The ultimate guide to Japan travel

Cheapo Calendar

May

May 19–May 21
Sakata Festival
Yamagata
Until the 22nd
Ashikaga Great Wisteria Festival
Tochigi
Until the 24th
Kamogawa Odori
Kyoto
Until the 29th
Fuji Shibazakura Festival
Yamanashi
Late May
Higashiomi Giant Kite Festival
Shiga
Late May
Higashiomi Giant Kite Festival
Shiga
Until Late May
Fuji Delicious Food Festival
Yamanashi
All month
Animage and Ghibli Exhibition
Fukuoka
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa

June

Early June
Kashima Gatalympics
Saga
Jun 3–Jun 5
Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival
Ishikawa
Early June
Horikawa Festival
Aichi
Jun 11, Saturday
Chagu Chagu Umakko
Iwate
Jun 8–Jun 12
Yosakoi Soran Festival
Hokkaido
Jun 24, Friday
Izawanomiya Otaue Festival
Mie
Jun 22–Jun 24
Himeji Yukata Festival
Hyogo
Until Late June
Osaka Comic Con 2022
Osaka
From the 30th
Aizen Festival
Osaka
All month
Animage and Ghibli Exhibition
Fukuoka
From Mid June
Tanbo Art
Aomori
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa

July

Until the 1st
Aizen Festival
Osaka
Early July
Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival
Nagoya
Until the 10th
Animage and Ghibli Exhibition
Fukuoka
Mid July
Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival
Mie
Until the 15th
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Fukuoka
Mid July
Marine Festa in Kuchinotsu
Nagasaki
Jul 22–Jul 23
Kiso Mikoshi Makuri Festival
Nagano
Jul 22–Jul 24
Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival
Fukuoka
Jul 10–Jul 24
July Grand Sumo Tournament (Nagoya)
Nagoya
Jul 24–Jul 25
Tenjin Festival
Osaka
Late July
2022 Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival
Hokkaido
Jul 20–Jul 27
Yamaguchi Gion Matsuri
Yamaguchi
Late July
All Japan Selection Nagara River Chunichi Fireworks Display
Gifu
Late July
Kihoku Lantern Festival 2022
Mie
Late July
Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival
Kyoto
Late July
Minato Matsuri Firework Display
Wakayama
Late July
Ono-Hiyoshi Shrine Sanno Festival
Ishikawa
Late July
Beppu Fire Sea Festival
Oita
Late July
The Japan International Birdman Rally
Shiga
Late July
Hita Gion Festival
Oita
Jul 30, Saturday
Shirahama Fireworks Festival
Wakayama
Until the 31st
2022 Gion Festival
Kyoto
From the 30th
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
Osaka
From the 30th
Kuroishi Neputa Festival
Aomori
From Mid July
Sapporo Summer Festival
Hokkaido
All month
Tanbo Art
Aomori
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa

August

Until the 1st
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
Osaka
Early August
Okazaki Fireworks Festival
Aichi
Early August
All Japan Fireworks Display
Gifu
Until the 3rd
The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
Niigata
Aug 2–Aug 3
Hirakawa Neputa Festival
Aomori
Early August
Sasebo Seaside Festival, Nagasaki
Nagasaki
Early August
Takabocchi Kogen Horse Race
Nagano
Early August
Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks
Shiga
Until the 5th
Kuroishi Neputa Festival
Aomori
Early August
Hinokuni Festival
Kumamoto
Aug 6, Saturday
Hiroshima Toro Nagashi
Hiroshima
Aug 3–Aug 6
Akita Kanto Festival
Akita
Until the 7th
Aomori Nebuta Festival
Aomori
Until the 7th
Hirosaki Neputa Festival
Aomori
Aug 4–Aug 8
Goshogawara Tachi-Neputa Festival
Aomori
Aug 6–Aug 8
Sendai Tanabata
Sendai
Early August
Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival
Osaka
Mid August
Kameoka Hozugawa River Firework Display
Kyoto
Mid August
Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival
Fukuoka, Yamaguchi
Early–Mid August
Nara Tokae
Nara
Aug 12–Aug 15
Tokushima Awa Odori Festival
Tokushima
Until the 15th
Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival
Nagano
Aug 15, Monday
Shoro Nagashi Lantern Floating Ceremony
Nagasaki
Mid August
Yoshinogawa Festival and Fireworks
Nara
Aug 15, Monday
Daimonji Okuribi
Nara
Aug 15, Monday
Hitoyoshi Fireworks Festival
Kumamoto
Aug 16, Tuesday
Gozan no Okuribi
Kyoto
Mid August
Miyazu Toro Nagashi Fireworks
Kyoto
Aug 17, Wednesday
Kumano Fireworks Festival
Mie
Until Mid August
Sapporo Summer Festival
Hokkaido
Aug 20–Aug 21
Summer Sonic Osaka 2022
Osaka
Late August
Earth Celebration
Niigata
Late August
Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival
Hiroshima
Late August
Shakado River Fireworks Festival
Fukushima
Late August
Omagari Fireworks Festival
Akita
Late August
Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival
Okinawa
Late August
2022 Domannaka Matsuri
Aichi
All month
Tanbo Art
Aomori
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa

