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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

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.

All Events Places

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 2027

Fukuoka · 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 42th Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival

The 42nd 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

Festival

Minato Festival

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

5 May 2027Niigata · Chubu

Festival

Mamada no Jaga Maita

Before the rice-planting season, children parade enormous painted serpents through town while chanting, immersing them in a pond as part of a centuries-old rainmaking ritual.

5 May 2027Tochigi · Kanto

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 2027Yamaguchi · Chugoku

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 2027Ishikawa · Chubu

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 2027Tokyo · Kanto

Festival

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri is one of Tokyo's largest traditional festivals, honouring enshrined figures through mikoshi processions and an Intangible Folk Cultural Property ritual dance.

15–17 May 2027Tokyo · Kanto

Festival

Aoi Festival

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

15 May 2027Kyoto · Kansai

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 2027Miyagi · Tohoku

Festival

Iwase Hikiyama Festival (The Fighting Floats Festival)

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

17–18 May 2027Toyama · Chubu