Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

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Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival, and it is a central part of Japanese culture and tradition. Held throughout the year, matsuri range from small, local celebrations to huge regional events that draw millions of visitors from around the world.

What does matsuri mean?

Matsuri (祭り) means festival in Japanese. Most matsuri have roots in Shinto or Buddhist tradition and are held by a local shrine or temple to honor its deity, give thanks, or pray for a good harvest.

What happens at a matsuri?

Typical matsuri feature processions carrying a portable shrine (mikoshi), traditional music and dance, decorated floats, and rows of food stalls (yatai). Famous examples include Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Tokushima’s Awa Odori.

What should I wear to a matsuri?

Casual summer clothing is fine, but many visitors wear a yukata, a light cotton kimono, which you can rent. Comfortable shoes help, since festivals involve a lot of standing and walking.

Festival

Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival

Miyazaki's largest festival honors Emperor Jimmu with a grand autumn procession of portable shrines and floats reenacting the legendary emperor's journey.

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Miyazaki

Festival

Ube Festival

The largest festival of Ube in Yamaguchi, built on the Nanban Ondo, a dance that came out of the coal mines, with parades and a float drawn at the end.

1 Nov 2026Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Ohara Festival

Mass dancing in vibrant costumes and powerful taiko drumming celebrate Kagoshima's regional identity in this southern Kyushu autumn festival.

2–3 Nov 2026Kagoshima

Festival

Okawakami Birafu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

Featuring an Intangible Folk Cultural Property procession, this November festival unites a community through ceremony, dance, and spiritual communion.

3 Nov 2026Kami · Kochi

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

Chichibu Night Festival

An annual festival in Saitama featuring six ornate floats illuminated by thousands of lanterns, along with fireworks and traditional performances.

2–3 Dec 2026Chichibu · Saitama

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

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

Exhibition

Yokohama Doll Museum's Hinamatsuri

Traditional hina dolls and intricately crafted miniature furnishings reveal the artistry and cultural significance of this centuries-old celebration.

30 Jan – 15 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYokohama · Kanagawa

Festival

Utasu Jinja Shrine Setsubun Festival

The Utasu Jinja Shrine Setsubun Festival marks the change of season with purification rituals and Mamemaki, the traditional throwing of roasted soybeans.

3 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures in Odori Park, ice sculptures in Susukino and snow attractions at Tsudome fill three sites in Sapporo every February.

4–11 Feb 2027Sapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Nagasaki Lantern Festival

The festival illuminates Nagasaki's streets with around 15,000 Chinese lanterns, some reaching 10 metres, celebrating Lunar New Year traditions.

6–23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagasaki

Festival

Takewari Festival (Gogan Shinji)

An ancient Shinto ritual held on February 10 features young men in white ceremonial clothing splitting bamboo stalks to symbolize strength and readiness.

10 Feb 2027Kaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Atsukishinmei Festival

Fire-lit pillars hung with sacred paper stand on the beach as the community performs ceremonial dances twice a day for protection from illness and calamity.

11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYanai · Yamaguchi

Festival

Kasedori

An Edo-period festival in Kaminoyama where performers in bird-shaped straw costumes parade through town as spectators splash them with water for good fortune.

11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaminoyama · Yamagata

What does matsuri mean?

What happens at a matsuri?

What should I wear to a matsuri?

Casual summer clothing is fine, but many visitors wear a yukata, a light cotton kimono, which you can rent. Comfortable shoes help, since festivals involve a lot of standing and walking.

Festival

Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival

Miyazaki's largest festival honors Emperor Jimmu with a grand autumn procession of portable shrines and floats reenacting the legendary emperor's journey.

31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Miyazaki

Festival

Ube Festival

The largest festival of Ube in Yamaguchi, built on the Nanban Ondo, a dance that came out of the coal mines, with parades and a float drawn at the end.

1 Nov 2026Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Ohara Festival

Mass dancing in vibrant costumes and powerful taiko drumming celebrate Kagoshima's regional identity in this southern Kyushu autumn festival.

2–3 Nov 2026Kagoshima

Festival

Okawakami Birafu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival

Featuring an Intangible Folk Cultural Property procession, this November festival unites a community through ceremony, dance, and spiritual communion.

3 Nov 2026Kami · Kochi

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

Chichibu Night Festival

An annual festival in Saitama featuring six ornate floats illuminated by thousands of lanterns, along with fireworks and traditional performances.

2–3 Dec 2026Chichibu · Saitama

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

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

Exhibition

Yokohama Doll Museum's Hinamatsuri

Traditional hina dolls and intricately crafted miniature furnishings reveal the artistry and cultural significance of this centuries-old celebration.

30 Jan – 15 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYokohama · Kanagawa

Festival

Utasu Jinja Shrine Setsubun Festival

The Utasu Jinja Shrine Setsubun Festival marks the change of season with purification rituals and Mamemaki, the traditional throwing of roasted soybeans.

3 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures in Odori Park, ice sculptures in Susukino and snow attractions at Tsudome fill three sites in Sapporo every February.

4–11 Feb 2027Sapporo · Hokkaido

Festival

Nagasaki Lantern Festival

The festival illuminates Nagasaki's streets with around 15,000 Chinese lanterns, some reaching 10 metres, celebrating Lunar New Year traditions.

6–23 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagasaki

Festival

Takewari Festival (Gogan Shinji)

An ancient Shinto ritual held on February 10 features young men in white ceremonial clothing splitting bamboo stalks to symbolize strength and readiness.

10 Feb 2027Kaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Atsukishinmei Festival

Fire-lit pillars hung with sacred paper stand on the beach as the community performs ceremonial dances twice a day for protection from illness and calamity.

11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetYanai · Yamaguchi

Festival

Kasedori

An Edo-period festival in Kaminoyama where performers in bird-shaped straw costumes parade through town as spectators splash them with water for good fortune.

11 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaminoyama · Yamagata

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