Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

Home
Topics
Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

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

Ono Festival

A traditional spring festival held over two days features three decorated floats and karakuri puppets, with origins dating to the Edo period.

3–4 May 2027Tokoname · Aichi

Festival

Yatsuo Hikiyama Festival

A traditional spring festival features six ornately decorated floats assembled without nails, pulled through streets with classical hikiyama music.

3 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Seihakusai Festival

This Ishikawa festival of over 1,000 years parades three huge wheeled floats with life-size Kabuki figures, recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

3–5 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Minato Festival

Annual shrine festival featuring traditional performing arts, portable shrine processions, and demonstrations of ancient Minato kiyari songs.

5 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Shinkawa Market Festival

This downtown festival features food and craft stalls, agricultural products, and family activities rooted in Ube City's late 18th-century market traditions.

5 May 2027Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Otabi Festival

A spring celebration in Komatsu blends Shinto ritual, elaborate festival floats, and children's kabuki performances at two historic shrines.

8–10 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKomatsu · Ishikawa

Festival

Kanda Festival

A festival held at Kanda Shrine in Tokyo dating back to the 17th century, featuring processions of participants in Heian-period clothing and sacred ceremonies.

13–15 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTokyo

Festival

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri, one of Tokyo's largest traditional festivals, honours enshrined figures with mikoshi processions and an Intangible Folk Cultural Property dance.

15–17 May 2027Tokyo

Festival

Aoi Festival

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto's three major annual festivals, belongs to the northern Kamo shrines, with roots over 1,400 years old and equestrian archery.

15 May 2027Kyoto

Festival

Sendai Aoba Festival

A spring festival in Sendai honors feudal lord Date Masamune with ornate floats decorated with scenes from classic literature and theater over two days.

16–17 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSendai · Miyagi

Festival

Iwase Hikiyama Festival (The Fighting Floats Festival)

Annual spring festival featuring ornate floats with elaborate wooden tatemon decorations pulled through streets with traditional music.

17–18 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Mikuni Festival (Mikuni Shrine Annual Festival)

A three-century tradition, this Hokuriku festival showcases elaborately decorated floats and honors the maritime heritage of this former port town.

19–21 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSakai · Fukui

Festival

Sanno Festival

Centered at Hie Shrine, this major Toyama festival originated in the Edo period and features a two-day mikoshi procession through the city's parishes.

31 May – 2 Jun 2027Toyama

Festival

Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival

A lantern festival in Toyama Prefecture where 7-meter-high floats decorated with warrior illustrations collide in ritualized clashes to taiko drumming.

5–6 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOyabe · Toyama

Festival

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

Kanazawa's Hyakumangoku Festival honours Lord Maeda Toshiie, whose 1583 entry into the castle established the city, and is now a major regional cultural event.

5–7 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Sanno Matsuri

Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine each June ranks among Japan's three great festivals; once viewed by Tokugawa shoguns, it is known as the Festival of the Realm.

7–17 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTokyo

Festival

Tonami Yotaka Festival

A harvest festival in which red lanterns over 6 metres tall collide in a ritual called tsukiawase, accompanied by taiko drums.

12–13 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTonami · 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

Ono Festival

A traditional spring festival held over two days features three decorated floats and karakuri puppets, with origins dating to the Edo period.

3–4 May 2027Tokoname · Aichi

Festival

Yatsuo Hikiyama Festival

A traditional spring festival features six ornately decorated floats assembled without nails, pulled through streets with classical hikiyama music.

3 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Seihakusai Festival

This Ishikawa festival of over 1,000 years parades three huge wheeled floats with life-size Kabuki figures, recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

3–5 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Minato Festival

Annual shrine festival featuring traditional performing arts, portable shrine processions, and demonstrations of ancient Minato kiyari songs.

5 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Shinkawa Market Festival

This downtown festival features food and craft stalls, agricultural products, and family activities rooted in Ube City's late 18th-century market traditions.

5 May 2027Ube · Yamaguchi

Festival

Otabi Festival

A spring celebration in Komatsu blends Shinto ritual, elaborate festival floats, and children's kabuki performances at two historic shrines.

8–10 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKomatsu · Ishikawa

Festival

Kanda Festival

A festival held at Kanda Shrine in Tokyo dating back to the 17th century, featuring processions of participants in Heian-period clothing and sacred ceremonies.

13–15 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTokyo

Festival

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri, one of Tokyo's largest traditional festivals, honours enshrined figures with mikoshi processions and an Intangible Folk Cultural Property dance.

15–17 May 2027Tokyo

Festival

Aoi Festival

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto's three major annual festivals, belongs to the northern Kamo shrines, with roots over 1,400 years old and equestrian archery.

15 May 2027Kyoto

Festival

Sendai Aoba Festival

A spring festival in Sendai honors feudal lord Date Masamune with ornate floats decorated with scenes from classic literature and theater over two days.

16–17 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSendai · Miyagi

Festival

Iwase Hikiyama Festival (The Fighting Floats Festival)

Annual spring festival featuring ornate floats with elaborate wooden tatemon decorations pulled through streets with traditional music.

17–18 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Mikuni Festival (Mikuni Shrine Annual Festival)

A three-century tradition, this Hokuriku festival showcases elaborately decorated floats and honors the maritime heritage of this former port town.

19–21 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSakai · Fukui

Festival

Sanno Festival

Centered at Hie Shrine, this major Toyama festival originated in the Edo period and features a two-day mikoshi procession through the city's parishes.

31 May – 2 Jun 2027Toyama

Festival

Tsuzawa Yotaka Andon Festival

A lantern festival in Toyama Prefecture where 7-meter-high floats decorated with warrior illustrations collide in ritualized clashes to taiko drumming.

5–6 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOyabe · Toyama

Festival

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

Kanazawa's Hyakumangoku Festival honours Lord Maeda Toshiie, whose 1583 entry into the castle established the city, and is now a major regional cultural event.

5–7 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa

Festival

Sanno Matsuri

Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine each June ranks among Japan's three great festivals; once viewed by Tokugawa shoguns, it is known as the Festival of the Realm.

7–17 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTokyo

Festival

Tonami Yotaka Festival

A harvest festival in which red lanterns over 6 metres tall collide in a ritual called tsukiawase, accompanied by taiko drums.

12–13 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTonami · Toyama

Never miss what's on

Results

Results