Festivals & Events
Matsuri festivals, seasonal events, and celebrations
18 spots
Odori Park — Sapporo's Central Green Axis
Odori Park (大通公園) is a 1.5-kilometer-long boulevard running east-west through central Sapporo, dividing the city into no…
Sapporo Snow Festival — Ice Sculpture Spectacle
Every February, Sapporo clears out its snow dumps and trucks 5,000 tons of it to Odori Park, where teams spend four week…
Tokyo DisneySea — Japan's Unique Disney Park
Tokyo DisneySea is the only Disney park built specifically for adults and families, without a Cinderella Castle or Main…
Tokyo Disneyland — Japan's First Disney Park
Tokyo Disneyland, opened in 1983, was the first Disney park built outside the United States and remains one of the most…
Kamogawa Sea World — Japan's Premier Marine Park
Kamogawa Sea World, opened in 1970, is one of Japan's most advanced marine parks, known for its orca (killer whale) bree…
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival — Umbrella Dance Spectacle
Every August, central Tottori City transforms into a sea of color and sound for the Shan-Shan Matsuri, one of western Ja…
Yonago Gaina Festival — Summer Fire & Music Celebration
The Yonago Gaina Festival, held every July, is western Japan's answer to the massive summer festivals of Tokyo and Osaka…
Awa Odori Festival — Japan's Wildest Dance Party
Awa Odori (阿波踊り) is Tokushima's signature dance festival held every August 12–15, drawing 1.2 million visitors to watch…
Nebuta Matsuri — Giant Illuminated Float Festival
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri runs August 2–7 every year, parading massive paper floats through downtown streets after dark. Eac…
Tachineputa Matsuri — 23-Meter Tall Float Festival
Goshogawara Tachineputa Matsuri (立佞武多, held August 4-8) is Aomori's second great summer festival, featuring the world's…
Morioka Sansa Odori — World Record Drum Festival
Morioka Sansa Odori is one of Tohoku's greatest summer festivals, held August 1–4 annually. The festival features mass t…
Sendai Tanabata Festival
The Sendai Tanabata Festival stands as Japan's most spectacular star festival celebration, transforming the entire city…
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
The Sendai Pageant of Starlight transforms the city's main boulevards into a glittering wonderland each December, when s…
Namahage — Demon Folklore & New Year Rituals
Namahage are demon-gods from Oga Peninsula folklore, part of Akita's New Year traditions since the Edo period. They wear…
Akita Kanto Festival — Pole Lantern Balancing Spectacular
The Akita Kanto Festival (秋田竿燈まつり) is one of Tohoku's three great festivals, held annually August 3-6. The centerpiece i…
Yokote Kamakura Festival — Snow House Candle Ritual
The Yokote Kamakura Festival (横手のかまくら) is a 450-year-old winter tradition held annually February 15-16, where the city c…
Shinzan Shrine — Namahage Costume Rituals
Shinzan Shrine (真山神社) in Oga Peninsula is the spiritual home of the Namahage tradition, where ritual demon costumes are…
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival — Candle-Lit Winter Illumination
The Ouchi-juku Snow Festival (大内宿雪まつり) transforms the historic thatched-roof village into a magical winter wonderland du…