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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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetFujiyoshida · Yamanashi

Shrine

Kunikatanushi Shrine

A shrine at the centre of the island of Iki, founded in 811, to the small god Sukunahikona and to Sugawara no Michizane.

Iki · Nagasaki

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

Shrine

Usa Shrine

The head shrine of the forty thousand Hachiman shrines, founded at Usa in 725, with three halls that are a National Treasure.

Usa · Oita

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

Shrine

Amano Iwato Shrine

A shrine at Takachiho that worships the cave where the sun goddess is said to have hidden, leaving the world in darkness.

Miyazaki

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

Area & Points of Interest

Takachihogawara

A sacred highland at 970 meters on Mount Kirishima's slopes, legendary in Japanese mythology as where the heavenly grandchild descended to rule.

Kirishima · Kagoshima

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

Shrine

Kirishima Shrine

A shrine below the peak of Takachiho in Kagoshima, its vermilion halls of 1715 made a National Treasure in 2022.

Kirishima · Kagoshima

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

Shrine

Udo Jingu

A shrine on the coast of Miyazaki whose vermilion hall stands inside a sea cave, with a rock said to have nursed the god born there.

Nichinan · Miyazaki

Festival

Katakai Matsuri

The autumn festival of Asahara Shrine at Ojiya in Niigata, where the fireworks are offerings and include the four-shaku shell, said to be the world's largest.

11–12 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOjiya · Niigata

Shrine

Hinomisaki Shrine

Two shrines on one site at the western tip of the Shimane Peninsula, rebuilt in the 1630s and holding a National Treasure suit of armour.

Izumo · Shimane

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

Shrine

Sada Shrine

Shrine near Matsue with three halls side by side, where the gods gather each November to remember Izanami, and home of the UNESCO-listed Sada Shinno dance.

Matsue · Shimane

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

Area & Points of Interest

Inasa-no-Hama

Izumo · Shimane

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 2027Exact date not confirmed yetFujiyoshida · Yamanashi

Shrine

Kunikatanushi Shrine

A shrine at the centre of the island of Iki, founded in 811, to the small god Sukunahikona and to Sugawara no Michizane.

Iki · Nagasaki

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

Shrine

Usa Shrine

The head shrine of the forty thousand Hachiman shrines, founded at Usa in 725, with three halls that are a National Treasure.

Usa · Oita

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

Shrine

Amano Iwato Shrine

A shrine at Takachiho that worships the cave where the sun goddess is said to have hidden, leaving the world in darkness.

Miyazaki

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

Area & Points of Interest

Takachihogawara

A sacred highland at 970 meters on Mount Kirishima's slopes, legendary in Japanese mythology as where the heavenly grandchild descended to rule.

Kirishima · Kagoshima

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

Shrine

Kirishima Shrine

A shrine below the peak of Takachiho in Kagoshima, its vermilion halls of 1715 made a National Treasure in 2022.

Kirishima · Kagoshima

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

Shrine

Udo Jingu

A shrine on the coast of Miyazaki whose vermilion hall stands inside a sea cave, with a rock said to have nursed the god born there.

Nichinan · Miyazaki

Festival

Katakai Matsuri

The autumn festival of Asahara Shrine at Ojiya in Niigata, where the fireworks are offerings and include the four-shaku shell, said to be the world's largest.

11–12 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetOjiya · Niigata

Shrine

Hinomisaki Shrine

Two shrines on one site at the western tip of the Shimane Peninsula, rebuilt in the 1630s and holding a National Treasure suit of armour.

Izumo · Shimane

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

Shrine

Sada Shrine

Shrine near Matsue with three halls side by side, where the gods gather each November to remember Izanami, and home of the UNESCO-listed Sada Shinno dance.

Matsue · Shimane

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

Area & Points of Interest

Inasa-no-Hama

Izumo · Shimane

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