🏮 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.
114 seasonal windows tagged “Festivals” · timings shift with the weather each year — confirm before booking.
Summer in Japan — best right now
Festivals
Ends in 2 days
Osaka
Sumiyoshi Taisha — Ancient Shinto Shrine Architecture
July 30 – August 1
Major festival: July 30–August 1
Festivals
Gifu
Gujo Hachiman — Water Town of Springs & Canals
July 13 – September 7
Gujo Odori festival (July 13–September 7) especially the all-night dancing (Obon, mid-August)
Sea & beaches
Ibaraki
Ajigaura Beach — Surfing & Coastal Escape
Early July – late August(approx.)
July–August (swimming season)
Sea & beaches
Kagoshima
Iso Beach — City Beach with Volcano View
Early July – late August(approx.)
July–August for official swimming season (lifeguards, warm water 25–28°C). Late afternoon (16:00–18:00) any season for…
January
4 spots
Takasaki Daruma Dolls — Wishing Dolls Tradition
FestivalsJanuary 6–7
Gunma
Takayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
FestivalsEarly December – late February (approx.)
Gifu
Hakozaki Shrine — Ancient Protector Against Foreign Invasion
FestivalsJanuary (approx.)
Fukuoka
Wakakusayama Hill — Panoramic Nara Views & Grass Burning
FestivalsJanuary (approx.)
Nara
February
12 spotsYokote Kamakura Festival — Snow House Candle Ritual
FestivalsFebruary 15–16
Akita
Sapporo Snow Festival — Ice Sculpture Spectacle
FestivalsEarly February (approx.)
Hokkaido
Nagasaki Chinatown — Oldest in Japan
FestivalsFebruary 1–15
Nagasaki
Odori Park — Sapporo's Central Green Axis
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Shinzan Shrine — Namahage Costume Rituals
FestivalsLate February (approx.)
Akita
Takayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
FestivalsEarly December – late February (approx.)
Gifu
Izu Kogen — Art Museums & Coastal Highlands
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Shizuoka
Kasuga Taisha — 3,000 Stone and Bronze Lanterns
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Nara
Otaru Canal — Romantic Waterway & Warehouses
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Ouchi-juku — Edo-Period Thatched Village & Negi Soba
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Fukushima
Susukino District — Hokkaido's Nightlife Capital
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Hokkaido
Tono Folktales — Kappa Legends & Magariya Farmhouses
FestivalsFebruary (approx.)
Iwate
March
2 spotsApril
14 spotsTakayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
FestivalsApril 14–15
Gifu
Miyazaki Jingu — Grand Shrine in the Forest
FestivalsApril 3
Miyazaki
Yahiko Shrine — Sacred Mountain Vermillion Gateway
FestivalsApril 1
Niigata
Hida Furukawa — Quieter Alternative to Takayama
FestivalsApril 19–20
Gifu
Hasami Porcelain — Modern Ceramics from a 400-Year Kiln Town
FestivalsApril 29 – May 5
Nagasaki
Chichibu Night Festival — Fire, Floats, and Fireworks
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Saitama
Kasama Himatsuri — Night Fire Climbing Kiln
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Ibaraki
Kasama Pottery — Climbing Kiln Heritage
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Ibaraki
Takeda Shingen Historical Sites — Legacy of the Warring States
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Yamanashi
Tendo Shogi Pieces — Hand-Carved Chess Tradition
FestivalsLate April (approx.)
Yamagata
Hirosaki Castle — Cherry Blossom Paradise
FestivalsLate April – early May (approx.)
Aomori
Gion District — Geisha Quarter at Dusk
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Kyoto
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — Kamakura's Grand Shinto Shrine
FestivalsApril (approx.)
Kanagawa
Huis Ten Bosch — Dutch Theme Park in Kyushu
FestivalsEarly March – late April (approx.)
Nagasaki
May
8 spotsHakata Dontaku Festival Route — Japan's Biggest Spring Festival
FestivalsMay 3–4
Fukuoka
Achi Shrine — Hillside Shrine Above Kurashiki
FestivalsMay 1–3
Okayama
Akama Shrine — Heike Tragedy and Underwater Torii
FestivalsMay 2–4
Yamaguchi
Mikuni Minato — Historic Port Town and Sunset Viewpoint
FestivalsMay 19–21
Fukui
Hagi Yaki Pottery — Tea Bowl Artisan Tradition
FestivalsMay 1–5
Yamaguchi
Hasami Porcelain — Modern Ceramics from a 400-Year Kiln Town
FestivalsApril 29 – May 5
Nagasaki
Hirosaki Castle — Cherry Blossom Paradise
FestivalsLate April – early May (approx.)
