Japan Festival & Holiday Guide, Tailor-made Japan Tour Packages

Festival & Holiday Guide

January Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
3rd Tamaseseri (Ball-Catching Festival)(搶球節) Fukuoka Hakozaki Shrine(福岡筥崎宮) Free Fukuoka
6th Dezome-shiki(出初式)(New Year's Parade of Firemen新年首次消防演习会) TOKYO BIG SIGHT (東京ビッグサイト)-Tokyo International Exhibition Center Free Tokyo
7th Usokae(鶯替)(Bullfinch Exchange更換木製鶯活動) Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (大宰府天満宮) Free Entrance(Main Hall) Carved wooden uso: ¥1,000 donation Dazaifu (大宰府), Fukuoka
Osaka:9th~11th
Kyoto:8th~12th
Toka Ebisu(十日戎)(财神节) Osaka: Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (今宮戎神社)
Kyoto: Ebisu Shrine
Free Osaka & Kyoto
Fourth Saturday Yamayaki(燒山節)(Grass Burning on Mt. Wakakusayama) Mt. Wakakusayama(若草山)
Nara Park
JPY150 Nara
The Sunday closest to January 15th Toh-shiya (Archery Contest三十三間堂遠射) Sanjusangen-do Temple (三十三間堂) Free Kyoto
17th Bonden-sai (Bonden Festival梵天祭) Taiheizan Miyoshi Jinja Shrine(太平山三吉神社)   Akita(秋田市)
February Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
For 7 days, starting in the second week Sapporo Snow Festival(札幌雪節) the Odori Park(Odori Site), Susukino Site and Tsu Dome Site. Free Sapporo
3rd Setsubun Mantoro (Lantern Festival)(節分萬燈籠) Kasuga Taisha Shrine(春日大社) Free(outer area), JPY500(inner area) Nara
6th Oto Matsuri(Oto Fire Festival)(御灯祭) Kamikura Shrine(神倉神社) Free Shingu City, Wayatama Prefecture(和歌山県新宮市)
15th & 16th Yokote Kamakura Festival(横手の雪祭り) Extends east of Yokote Station to Yokote Castle Free Yokote City(横手市), Akita Prefecture
Third Saturday Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri(西大寺會陽裸身節) Saidai-ji Temple(西大寺觀音院) Men only
Participants must apply either online or by phone
Saidaiji-naka, Okayama Prefecture(冈山県岡山市東区)
17th~20th Hachinohe Enburi(八戶豐收節) Shinra Jinja Shrine(新羅神社), Hachinohe Public Hall, the stage in front of the City Office, in Hachinohe City. Kojokaku (Fee / Reservation required): 2500-3000 yen Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture(青森県八戸市)
March Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
1st~14th Omizutori (Water-Drawing Festival)(汲水節) Todai-ji Temple(東大寺) JPY 1000 Nara
Second Sunday of March Fire-walking Festival (Hiwatari-sai)(高尾山火渡祭) Head Temple Takao-san Yakuo-in(高尾山藥王院) Free Takao-san, Tokyo
Third weekend in March Sagicho Matsuri Festival(左義長まつり) Himure Hachimangu Shrine(日牟禮八幡宮) Free Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture(滋賀県近江八幡市)
Weekend in mid-March Dai Himonjiyaki at Aso Fire Festival(阿蘇火節-大火文字燒) Ojo-dake & Aso Shrine(青井阿蘇神社) Free Minami-Aso Village & Nishihara Village at Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture(九州熊本県阿蘇市)
April Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
Second Sunday ~ Third Sunday Kamakura Festival(鎌倉祭) Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine(鶴岡八幡宮) Free Kamakura
14th & 15th Spring Takayama Festival春の高山祭「山王祭」 Hie Jinja Shrine(日枝神社) Free Takayama
13th ~ 17th Yayoi Festival(日光弥生祭) Futarasan jinja (二荒山神社) JPY200(small paid area) Nikko
29th Apr~ 5th May Mibu Kyogen(壬生大念佛狂言) Mibu-dera(壬生寺) JPY1000 (Reservation required) Kyoto
May Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
3rd & 4th Hakata Dontaku Festival( 福岡市民の祭り 博多どんたく港まつり) Many stages in Fukuoka City Free Fukuoka
3rd~5th Takoage-Gassen (Kite-Fighting Contest)放風箏比賽 Nakatajima Sand Dunes (中田島砂丘)   Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture(静岡県滨松市)
Third Friday & Saturday in May Takigi O-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance)薪御能 Kofukuji Temple(興福寺) Same-day tickets available for 5500 yen/person Nara
11th ~ October 15th Ukai (Cormorant Fishing)鸕鶿捕魚 Nagaragawa River(長良川) Ukai Cruise (not including dinner): 3100-3400 yen Minato-machi, Gifu Prefecture 岐阜縣長良川
The Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th Kanda Matsuri(神田祭) Kanda Myojin Shrine(神田明神) Free Tokyo東京都千代田區外神田
15th Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival)葵祭 Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shimogamo Shrine下鴨神社, Kamigamo Shrine上賀茂神社 Paid seats line the parade route cost 1000-4300 yen Kyoto
