Japan Festivals by Month
Matsuri, fireworks, snow festivals and seasonal illuminations across all 47 prefectures — when each one runs, and the spot page with hours, access and crowd tips behind it.
7 dated events · dates recur annually but shift year to year — always confirm before booking.
Happening this month — July in Japan
1 event listed for July.
January
1 eventFebruary
0 eventsNo February events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
March
2 events
April
2 eventsMay
0 eventsNo May events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
June
0 eventsNo June events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
JulyThis month
1 eventAugust
1 eventSeptember
0 eventsNo September events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
October
0 eventsNo October events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
November
2 events
December
0 eventsNo December events listed yet — a good month for hot springs and empty temples. Browse all spots
Dates vary
These run on dates that move or are announced late, so they are listed here rather than pinned to a month. Check the spot page before you plan around one.
Akita Kanto Festival — Pole Lantern Balancing Spectacular
Akita
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Awa Odori Festival — Japan's Wildest Dance Party
Tokushima
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Gion Matsuri — Japan's Grandest Festival
Kyoto
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Hakata Dontaku Festival Route — Japan's Biggest Spring Festival
Fukuoka
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Karatsu Kunchi Festival — Dragon and Turtle Parade
Saga
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kasama Himatsuri — Night Fire Climbing Kiln
Ibaraki
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kase River Firefly Festival — June Bioluminescence
Saga
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri — High-Speed Float Racing (September)
Osaka
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kobe Harborland — Port City Evening Illumination
Hyogo
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kobe Luminarie — Annual Light Festival (December)
Hyogo
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kumano Nachi Taisha Fire Festival — 1,400-Year-Old Torch Ritual
Wakayama
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kurama-dera Temple — Mountain Fire Festival Temple
Kyoto
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Kushida Shrine — Guardian of Hakata and Gion Festival
Fukuoka
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Morioka Sansa Odori — World Record Drum Festival
Iwate
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Myoken Fireworks Festival — Japan's Best Competitive Fireworks
Kumamoto
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Nabana no Sato — Japan's Largest Winter Illumination Garden
Mie
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Nebuta Matsuri — Giant Illuminated Float Festival
Aomori
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival — Candle-Lit Winter Illumination
Fukushima
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Sapporo Snow Festival — Ice Sculpture Spectacle
Hokkaido
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
Miyagi
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Shinzan Shrine — Namahage Costume Rituals
Akita
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Tachineputa Matsuri — 23-Meter Tall Float Festival
Aomori
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Takayama Festival Floats — Masterworks of Lacquer & Karakuri
Gifu
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Tenjin Matsuri — Japan's Greatest Boat Festival (July 24-25)
Osaka
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival — Umbrella Dance Spectacle
Tottori
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Tsunan Snow Festival — Sky Lantern Pilgrimage Over Snow Fields
Niigata
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yamaga Onsen & Lantern Festival
Kumamoto
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yamagata Hina Dolls — Historic March Doll Festival
Yamagata
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yamagata Imoni — Autumn Taro and Beef Stew Festival
Yamagata
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yame Lantern Festival — 300-Year-Old Paper Lanterns
Fukuoka
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yokote Kamakura Festival — Snow House Candle Ritual
Akita
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yonago Gaina Festival — Summer Fire & Music Celebration
Tottori
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Yosakoi Festival — Dance Explosion in August
Kochi
Dates vary — confirm before you travel
Put the dates in your phone
A free .ics download with Japan's national holidays, the peak travel weeks worth avoiding, and the signature festivals — imports into any calendar app and works offline.
Download the calendar (.ics)