🏮 Festivals season
Japan by Season
Blossom, fresh green, fireworks, maples, illuminations and snow — what each month of the Japanese year is actually worth travelling for, and the window each spot is at its best.
62 seasonal windows tagged “Illuminations” · timings shift with the weather each year — confirm before booking.
Summer in Japan — best right now
Festivals
Ends tomorrow
Akita
Akita Kanto Festival
August 3–6
August 3–6 for the festival
Festivals
Ends in 3 days
Aomori
Tachineputa Matsuri
August 4–8
August 4–8 (festival, 23-meter illuminated floats)
Sea & beaches
Kanagawa
Shonan Beach
August(approx.)
August–October for typhoon swells and best surfing conditions
Sea & beaches
Ibaraki
Ajigaura Beach
Early July – late August(approx.)
July–August (swimming season)
January
12 spots
Miyama Kayabuki Village
IlluminationsMid January (approx.)
Kyoto
Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)
IlluminationsLate January (approx.)
Gifu
Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)
IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)
Yamagata
Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages
IlluminationsLate January – mid February (approx.)
Toyama
Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village
IlluminationsEarly January – mid February (approx.)
Gifu
Minato Mirai 21
IlluminationsEarly December – late January (approx.)
Kanagawa
Nabana no Sato
IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)
Mie
Ashikaga Flower Park
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Tochigi
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Kobe Harborland
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Maruo Falls
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Kagoshima
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Fukushima
February
12 spotsZao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)
IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)
Yamagata
Zuiryuji Temple
IlluminationsMid February (approx.)
Toyama
Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages
IlluminationsLate January – mid February (approx.)
Toyama
Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)
IlluminationsMid January – mid February (approx.)
Gifu
Enoshima Island
IlluminationsEarly February – mid February (approx.)
Kanagawa
Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village
IlluminationsEarly January – mid February (approx.)
Gifu
Nabana no Sato
IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)
Mie
Ashikaga Flower Park
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Tochigi
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Kobe Harborland
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Maruo Falls
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Kagoshima
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Fukushima
March
13 spots
Nagoya Castle Night Illumination
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Aichi
Hagi Castle Ruins
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Hiroshima Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Hiroshima
Iwakuni Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Kikko Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Maizuru Castle Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamanashi
Matsuyama Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Ehime
Odawara Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Kanagawa
Sunpu Castle Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Shizuoka
Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Toyama
Tsuyama Castle Ruins
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Okayama
Yasaka Shrine
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Kyoto
Korakuen Garden
IlluminationsLate March – late April (approx.)
Okayama
April
20 spotsNagoya Castle Night Illumination
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Aichi
Kanazawa Castle Park
IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)
Ishikawa
Maruoka Castle
IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)
Fukui
Senshu Park
IlluminationsLate April (approx.)
Akita
Shiroishi Castle
IlluminationsMid April (approx.)
Miyagi
Yonago Castle Ruins
IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)
Tottori
Hagi Castle Ruins
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Hiroshima Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Hiroshima
Iwakuni Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Kikko Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamaguchi
Maizuru Castle Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Yamanashi
Matsuyama Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Ehime
Odawara Castle
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Kanagawa
Sunpu Castle Park
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Shizuoka
Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Toyama
Tsuyama Castle Ruins
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Okayama
Yasaka Shrine
IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)
Kyoto
Hirosaki Castle
IlluminationsLate April – early May (approx.)
Aomori
Korakuen Garden
IlluminationsLate March – late April (approx.)
Okayama
Ashikaga Flower Park
IlluminationsLate April (approx.)
Tochigi
May
2 spotsJune
2 spotsJuly
6 spots
Kifune Shrine
IlluminationsLate July – mid August (approx.)
Kyoto
Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch
IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)
Aichi
Yoshinogari Historical Park
IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)
Saga
Gifu Castle
IlluminationsEarly June – late August (approx.)
Gifu
Glover Garden
IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)
Nagasaki
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
IlluminationsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Saitama
AugustThis month
9 spotsTachineputa Matsuri
IlluminationsAugust 4–8
Aomori
Yosakoi Festival
IlluminationsAugust 9–12
Kochi
Kifune Shrine
IlluminationsLate July – mid August (approx.)
Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera
IlluminationsAugust (approx.)
Kyoto
Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch
IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)
Aichi
Yoshinogari Historical Park
IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)
Saga
Gifu Castle
IlluminationsEarly June – late August (approx.)
Gifu
Glover Garden
IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)
Nagasaki
Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
IlluminationsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Saitama
September
2 spotsOctober
1 spotNovember
16 spotsNagoya Castle Night Illumination
IlluminationsMid November (approx.)
Aichi
Ishiyama-dera Temple
IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)
Shiga
Eikan-do Temple
IlluminationsMid November (approx.)
Kyoto
Kanazawa Castle Park
IlluminationsMid November (approx.)
Ishikawa
Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor
IlluminationsEarly November (approx.)
Yamanashi
Ritsurin Garden
IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)
Kagawa
Nagatoro Autumn Foliage
IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)
Saitama
Kochi Castle
IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)
Kochi
Mifuneyama Rakuen
IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)
Saga
Sakae District
IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)
Aichi
Yuushien Garden
IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)
Shimane
Ashikaga Flower Park
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Tochigi
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Kobe Harborland
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Maruo Falls
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Kagoshima
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Fukushima
December
16 spotsRitsurin Garden
IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)
Kagawa
Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)
IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)
Yamagata
Nagatoro Autumn Foliage
IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)
Saitama
Kitano Ijinkan
IlluminationsDecember (approx.)
Hyogo
Kyoto Station Building
IlluminationsDecember (approx.)
Kyoto
Momotaro Dori
IlluminationsDecember (approx.)
Okayama
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
IlluminationsDecember (approx.)
Osaka
Sakae District
IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)
Aichi
Yuushien Garden
IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)
Shimane
Minato Mirai 21
IlluminationsEarly December – late January (approx.)
Kanagawa
Nabana no Sato
IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)
Mie
Ashikaga Flower Park
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Tochigi
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Kobe Harborland
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Hyogo
Maruo Falls
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Kagoshima
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)
Fukushima