17th & 18th Shunki Reitaisai (Grand Festival of Spring)日光春季例大祭 Nikko Toshogu Shrine(東照宮) JPY1300 Nikko
Third Sunday and preceding Friday and Saturday Asakusa Sanja Matsuri(淺草三社祭) Asakusa Shrine(淺草寺) Free Tokyo
Third Sunday Mifune Matsuri(三船祭) Oigawa River(大堰川) Free Asahi-cho, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
June Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
1st & 2nd Takigi Noh (Bonfire Noh performance 平安神宮の薪能) Heian Jingu Shrine(平安神社), 6:00 p.m.-about 8:30 p.m. JPY2500-3300 for Performance/pax Kyoto
6th-10th Yosakoi Soran Festival(YOSAKOIソーラン祭り) Odori Park,Susukino and Special stages built in various areas in the city Free Sapporo
14th Otaue Rice Planting Festival(御田植神事) Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine(住吉大社) Free Osaka
9th Chagu Chagu Umako Horse Festival(チャグチャグ馬コ) Onikoshi Sozen Shrine(鬼越蒼前神社)
Hachiman Shrine (盛岡八幡宮)
  Ukai, Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture岩手縣滝沢市
7th-17th every even-numbered year Sanno Matsuri(山王祭) Hie-jinja Shrine(日枝神社)   Tokyo
July Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
1st~15th Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival(博多祇園山笠祭) Hakata area and Kushida-jinja Shrine(櫛田神社) Free Hakata, Fukuoka福岡縣博多市
14th Nachi-no-Hi-Matsuri(那智の火祭り) Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine(熊野那智大社) Free (JPY300 for treasure house) Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture和歌山縣那智勝浦町那智山
1st~31st Gion Matsuri(祇園祭) central Kyoto, main celebrationscentered around Shijo, Kawaramachi, and Oike streets Free Kyoto
22nd~24th Warei Taisai Uwajima Ushioni Festival (和霊大祭・うわじま牛鬼まつり) Warei-jinja Shrine(和靈神社) Free Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture愛媛縣宇和島市
on the last weekend in July Soma-Nomaoi (Wild Horse Racing相馬野馬追) This event takes place at Soma District; the Buddhist departure ceremony, Shutsujin, takes place concurrently at: 太田神社、小高神社(福島縣南相馬市)、中村神社(福島縣相馬市)   Soma City& Minami-Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture福島縣相馬市、南相馬市
24th & 25th Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭) The festival is centered around Osaka Tenmangu Shrine(大阪天滿宮) and the Okawa River. Free Osaka
Late July ~ Early August (June 17th according to the lunar calendar) Miyajima Kangensai Festival(宮島管絃祭) Itsukushima Shrine(嚴島神社) JPY300 (JPY500 for combined entry with Treasure Hall) Miyajima, Hiroshima
Jul 28 (may be postponed if the weather is bad) Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival(隅田川花火大會) Venue No.1: from downstream of Sakurabashi Bridge to upstream of Kototoibashi Bridge
Venue No.2: from downstream of Komagatabashi Bridge to upstream of Umayabashi Bridge
Free Tokyo
August Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
[Aomori Nebuta Matsuri] : 2nd~7th [Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri] : 1st~7th Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri(青森大燈籠節/弘前大燈籠節) Throughout the city Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Free (sidewalk seating) 3000 yen (reserved seating in the paid area) Aomori
Mid-July ~ Early September Gujo Odori Dance Festival (郡上おどり) Gujo Hachiman Town Free Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture岐阜縣郡上市
3rd ~ 6th Akita Kanto Matsuri(秋田竿燈まつり) Kanto O-dori(between the Sanno Jujiro Crossroads and Nichomebashi Bridge) Free Akita City, Akita Prefecture秋田縣秋田市
6th Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony (平和記念式典) The Peace Memorial Park(平和記念公園)
People gather in front of the Memorial Cenotaph of the park
JPY200 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Hiroshima
5th ~ 7th Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri(山形花笠まつり) From Tokamachi Corner to the front of Bunshokan Hall Free Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture山形縣山形市
6th~8th Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival仙台七夕節) downtown Sendai, mainly Chuo Dori, Higashi Ichibancho Dori and around Shimin Hiroba. Free Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture宮城縣仙台市