September

Early September
Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
Sendai
Early September
National New Fireworks Games
Nagano
Early September
Misawa Air Base Festival in Aomori
Aomori
Mid September
Sake Spring Kyoto 2022
Kyoto
Sep 13, Tuesday
Uneme Festival
Nara
Sep 14–Sep 15
Kiyomizu Temple Seiryu-e Dragon Festival (Autumn)
Kyoto
Mid September
Danjiri Matsuri
Osaka
Mid September
Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2022
Kyoto
Mid September
Nagasaki Kyoryuchi Festival
Nagasaki
Mid–Late September
Kangetsu no Yube: Full Moon Viewing
Kyoto
Mid–Late September
Beers of Japan Festival – Fukuoka (Spring)
Fukuoka
All month
Tanbo Art
Aomori
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa
From Early September
No Limit! Halloween at Universal Studios Japan
Osaka

October

Early October
Paantu Festival
Okinawa
Until Early October
Tanbo Art
Aomori
Early October
Ujicha Ceremony
Kyoto
Early October
Osaka Kitchenware Street Festival
Osaka
Oct 7–Oct 9
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
Nagasaki
Early October
Osaka Mecha Happy Festival
Osaka
Oct 9–Oct 10
Takayama Autumn Festival
Gifu, Takayama
Early October
19th Kyoto Intercollegiate Festa
Kyoto
Mid October
Onomichi Lantern Festival
Hiroshima
Mid October
Saiin Kasuga Shrine Festival
Kyoto
Mid October
Otsu Hikiyama Festival
Shiga
Mid October
Nagasaki Port Festival
Nagasaki
Oct 14–Oct 15
Nada no Kenka Festival
Himeji, Hyogo
Oct 16–Oct 17
Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival
Tochigi
Oct 16–Oct 17
Goryo Jinja Shrine Autumn Festival
Osaka
Oct 22, Saturday
Kurama no Hi Matsuri
Kyoto
Late October
The Chikugogawa Fireworks Festival
Fukuoka
Late October
Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto’s Historical Parade
Kyoto
Late October
Miyazakijingu Festival
Miyazaki
Late October
2022 Kobe Port Fireworks Festival
Hyogo
Late October
Hikone and Kita-Biwako Great Firework Festival
Shiga
Late October
Kanazawa Marathon
Ishikawa
From Late October
Shurijo Castle Revival Festival
Okinawa
All month
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa
All month
No Limit! Halloween at Universal Studios Japan
Osaka

November

Nov 3, Thursday
Hi-watari (Ritual Fire Walking) Festival at Daigan-ji Temple
Hiroshima
Until Early November
Shurijo Castle Revival Festival
Okinawa
Early November
Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival
Tochigi
Early November
Shitennoji Wasso Festival
Osaka
Nov 2–Nov 4
Karatsu Kunchi Festival
Saga
Until Early November
Setouchi Triennale 2022
Kagawa
Early November
Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival
Shiga
Until Early November
No Limit! Halloween at Universal Studios Japan
Osaka
Early November
Arashiyama Momiji Festival
Kyoto
Early November
Ishigaki-jima Festival
Okinawa
Early November
Ube Festival
Yamaguchi

May

Late May
Higashiomi Giant Kite Festival
Shiga