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🏮 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

Akita Kanto Festival — representative image, not a photograph of this location
Festivals
Ends tomorrow
Akita

Akita Kanto Festival

August 3–6

August 3–6 for the festival

Tachineputa Matsuri — representative image, not a photograph of this location
Festivals
Ends in 3 days
Aomori

Tachineputa Matsuri

August 4–8

August 4–8 (festival, 23-meter illuminated floats)

Shonan Beach — representative image, not a photograph of this location
Sea & beaches
Kanagawa

Shonan Beach

August(approx.)

August–October for typhoon swells and best surfing conditions

Ajigaura Beach — representative image, not a photograph of this location
Sea & beaches
Ibaraki

Ajigaura Beach

Early July – late August(approx.)

July–August (swimming season)

January

12 spots
Miyama Kayabuki Village

Miyama Kayabuki Village

IlluminationsMid January (approx.)

Kyoto

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

IlluminationsLate January (approx.)

Gifu

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)

Yamagata

Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages

Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages

IlluminationsLate January – mid February (approx.)

Toyama

Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village

Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village

IlluminationsEarly January – mid February (approx.)

Gifu

Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21

IlluminationsEarly December – late January (approx.)

Kanagawa

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato

IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)

Mie

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Tochigi

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Maruo Falls

Maruo Falls

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Kagoshima

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Fukushima

February

12 spots
Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)

Yamagata

Zuiryuji Temple

Zuiryuji Temple

IlluminationsMid February (approx.)

Toyama

Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages

Gokayama Gassho-Zukuri Villages

IlluminationsLate January – mid February (approx.)

Toyama

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

IlluminationsMid January – mid February (approx.)

Gifu

Enoshima Island

Enoshima Island

IlluminationsEarly February – mid February (approx.)

Kanagawa

Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village

Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village

IlluminationsEarly January – mid February (approx.)

Gifu

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato

IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)

Mie

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Tochigi

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Maruo Falls

Maruo Falls

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Kagoshima

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Fukushima

March

13 spots
Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Aichi

Hagi Castle Ruins

Hagi Castle Ruins

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Hiroshima

Iwakuni Castle

Iwakuni Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Kikko Park

Kikko Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Maizuru Castle Park

Maizuru Castle Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamanashi

Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Ehime

Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Kanagawa

Sunpu Castle Park

Sunpu Castle Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Shizuoka

Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills

Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Toyama

Tsuyama Castle Ruins

Tsuyama Castle Ruins

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Okayama

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Kyoto

Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden

IlluminationsLate March – late April (approx.)

Okayama

April

20 spots
Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Aichi

Kanazawa Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle Park

IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)

Ishikawa

Maruoka Castle

Maruoka Castle

IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)

Fukui

Senshu Park

Senshu Park

IlluminationsLate April (approx.)

Akita

Shiroishi Castle

Shiroishi Castle

IlluminationsMid April (approx.)

Miyagi

Yonago Castle Ruins

Yonago Castle Ruins

IlluminationsEarly April (approx.)

Tottori

Hagi Castle Ruins

Hagi Castle Ruins

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Hiroshima

Iwakuni Castle

Iwakuni Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Kikko Park

Kikko Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamaguchi

Maizuru Castle Park

Maizuru Castle Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Yamanashi

Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Ehime

Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Kanagawa

Sunpu Castle Park

Sunpu Castle Park

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Shizuoka

Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills

Toyama City Night View from Kureha Hills

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Toyama

Tsuyama Castle Ruins

Tsuyama Castle Ruins

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Okayama

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

IlluminationsLate March – early April (approx.)

Kyoto

Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle

IlluminationsLate April – early May (approx.)

Aomori

Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden

IlluminationsLate March – late April (approx.)

Okayama

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

IlluminationsLate April (approx.)

Tochigi

May

2 spots
Northern Culture Museum

Northern Culture Museum

IlluminationsMay 5–10

Niigata

Hirosaki Castle

Hirosaki Castle

IlluminationsLate April – early May (approx.)

