Summertime is the best time for festival culture in Japan—from parades, to period costumes, to fireworks…and even human-powered flying machines!
2019 Gion Festival – Kyoto
The Gion Matsuri is a month-long festival that takes place in Kyoto in July each year. The biggest draw are the parades (called Yamaboko Junkō) on the 17th and 24th of the month.
Gion Festival 2023
Hakata Gion Yamakasa – Fukuoka
Join 1 million spectators as men race elaborately decorated floats (weighing in at 1 ton!) at this festival whose history goes back 750 years.
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Grand Sumo Tournament – Aichi
This July is host to one of the six major basho (tournaments) that take place in Japan each year. For 15 days, see the iconic Japanese battle play out in Nagoya. General seating starts at ¥2,900 for adults and tickets are sold at the arena from 7:45 am (and sometimes earlier) on the day.
Nagoya July Grand Sumo Tournament
Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival – Mie
The Miyakawa River will once again be illuminated by over 10,000 fireworks as the annual firework competition takes place. Pyrotechnicians from across the country will compete to create the best displays, with the festival being one the three largest in Japan.
Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival
Corona Sunsets Festival – Okinawa
A music festival with a laid-back atmosphere, this event runs for two days on a sandy beach in Okinawa. Headliners include Jose Gonzalez, Amp Fiddler and Naoki Serizawa, plus Terrace House star Eden Kai. Having started in Ibiza a few years ago, it has a solid reputation and more headliners are set to be announced soon.
Corona Sunsets Festival 2019
Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival – Aichi
Enjoy a quaint and colorful evening along the Nagoya Port with a display of 3,000 fireworks.
Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival
Sapporo Summer Festival – Hokkaido
An umbrella event with lots of smaller different celebrations and festivals, this is a great time to be in the city. There’s a huge beer garden, a traditional bon odori festival and much more.
Sapporo Summer Festival
Koto Music Performances – Nagoya
Enjoy a performance of the traditional Japanese intrument, the Koto. Playing contemporary and traditional songs, the ensemble will be lead by Michiyo Yagi with performances from Takashi Sugawa, Christopher Hardy and guest Koto player Maki Isogai.
Koto Music Concert: From Traditional to Contemporary
Marine Festa in Kuchinotsu – Nagasaki
A port town which has prospered from the sea in terms of fishing and trade holds this annual Marine Festival by way of thanks. The first evening features boat parades and performances and the second day includes a dragon boat race and fireworks display.
Marine Festa in Kuchinotsu
Yamaguchi Gion Matsuri – Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi was modeled after Kyoto and this festival is a testament to their bond. The festivities are started with the traditional local Dance of the Heron, deemed a Folk Cultural Property.
Yamaguchi Gion Matsuri
Kiso Mikoshi Festival – Nagano
This festival add its own twist (quite literally) to the traditional mikoshi parades of festivals elsewhere in Japan. As the 375 kg portable shrines are carried through the streets, the men flip them as they go. The main event is on the 23rd but there are fireworks on the 22nd.
Kiso Mikoshi Makuri Festival
Tenjin Festival – Osaka
One of Japan’s top three festivals, the Tenjin Matsuri starts off with a procession of 3,000 people dressed in the style of courtiers of the 8th to 12th centuries, after which the participants get on boats at Tenmanbashi Bridge and sail up river. As the sun sets, fires are lit on board the vessels, creating a spectacle for those on the banks. The festival ends with a fireworks display.
Tenjin Festival
2019 Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival – Hokkaido
Set up along the Toyohira River for Hokkaido’s most popular fireworks show. Four-thousand fireworks will illuminate the Sapporo night sky.
2023 Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival
Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival – Fukuoka
A festival that dates back over 200 years, this event features the carrying of tall floats (the yamagasa) which are adorned with lanterns at night. It’s a really impressive sight and has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Asset.
Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival
Beppu Fire and Sea Festival – Oita
A three-day festival with all the perks of food stalls, performances, markets and culminating in one of the biggest fireworks displays in Kyushu!
Beppu Fire Sea Festival
Nagahama and Kitabiwako Great Fireworks – Shiga
Over 10,000 rockets are launched over the lake in this impressive display. The best viewing spot is Ho Park. Although times have not yet been released, the event should take place around 7pm.
Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks
Kihoku Lantern Festival – Mie
During the late afternoon, an elaborate floating lantern is set afloat in the harbor, and in the evening, a huge fireworks display is put on. Nicknamed the Saiun Kujaku (rainbow peacock), it’s a sight to behold.
Kihoku Lantern Festival 2023
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival – Mie
Celebrating the completion of the Ise Bridge in 1934, this fireworks festival sees the launch of over 10,000 rockets in an incredible display. There are a combination of over and underwater fireworks including Niagara Falls and star mines!
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival
All Japan Selection Nagara River Chunichi Fireworks Display – Gifu
One of two giant fireworks competitions held this summer, here you can see pyrotechnicians from across the country battle it out with their best designs. There are day displays from 12pm, food stalls and then the main event in the evening.
All Japan Selection Nagara River Chunichi Fireworks Display
Hita Gion Festival – Oita
A local Gion festival which is billed as one of the top three annual festivals in Kyushu. Expect large mikoshi (portable shrines) parades through narrow streets and a great atmosphere.
Hita Gion Festival
Nagasaki Port Festival – Nagasaki
This summer events has fireworks on both nights and is situated in one of the prettiest harbors in Japan too! There are 7,000 rockets on the first night and 3,000 on the second night, so keep that in mind if choosing between the two!
Nagasaki Port Festival
Ono-Hiyoshi Shrine Sanno Festival – Ishikawa
Held to welcome summer, this two-day festival features highlights like demon payment day and a lion dance, with unusual costumes and performances which have been deemed an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Ono-Hiyoshi Shrine Sanno Festival
The 42nd Japan International Birdman Rally – Shiga
One of Japan’s more unique festivals, participants (or “bird men”) will attempt to fly as far as possible into the lake with the help of human-powered flying machines.
The Japan International Birdman Rally
Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival – Kyoto
This annual festival ends with a huge fireworks display launched from a ship floating in the bay. You can watch from the beach and enjoy the offerings of the many food stalls and performances during the weekend.
Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival
Minato Matsuri Fireworks Display – Wakayama
Using the city lights as the perfect backdrop, over 3,000 fireworks will be launched in Wakayama. Originally created to pray for the port’s safety and to bring visitors to the area, the festival grows in popularity every year.
Minato Matsuri Firework Display
Shirahama Fireworks Festival – Wakayama
Another fantastic fireworks festival set in the bay at this popular beach in Wakayama. Running since 1948, over 3,500 fireworks will be launched including a Niagara Falls display.
Shirahama Fireworks Rally 2023
Sumiyoshi Matsuri – Osaka
The highlight of this three-day festival is the nagoshi harai shinji ritual where participants (women and children) processioning through a straw-rope ring wearing Muromachi period costumes.
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
Kuroishi Neputa Festival – Aomori
One of the smaller Neputa festivals fo northern Japan, this is nonetheless a stunning display of huge lanterns. The main days ar the 30th and 2nd when the 50 floats gather together.
Kuroishi Neputa Festival
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