Aomori
Echizen Pottery Village — Ancient Kiln Town
FestivalsMay (approx.)
Fukui
June
1 spotJulyThis month
18 spots
Kumano Nachi Taisha Fire Festival — 1,400-Year-Old Torch Ritual
FestivalsJuly 14
Wakayama
Kushida Shrine — Guardian of Hakata and Gion Festival
FestivalsJuly 1–15
Fukuoka
Gion Matsuri — Japan's Grandest Festival
FestivalsJuly 17
Kyoto
Tenjin Matsuri — Japan's Greatest Boat Festival (July 24-25)
FestivalsJuly 24–25
Osaka
Yonago Gaina Festival — Summer Fire & Music Celebration
FestivalsMid July (approx.)
Tottori
Nachi Falls & Kumano Nachi Taisha — Japan's Tallest Waterfall
FestivalsJuly 14
Wakayama
Hita — Edo-Period Merchant Town on the River
FestivalsJuly 20–21
Oita
Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street — Japan's Longest Arcade (2.6km)
FestivalsJuly 24–25
Osaka
Sumiyoshi Taisha — Ancient Shinto Shrine Architecture
FestivalsJuly 30 – August 1
Osaka
Mount Osore — Buddhist Hell on Earth
FestivalsJuly 20–24
Aomori
Gujo Hachiman — Water Town of Springs & Canals
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Oarai Beach — Pacific Coast Sandscape
FestivalsLate July (approx.)
Ibaraki
Aso Shrine — Earthquake Recovery & Shinto Architecture
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kumamoto
Kyoto Machiya Stay — Traditional Townhouse Lodging
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kyoto
Sawara Historic District — Little Edo Canal Town
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Chiba
Tsuwano — Little Kyoto of San'in & Carp Canal
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Shimane
Yasaka Shrine — Gion's Guardian Shrine
FestivalsJuly (approx.)
Kyoto
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops — Craft Fake Food
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
August
21 spotsYamaga Onsen & Lantern Festival
FestivalsAugust 15–16
Kumamoto
Sendai Tanabata Festival
FestivalsAugust 6–8
Miyagi
Akita Kanto Festival — Pole Lantern Balancing Spectacular
FestivalsAugust 3–6
Akita
Awa Odori Festival — Japan's Wildest Dance Party
FestivalsAugust 12–15
Tokushima
Yosakoi Festival — Dance Explosion in August
FestivalsAugust 9–12
Kochi
Tachineputa Matsuri — 23-Meter Tall Float Festival
FestivalsAugust 4–8
Aomori
Nebuta Matsuri — Giant Illuminated Float Festival
FestivalsAugust 2–7
Aomori
Morioka Sansa Odori — World Record Drum Festival
FestivalsAugust 1–4
Iwate
Kiyomizu Shrine — Floating Lantern Festival on the River
FestivalsMid August (approx.)
Saga
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine — Gateway to Mt. Fuji Climb
FestivalsAugust 26–27
Yamanashi
Niigata Bandai Bridge — Romantic Sunset Over Shinano River
FestivalsAugust 7–9
Niigata
Sumiyoshi Taisha — Ancient Shinto Shrine Architecture
FestivalsJuly 30 – August 1
Osaka
Senshu Park — Kubota Castle Ruins & Cherry Blossoms
FestivalsAugust 3–6
Akita
Gujo Hachiman — Water Town of Springs & Canals
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival — Umbrella Dance Spectacle
FestivalsMid August (approx.)
Tottori
Kodo Taiko Drumming Village — Earth Celebration Heartland
FestivalsAugust 3
Niigata
Hida Beef — Mountain-Raised Wagyu Royalty
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Gifu
Kasuga Taisha — 3,000 Stone and Bronze Lanterns
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Nara
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai) — 1,300-Year Tradition
FestivalsAugust (approx.)
Gifu
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre — Kengo Kuma Architecture
FestivalsEarly August – late September (approx.)