12th~15th Awa-Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima(徳島市阿波おどり) downtown area of Tokushima Free Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture德島縣德島市
15th & 16th Yamaga Toro Matsuri (Yamaga Lantern Festival山鹿燈籠祭) Center of Yamaga City Free Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture熊本縣山鹿市
16th Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Bonfire 京都五山送り火) Daimonji Yama and large mountains surrounding the city on the north, east, and west sides Free Kyoto
26th & 27th Dai-Chochin Matsuri (Giant Lantern Festival三好大提灯まつり) Suwa Shrine(諏訪神社)   Miyoshi, Aichi
September Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
1st~3rd Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival(おわら風の盆)   Free Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture富山縣富山市
14th~16th Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Reitaisai Festival(鶴岡八幡宮例大祭) Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine(鶴岡八幡宮) Free (JPY200 for museum) Kamakura
October Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
7th~9th Nagasaki Kunchi Festival長崎九日(宮日)節 長崎くんち Suwa Shrine(諏訪神社)   Nagasaki
For three days in early October Marimo Matsuri(球藻節 まりも祭り) Akanko Onsen Street Free Kushiro City, Hokkaido Prefecture北海道釧路市
9th & 10th Takayama Matsuri Autumn Festival(高山祭秋季慶典) Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine(櫻山八幡宮) Free Takayama
11th~13th Ikegami Honmonji O-Eshiki(池上本門寺御會式=日蓮上人忌日法會) Ikegami Honmon Temple(池上本門寺)   Tokyo
14th~15th Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fighting Festival灘之吵鬧節) Matsubara Hachiman Shrine(松原八幡神社)   Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture兵庫縣姫路市
16th~17th Nikko Toshogu Shrine Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival(日光東照宮祭秋季大祭) Nikko Toshogu Shrine(東照宮) JPY1300 (admission to the shrine)
JPY 1000 museum
JPY 2100 Shrine+Museum
Nikko
22nd (postponed in case of rain) Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages時代祭) Heian Jingu Shrine(平安神宮)
Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所)
Heian Jingu Shrine-Free (JPY600 for inner Garden)
Kyoto Imperial Palace-Free
Kyoto
22nd (postponed in case of rain) Kurama no Hi-Matsuri (Kurama Fire Festival鞍馬火祭) Yuki-jinja Shrine(由岐神社) and the town of Kurama Free Kyoto
November Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
3rd Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu(箱根大名行列) Yumoto Hot Spring Town箱根町湯本溫泉街 Free Hakone
2nd~4th Karatsu Kunchi Festival(唐津九日) The entire city of Karatsu   Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture佐賀縣唐津市
The days of the Tori or Rooster in November Asakusa Torinoichi Fair (浅草酉の市) Otori-jinja Shrine (浅草鷲神社) and Juzaisan Chokokuji temple   Tokyo
December Date Festival AttractionTicketDestination
2nd & 3rd Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu Night Festival秩父夜祭) Chichibu Shrine(秩父神社)   Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture埼玉縣秩父市
14th Gishi-sai(義士祭) Sengakuji Temple(泉岳寺)   Tokyo
17th~19th Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair羽子板市) Senso-ji Temple(淺草寺) Free Tokyo
15th~18th Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri(春日若宮節) Wakamiya-jinja Shrine (in the precincts of the Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine)若宮神社   Nara
31st Oga no Namahage (Oga Namahage Festival男鹿生剝鬼節) Throughout the Oga Peninsula   Oga City, Akita Prefecture秋田縣男鹿市
31st Okera-Mairi Festival(蒼術廟會) Yasaka-jinja Shrine(八阪神社) Free Kyoto
Date Festival Attraction Ticket Destination
February 3rd or 4th Setsubun (Bean-Throwing Festival) All over Japan Free  
March 3rd Hina-Matsuri (Doll Festival) All over Japan    
April 8th Hana-Matsuri (Floral Festival) All over Japan    
July 7th Tanabata(Star Festival) Except Sendai area, which will be held during Aug 6-8    
July/Aug 13th-15th O-Bon (Lantern Festival) All over Japan, the date in Kanton area is around Jul 13-15; while most of other places will be Aug 13-15 Free  
November 15th Shichi-Go-San (Children's Shrine-Visiting Day) All over Japan Free  
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