Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

Home
Topics
Matsuri: Traditional Japanese Festivals

Festival

Okayama Momotaro Dance Festival

An Okayama City summer festival inspired by the Momotaro folk tale, featuring demon-costumed Uraja dancing and parades across the city in August.

22–23 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOkayama

Festival

Shinjo Matsuri

A festival in Shinjo with over 260 years of history, where 20 ornate floats themed on historical tales, legends and kabuki parade to traditional music.

24–26 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShinjo · Yamagata

Festival

Yoshida Fire Festival

The Yoshida Fire Festival ends the Mount Fuji climbing season on 26-27 August, with some 80 giant torches lit along the streets of Kamiyoshida.

26–27 Aug 2027Fujiyoshida · Yamanashi

Festival

Guzuyaki Matsuri

A festival centred on a giant papier-mache fish, or guzu, paraded through the streets, danced with and burned at Fuhashi Shrine, rooted in local legend.

29–30 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Ogi Minato Matsuri

A summer festival in the port town of Ogi on Sado Island, with traditional dances, portable shrines and fireworks rooted in prayers for maritime safety.

29–30 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Hassaku Festival

An autumn festival at Yamashiro Onsen features a parade with a large lion and traditional Urayasu Dance of gratitude performed at Hatori Shrine for the harvest.

1 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Owara Kaze no Bon (Harvest Wind Festival)

A harvest festival in Yatsuo: lantern-lit dancers in matching happi coats move through the streets to shamisen and kokyu music over three September days.

1–3 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Kakunodate Festival

A traditional autumn festival with 400 years of history, held in September in Kakunodate, featuring large wooden floats decorated with samurai warrior dolls.

7–9 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSemboku · Akita

Festival

Morioka Fall Festival

One of Iwate's most enduring celebrations, this autumn festival originated as prayers for harvest, now featuring ornate floats and traditional parades.

14–16 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMorioka · Iwate

Festival

Kuji Autumn Festival

This festival in Kuji, a coastal city in northern Iwate, over 650 years old, gives thanks for the harvest and prays for protection and good fortune.

17–20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKuji · Iwate

Festival

Okuma Kabuto Festival

Nanao's festival honors samurai heritage with a parade of locals in full armor and helmets, accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.

20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Johana Mugiya Festival

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

20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanto · Toyama

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMatsuyama · Ehime

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagasaki

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanuma · Tochigi

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.

10–11 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagano

Festival

Dogeza Festival

An October festival in which a portable shrine is carried in a procession led by participants dressed as samurai, while local residents bow along the streets.

15 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNiimi · Okayama

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNiihama · Ehime

Festival

Okayama Momotaro Dance Festival

An Okayama City summer festival inspired by the Momotaro folk tale, featuring demon-costumed Uraja dancing and parades across the city in August.

22–23 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOkayama

Festival

Shinjo Matsuri

A festival in Shinjo with over 260 years of history, where 20 ornate floats themed on historical tales, legends and kabuki parade to traditional music.

24–26 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShinjo · Yamagata

Festival

Yoshida Fire Festival

The Yoshida Fire Festival ends the Mount Fuji climbing season on 26-27 August, with some 80 giant torches lit along the streets of Kamiyoshida.

26–27 Aug 2027Fujiyoshida · Yamanashi

Festival

Guzuyaki Matsuri

A festival centred on a giant papier-mache fish, or guzu, paraded through the streets, danced with and burned at Fuhashi Shrine, rooted in local legend.

29–30 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Ogi Minato Matsuri

A summer festival in the port town of Ogi on Sado Island, with traditional dances, portable shrines and fireworks rooted in prayers for maritime safety.

29–30 Aug 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSado · Niigata

Festival

Hassaku Festival

An autumn festival at Yamashiro Onsen features a parade with a large lion and traditional Urayasu Dance of gratitude performed at Hatori Shrine for the harvest.

1 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKaga · Ishikawa

Festival

Owara Kaze no Bon (Harvest Wind Festival)

A harvest festival in Yatsuo: lantern-lit dancers in matching happi coats move through the streets to shamisen and kokyu music over three September days.

1–3 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetToyama

Festival

Kakunodate Festival

A traditional autumn festival with 400 years of history, held in September in Kakunodate, featuring large wooden floats decorated with samurai warrior dolls.

7–9 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetSemboku · Akita

Festival

Morioka Fall Festival

One of Iwate's most enduring celebrations, this autumn festival originated as prayers for harvest, now featuring ornate floats and traditional parades.

14–16 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMorioka · Iwate

Festival

Kuji Autumn Festival

This festival in Kuji, a coastal city in northern Iwate, over 650 years old, gives thanks for the harvest and prays for protection and good fortune.

17–20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKuji · Iwate

Festival

Okuma Kabuto Festival

Nanao's festival honors samurai heritage with a parade of locals in full armor and helmets, accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.

20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanao · Ishikawa

Festival

Johana Mugiya Festival

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

20 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNanto · Toyama

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMatsuyama · Ehime

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagasaki

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanuma · Tochigi

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.

10–11 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNagano

Festival

Dogeza Festival

An October festival in which a portable shrine is carried in a procession led by participants dressed as samurai, while local residents bow along the streets.

15 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNiimi · Okayama

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetNiihama · Ehime

Never miss what's on

Results

Results