Aomori

June

2 spots
Nanrakuen Garden

Nanrakuen Garden

IlluminationsEarly June (approx.)

Ehime

Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle

IlluminationsEarly June – late August (approx.)

Gifu

July

6 spots
Kifune Shrine

Kifune Shrine

IlluminationsLate July – mid August (approx.)

Kyoto

Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch

Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch

IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)

Aichi

Yoshinogari Historical Park

Yoshinogari Historical Park

IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)

Saga

Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle

IlluminationsEarly June – late August (approx.)

Gifu

Glover Garden

Glover Garden

IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)

Nagasaki

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

IlluminationsEarly July – late September (approx.)

Saitama

AugustThis month

9 spots
Tachineputa Matsuri

Tachineputa Matsuri

IlluminationsAugust 4–8

Aomori

Yosakoi Festival

Yosakoi Festival

IlluminationsAugust 9–12

Kochi

Kifune Shrine

Kifune Shrine

IlluminationsLate July – mid August (approx.)

Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera

IlluminationsAugust (approx.)

Kyoto

Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch

Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch

IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)

Aichi

Yoshinogari Historical Park

Yoshinogari Historical Park

IlluminationsEarly July – late August (approx.)

Saga

Gifu Castle

Gifu Castle

IlluminationsEarly June – late August (approx.)

Gifu

Glover Garden

Glover Garden

IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)

Nagasaki

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

IlluminationsEarly July – late September (approx.)

Saitama

September

2 spots
Glover Garden

Glover Garden

IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)

Nagasaki

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

IlluminationsEarly July – late September (approx.)

Saitama

October

1 spot
Glover Garden

Glover Garden

IlluminationsEarly July – late October (approx.)

Nagasaki

November

16 spots
Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

Nagoya Castle Night Illumination

IlluminationsMid November (approx.)

Aichi

Ishiyama-dera Temple

Ishiyama-dera Temple

IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)

Shiga

Eikan-do Temple

Eikan-do Temple

IlluminationsMid November (approx.)

Kyoto

Kanazawa Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle Park

IlluminationsMid November (approx.)

Ishikawa

Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor

Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor

IlluminationsEarly November (approx.)

Yamanashi

Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Garden

IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)

Kagawa

Nagatoro Autumn Foliage

Nagatoro Autumn Foliage

IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)

Saitama

Kochi Castle

Kochi Castle

IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)

Kochi

Mifuneyama Rakuen

Mifuneyama Rakuen

IlluminationsMid November – late November (approx.)

Saga

Sakae District

Sakae District

IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)

Aichi

Yuushien Garden

Yuushien Garden

IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)

Shimane

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Tochigi

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Maruo Falls

Maruo Falls

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Kagoshima

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Fukushima

December

16 spots
Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Garden

IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)

Kagawa

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo)

IlluminationsLate December – mid February (approx.)

Yamagata

Nagatoro Autumn Foliage

Nagatoro Autumn Foliage

IlluminationsMid November – early December (approx.)

Saitama

Kitano Ijinkan

Kitano Ijinkan

IlluminationsDecember (approx.)

Hyogo

Kyoto Station Building

Kyoto Station Building

IlluminationsDecember (approx.)

Kyoto

Momotaro Dori

Momotaro Dori

IlluminationsDecember (approx.)

Okayama

Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade

Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade

IlluminationsDecember (approx.)

Osaka

Sakae District

Sakae District

IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)

Aichi

Yuushien Garden

Yuushien Garden

IlluminationsMid November – late December (approx.)

Shimane

Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21

IlluminationsEarly December – late January (approx.)

Kanagawa

Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato

IlluminationsEarly December – mid February (approx.)

Mie

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Tochigi

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Hyogo

Maruo Falls

Maruo Falls

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Kagoshima

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

Ouchi-juku Snow Festival

IlluminationsMid November – mid February (approx.)

Fukushima

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