansha Taisai combines traditional shrine processions with elaborately decorated floats and is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

31 Jul – 4 Aug 2027Hachinohe · Aomori

Festival

Furusato Miya Matsuri

This Utsunomiya summer festival brings residents together for parades, traditional performances, and displays of local culture.

1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetUtsunomiya · Tochigi

Festival

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival

Major summer dance festival originating from legend about a demon's defeat, featuring traditional Sansa Odori dance and powerful taiko performances.

1–4 Aug 2027Morioka · Iwate

Festival

Tsuyama Gongo Festival

The Tsuyama Gongo Festival is a summer event in Tsuyama City with kappa-themed dances along Yakko-dori Street and one of Okayama's largest fireworks displays.

1–2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTsuyama · Okayama

Festival

Takaoka Tanabata Festival

A festival celebrating the legend of star-crossed lovers transforms the city with colorful bamboo displays, streamers, and a traditional parade.

1–8 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTakaoka · Toyama

Festival

Hirosaki Neputa Festival

The Hirosaki Neputa Festival features giant illuminated floats up to 10 meters tall, paraded nightly through the city with taiko drums and traditional chanting.

1–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHirosaki · Aomori

Festival

Issaki Hoto Festival

The Issaki Hoto Festival: six illuminated lantern towers, each 10 meters tall, carried through the streets by teams in traditional festival dress.

1 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Nagano Binzuru

The Nagano Binzuru Dance Festival draws over 10,000 participants in yukata processions through closed-off city streets in a fully participatory summer festival.

2 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagano

Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival

Aomori's most iconic summer festival features glowing nebuta floats and energetic haneto dancers who leap through illuminated parades and water processions.

2–7 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAomori

Festival

Akita Kanto

A summer harvest festival in Akita where tall bamboo poles hung with paper lanterns parade to traditional music, with daytime balancing performances.

3–6 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetAkita

Festival

Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival

An Aomori summer festival in Goshogawara known for its illuminated tachineputa floats, some up to 23 metres tall, paraded nightly to taiko drums and flutes.

4–8 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetGoshogawara · Aomori

Festival

Yaegaki Shrine Gion Festival

Every 4-5 August, ten neighbourhoods of Yokaichiba send mikoshi through the streets while crowds throw water over them. A Chiba festival nearly 500 years old.

4–5 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSosa · Chiba

Never miss what's on

Results

Results