Nagano
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops — Craft Fake Food
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
September
8 spotsYamagata Imoni — Autumn Taro and Beef Stew Festival
FestivalsMid September (approx.)
Yamagata
Gujo Hachiman — Water Town of Springs & Canals
FestivalsJuly 13 – September 7
Gifu
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri — High-Speed Float Racing (September)
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Osaka
Seto Ceramics — 1,000-Year Kiln Town
FestivalsMid September (approx.)
Aichi
Tokoname Pottery Town — Climbing Kilns & Clay-Pipe Streets
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Aichi
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — Kamakura's Grand Shinto Shrine
FestivalsSeptember (approx.)
Kanagawa
Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre — Kengo Kuma Architecture
FestivalsEarly August – late September (approx.)
Nagano
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops — Craft Fake Food
FestivalsEarly July – late September (approx.)
Gifu
October
16 spots
Kurama-dera Temple — Mountain Fire Festival Temple
FestivalsOctober 22
Kyoto
Takayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
FestivalsOctober 9–10
Gifu
Hamamatsu Air Base Festival — JASDF Aerial Demonstrations
FestivalsLate October – early November (approx.)
Shizuoka
Heian Shrine — Vermillion Grandeur and Garden Paradise
FestivalsOctober 22
Kyoto
Echizen Washi Paper — UNESCO Intangible Heritage Craft
FestivalsMid October (approx.)
Fukui
Mino Washi — 1,300-Year Paper Tradition (UNESCO)
FestivalsMid October (approx.)
Gifu
Achi Shrine — Hillside Shrine Above Kurashiki
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Okayama
Echizen Pottery Village — Ancient Kiln Town
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Fukui
Kawagoe Kurazukuri Street — Little Edo Merchant District
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Saitama
Kawagoe Unagi — Edo-Style Grilled Eel Tradition
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Saitama
Mizuki Shigeru Road — Yokai Spirit Street of GeGeGe no Kitaro
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Tottori
Sawara Historic District — Little Edo Canal Town
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Chiba
Seki Knife Forging — Japan's Blade Capital
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Gifu
Uchiko Town — Wax Merchant Preservation District
FestivalsOctober (approx.)
Ehime
Izumo Taisha — Ancient Shrine of Marriage & Destiny
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Shimane
Kasama Inari Shrine — Fox God Forest Sanctuary
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Ibaraki
November
15 spotsHikiyama Exhibition Hall — Year-Round Festival Float Museum
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Karatsu Kunchi Festival — Dragon and Turtle Parade
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Yame Lantern Festival — 300-Year-Old Paper Lanterns
FestivalsLate November (approx.)
Fukuoka
Hamamatsu Air Base Festival — JASDF Aerial Demonstrations
FestivalsLate October – early November (approx.)
Shizuoka
Katori Shrine — Ancient Shrine in Cedar Forest
FestivalsNovember 3
Chiba
Karatsu Castle — Sea Castle on the Bay
FestivalsNovember 2–4
Saga
Yahiko Shrine — Sacred Mountain Vermillion Gateway
FestivalsNovember 1–24
Niigata
Saga Hot Air Balloon Museum — Year-Round Festival Archive
FestivalsNovember (approx.)
Saga
Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor — Autumn Foliage Tunnel
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Yamanashi
Saga International Balloon Fiesta — Asia's Largest Hot Air Balloon Event
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Saga
Tochigi Kurazukuri — Edo Warehouse District
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Tochigi
Utsunomiya Gyoza — Dumpling Capital
FestivalsEarly November (approx.)
Tochigi
Ichinoseki Mochi Culture — 300 Mochi Dishes
FestivalsNovember (approx.)
Iwate
Izumo Taisha — Ancient Shrine of Marriage & Destiny
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Shimane
Kasama Inari Shrine — Fox God Forest Sanctuary
FestivalsEarly October – late November (approx.)
Ibaraki
December
5 spotsChichibu Night Festival — Fire, Floats, and Fireworks
FestivalsDecember 2–3
Saitama
Kobe Luminarie — Annual Light Festival (December)
FestivalsEarly December (approx.)
Hyogo
Chichibu Shrine — Dragon-Carved Sanctuary Since 2000 Years
FestivalsDecember 2–3
Saitama
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
FestivalsLate December (approx.)
Miyagi
Takayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
FestivalsEarly December – late February (approx.)
Gifu