🏮 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.
115 seasonal windows tagged “Festivals” · 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
4 spots
February
12 spotsYokote Kamakura Festival
FestivalsFebruary 15–16
Akita
Sapporo Snow Festival
FestivalsEarly February (approx.)
Hokkaido
Nagasaki Chinatown
FestivalsFebruary 1–15
Nagasaki
Odori Park
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Shinzan Shrine
FestivalsLate February (approx.)
Akita
Takayama Festival Floats
FestivalsEarly December – late February (approx.)
Gifu
Izu Kogen
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Shizuoka
Kasuga Taisha
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Nara
Otaru Canal
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Ouchi-juku
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Fukushima
Susukino District
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Tono Folktales
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Iwate
March
2 spotsApril
14 spotsTakayama Festival Floats
FestivalsApril 14–15
Gifu
Miyazaki Jingu
FestivalsApril 3
Miyazaki
Yahiko Shrine
FestivalsApril 1
Niigata
Hida Furukawa
FestivalsApril 19–20
Gifu
Hasami Porcelain
FestivalsApril 29 – May 5
Nagasaki
Chichibu Night Festival
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Saitama
Kasama Himatsuri
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Ibaraki
Kasama Pottery
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Ibaraki
Takeda Shingen Historical Sites
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Yamanashi
Tendo Shogi Pieces
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Yamagata
Hirosaki Castle
FestivalsLate April – early May (approx.)
Aomori
Gion District
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Kyoto
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Kanagawa
Huis Ten Bosch
FestivalsEarly March – late April (approx.)
Nagasaki
May
8 spotsHakata Dontaku Festival Route
FestivalsMay 3–4
Fukuoka
Achi Shrine
FestivalsMay 1–3
Okayama
Akama Shrine
FestivalsMay 2–4
Yamaguchi
Mikuni Minato
FestivalsMay 19–21
Fukui
Hagi Yaki Pottery
FestivalsMay 1–5
Yamaguchi
Hasami Porcelain
FestivalsApril 29 – May 5
Nagasaki
Hirosaki Castle
FestivalsLate April – early May (approx.)
Aomori
Echizen Pottery Village
FestivalsMay (approx.)
Fukui
June
1 spotJuly
18 spots
Kumano Nachi Taisha Fire Festival
FestivalsJuly 14
Wakayama
Gion Matsuri
FestivalsJuly 17
Kyoto
Tenjin Matsuri
FestivalsJuly 24–25
Osaka
Yonago Gaina Festival
FestivalsMid July (approx.)
Tottori
Nachi Falls & Kumano Nachi Taisha
FestivalsJuly 14
Wakayama
Hita
FestivalsJuly 20–21
Oita
Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
FestivalsJuly 24–25
Osaka
Sumiyoshi Taisha
FestivalsJuly 30 – August 1
Osaka
Mount Osore
FestivalsJuly 20–24
Aomori
Kushida Shrine
FestivalsJuly 1–15
Fukuoka
Gujo Hachiman
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Oarai Beach
FestivalsLate July (approx.)
Ibaraki
Aso Shrine
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kumamoto
Kyoto Machiya Stay
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kyoto
Sawara Historic District
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Chiba
Tsuwano
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Shimane
Yasaka Shrine
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kyoto
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
AugustThis month
21 spotsYamaga Onsen & Lantern Festival
FestivalsAugust 15–16
Kumamoto
Sendai Tanabata Festival
FestivalsAugust 6–8
Miyagi
Akita Kanto Festival
FestivalsAugust 3–6
Akita
Awa Odori Festival
FestivalsAugust 12–15
Tokushima
Yosakoi Festival
FestivalsAugust 9–12
Kochi
Tachineputa Matsuri
FestivalsAugust 4–8
Aomori
Nebuta Matsuri
FestivalsAugust 2–7
Aomori
Morioka Sansa Odori
FestivalsAugust 1–4
Iwate
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
FestivalsAugust 26–27
Yamanashi
Niigata Bandai Bridge
FestivalsAugust 7–9
Niigata
Sumiyoshi Taisha
FestivalsJuly 30 – August 1
Osaka
Senshu Park
FestivalsAugust 3–6
Akita
Gujo Hachiman
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival
FestivalsMid August (approx.)
Tottori
Kodo Taiko Drumming Village
FestivalsAugust 3
Niigata
Kiyomizu Shrine
FestivalsMid August (approx.)
Saga
Hida Beef
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Gifu
Kasuga Taisha
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Nara
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai)
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Gifu
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre
FestivalsEarly August – late September (approx.)
Nagano
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
September
8 spotsGujo Hachiman
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Osaka
Seto Ceramics
FestivalsMid September (approx.)
Aichi
Yamagata Imoni
FestivalsMid September (approx.)
Yamagata
Tokoname Pottery Town
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Aichi
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Kanagawa
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre
FestivalsEarly August – late September (approx.)
Nagano
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
October
16 spotsTakayama Festival Floats
FestivalsOctober 9–10
Gifu
Hamamatsu Air Base Festival
FestivalsLate October – early November (approx.)
Shizuoka
Heian Shrine
FestivalsOctober 22
Kyoto
Kurama-dera Temple
FestivalsOctober 22
Kyoto
Echizen Washi Paper
FestivalsMid October (approx.)
Fukui
Mino Washi
FestivalsMid October (approx.)
Gifu
Achi Shrine
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Okayama
Echizen Pottery Village
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Fukui
Kawagoe Kurazukuri Street
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Saitama
Kawagoe Unagi
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Saitama
Mizuki Shigeru Road
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Tottori
Sawara Historic District
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Chiba
Seki Knife Forging
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Gifu
Uchiko Town
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Ehime
Izumo Taisha
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Shimane
Kasama Inari Shrine
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Ibaraki
November
15 spotsKaratsu Kunchi Festival
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Yame Lantern Festival
FestivalsLate November (approx.)
Fukuoka
Hamamatsu Air Base Festival
FestivalsLate October – early November (approx.)
Shizuoka
Katori Shrine
FestivalsNovember 3
Chiba
Hikiyama Exhibition Hall
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Karatsu Castle
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Yahiko Shrine
FestivalsNovember 1–24
Niigata
Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Yamanashi
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Saga
Tochigi Kurazukuri
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Tochigi
Utsunomiya Gyoza
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Tochigi
Ichinoseki Mochi Culture
FestivalsNovember (approx.)
Iwate
Saga Hot Air Balloon Museum
FestivalsNovember (approx.)
Saga
Izumo Taisha
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Shimane
Kasama Inari Shrine
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Ibaraki