Written by Alexandra Ziminski
Researched by Patrick Balfe
Summertime is the best for festival culture in Japan — from parades to period costumes, fireworks, port festivals, and much more.
We have events from all over, but read our dedicated guide to Osaka summer events if that’s what you’re after.
For events in Tokyo and the surrounding areas, head over to our event listings on Tokyo Cheapo.
Kansai events
These are events in Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, Mie, and the surrounding areas.
Tenjin Festival
One of the country’s big three traditional matsuri
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 Tenmabashi Bridge and sail upriver.
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.
Gion Festival
A whole month of festivities in Gion
The Gion Matsuri is a month-long festival that takes place in Kyoto each July. The biggest draw is the parades (called Yamaboko Junkō) on July 17 and July 24.
A warning that the already-busy Kyoto will get pretty cramped during this time, so it’s best to reserve seats if you can — tickets from ¥12,444.
Aizen Festival
Osaka’s first major summer festival of the year
The Aizen Matsuri is one of the three big Osaka festivals. Watch the crowd go wild as a beautiful young lady is hoisted in the air and paraded around Aizendo Temple.
Minato Maizuru Chatta Festival
It finishes with a bang
This annual Kyoto 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.
Ise Shrine Dedication Fireworks Festival
Japan’s best pyrotechnicians go head-to-head
The Miyakawa River will once again be illuminated by over 10,000 fireworks as the annual fireworks competition takes place. Japan’s best pyrotechnicians compete to create captivating displays, with the festival being one of the three largest in Japan.
Sumiyoshi Festival
Featuring Osaka’s largest portable shrine
The highlight of this multi-day festival is the nagoshi harai shinji ritual, where participants (women and children) make a procession through a straw-rope ring wearing Muromachi-period costumes.
The Japan International Birdman Rally
Brave people and their wonderful flying machines
In one of Japan’s more unique festivals, participants (or “bird men”) attempt to fly as far as possible into the lake with the help of human-powered flying machines.
Kihoku Lantern Festival
Beautiful rainbow peacock fireworks
In the late afternoon, an elaborate 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.
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival
One of the country’s most iconic fireworks displays
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 is a combination of overground and underwater fireworks, including Niagara Falls and star mines.
Minato Matsuri Fireworks Display
A symbol of summer in Wakayama
Using the city lights as the perfect backdrop, over 3,000 fireworks will be launched in Wakayama. Created to pray for the port’s safety and to bring visitors to the area, the festival grows in popularity every year.
Kantō events
These are events just outside of Tokyo, including Tochigi, Ibaraki, and the surrounding areas.
Kinugawa Onsen Dragon King Festival
Ancient rituals meet glowing lanterns and exploding fireworks
Just north of Nikkō is the usually sleepy hot-spring town of Kinugawa, but every summer it bursts with light and noise during the Dragon King Festival.
The main events take place in the evening, when giant portable shrines are laden with glowing lanterns and groups of women carry along sake barrels.
Hokkaidō events
Here’s what’s happening on Japan’s north island this month.
Sapporo Summer Festival
One of the best ways to explore Sapporo
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.
Doshin/UHB Fireworks Festival
Hokkaidō‘s most popular fireworks festival
Get set up along the Toyohira River for Hokkaidō’s most popular fireworks show. 4,000 fireworks will illuminate the Sapporo night sky.
Tōhoku events
These are events in Aomori, Miyagi, and the surrounding areas.
Kuroishi Neputa Festival
More than 50 floats parade through the streets
One of the smaller Neputa festivals of northern Japan, this is nonetheless a stunning display of huge lanterns. The main days are the 30th and 2nd when the 50 floats gather together.
Hiroshima events
These are events in Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and the surrounding areas.
Miyajima Kangen-sai Festival
The island’s largest and greatest annual festival
The Kangen-sai is one of the most important festivals of the year on the beautiful island of Miyajima. Traditional boats transport portable shrines across the bay from the afternoon into the late evening, accompanied by ancient court music and lanterns. It’s worth staying overnight on the island for.
Yamaguchi Gion Matsuri
A festival with over 600 years of history
Yamaguchi was modeled after Kyoto, and this festival is a testament to their bond. The festivities kick off with the traditional local Dance of the Heron, deemed a Folk Cultural Property.
Chūbu events
These are events in Nagano, Aichi, Fukui, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and surrounding areas.
Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament
The fourth of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments
This July is host to one of the six major basho (sumo tournaments) that take place in Japan each year. For 15 days, see the iconic battle play out in Nagoya. Check out our event page for info on what to expect and where to find tickets.
Ito Matsukawa River Tub Riding Race
A 400-meter washtub race
Rub-a-dub-dub, many racers in their tubs. The Matsukawa River Tub Race takes place in Ito along the Izu Peninsula and sees individuals and teams race down the river in washtubs.
Nagoya Port Fireworks Festival
Annually attracting around 370,000 people
Enjoy colorful evening along Nagoya Port with a display of 3,000 fireworks. While not the biggest display in the country, the scenic location, live performances, and parades make it one of the city’s go-to events of the year.
Kiso Mikoshi Festival
Flipping the script on mikoshi parades
This Nagano festival adds 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.
Ōno-Hiyoshi Shrine Sannō Festival
Make your annual demon payment
Held to welcome summer, this two-day festival features highlights like “demon payment day” and a lion dance, plus unusual costumes and performances that have been deemed an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Kyūshū & Okinawa events
Here are the events happening on southern islands in July.
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
One of Fukuoka‘s largest festivals
Join one million spectators as men race elaborately decorated floats (weighing in at one ton!) at this festival whose history goes back 750 years.
Tobata Gion Yamagasa Festival
One of the prefecture’s three major summer festivals
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.
Beppu Fire and Sea Festival
Catch one of Kyushu’s biggest fireworks displays
Get all the perks of food stalls, performances, and markets before this event culminates in one of the biggest fireworks displays in Kyūshū.
Hita Gion Festival
Witness a frenzy of formidable floats
A local Gion festival, which is billed as one of the top three annual festivals in Kyūshū. Expect large mikoshi (portable shrines) to parade through narrow streets, and a great atmosphere.
Nagasaki Port Festival
Two nights of seaside fireworks
This summer event 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.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post last updated by Patrick Balfe in June, 2026.
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Nagoya 1.9 km
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Aichi, Nagoya 1.3 km
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Nagoya 1.9 km -
Nagoya 1.9 km
