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The month's best festivals, exhibitions, and pop-ups in Japan, in one email. Free, monthly.

Free when you joinThe First-Timer's Japan Guide, our 16-page PDF, in your welcome email.

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The First-Timer's Japan Guide16-page PDF, in your welcome email.

The First-Timer's Japan Guide

Guides, places, and what's on across Japan, written at street level.

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All Events Places

Festival

Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori

Jozankei's 40-year-old spring tradition celebrates through approximately 400 carp streamers suspended above the hot spring town, repurposed from donated family heirlooms.

10 Apr – 10 May 2027Hokkaido · 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 2027Niigata · Chubu

Festival

Sanno Festival

Seven portable shrines and demon-drum performances highlight this Sado festival, jointly conducted by six local communities as part of traditions spanning over 800 years.

All Events Places

Festival

Jozankei Onsen Keiryu Koinobori

Jozankei's 40-year-old spring tradition celebrates through approximately 400 carp streamers suspended above the hot spring town, repurposed from donated family heirlooms.

10 Apr – 10 May 2027Hokkaido · 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 2027Niigata · Chubu

Festival

Sanno Festival

Seven portable shrines and demon-drum performances highlight this Sado festival, jointly conducted by six local communities as part of traditions spanning over 800 years.

12–14 Apr 2027

Niigata · Chubu

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 2027Wakayama · Kansai

Festival

Sosha Shrine Annual Festival Eve Kyogen Performance

Sagiryu Kyogen, a rare traditional comic theatre form from only three locations in Japan, is performed during this festival eve by preservation groups and local students.

14 Apr 2027Niigata · Chubu

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 2027Gifu · Chubu

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 2027Toyama · Chubu

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 2027Tochigi · Kanto

Festival

Ishioka Spring Shishi Festival

Ishioka's spring celebration showcases lion dance culture through performances by neighborhood groups, competitions across age categories, and food vendors and carnival games.

29 Apr 2027Ibaraki · Kanto

Festival

The Yonezawa Uesugi Matsuri

The Yonezawa Uesugi Matsuri features a multi-day celebration culminating in a reenactment of the 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.

29 Apr – 3 May 2027Yamagata · Tohoku

Festival

Takaoka Mikuruma-yama Festival

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

1 May 2027Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Hakata Dontaku

Japan's largest festival, dating back 840 years, celebrates with parades of the Three Lucky Gods, children's processions, and modern Flower Cars.

2–4 May 2027Fukuoka · Kyushu

Festival

Senteisai festival (Akama-jingu Shrine)

A shrine festival in Shimonoseki honors Emperor Antoku through traditional Shinto rituals, offerings, and cultural performances commemorating the young ruler's tragic death.

2–4 May 2027Yamaguchi · Chugoku

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 2027Aichi · Chubu

Festival

The 43th Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival

The 43nd edition of this festival showcases 10 hectares of vibrant pink moss phlox blooms and includes tour vehicles and traditional performances.

3–31 May 2027Hokkaido · Hokkaido

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 2027Toyama · Chubu

Festival

Seihakusai Festival

This over 1,000-year-old Ishikawa festival parades three enormous wheeled floats adorned with life-size Kabuki figures and is recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

3–5 May 2027Ishikawa · Chubu

Festival

Fukiage-hama Sand Festival

The Fukiage-hama Sand Festival transforms a Kagoshima beach into an art gallery of large-scale sculptures created by artists and volunteers, with cultural performances.

3–5 May 2027Kagoshima · Kyushu