Written by Alexandra Ziminski
Researched by Patrick Balfe
May is busy in Japan, with a flurry of festivals just in the first few days — thanks to the Golden Week holidays.
Wherever you are, you’ll find something to see — be it a samurai procession, a boat race, or even a giant kite-flying competition.
For events in Tokyo and the surrounding area, visit our listings on Tokyo Cheapo.
Kansai events
These are events in Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, Mie, and the surrounding areas.
Osaka Nemophila Festival
April 11–May 10Osaka
A whole lot of baby blue eyes
Feast your eyes on more than one million nemophila flowers, also known as baby blue eyes, at Osaka Maishima Seaside Park.
Apart from the flowers, there will be a wide choice of local and seasonal products to buy, including nemophila honey and ice cream in a well-suited color.
Aoi Matsuri
May 15Kyoto
One of Kyoto’s three main traditional festivals
One of the three most significant festivals in Kyoto, the Aoi Matsuri features a procession starting from the Imperial Palace and winding through the streets to the Kamo shrines.
Over 500 participants dress in traditional clothing with hollyhock leaves. This includes an unmarried woman chosen to represent Saio (who, as the youngest female of the Imperial family, was the high priestess of the Kamo shrines).
If you’re around, make time for some of the events in the lead-up to the main event, like the Kamo Kurabeuma horse-racing ritual and the Yabusame Shinji horseback archery event earlier in the month.
Kamogawa Odori
May 5–22Kyoto
Intimate geisha performance in an historic theater
Your final chance to see one of the city’s annual geisha performances in 2026, this show features geiko and maiko from the Pontocho area of Kyoto. It takes place in a small theater built specifically for this event, which is said to make it one of the most intimate of the shows.
You can choose tickets with or without a maiko tea ceremony included.
Heijokyo Tempyo Sai Festival
May 3Nara
A celebration of Nara’s imperial past
With a history dating back 1,300 years, this festival celebrates the days when Nara was the capital of Japan. There are re-enactments of parades and children’s workshops — making it a great family event.
Kyotographie International Photography Festival
April 18-May 17Kyoto
International photography exhibits in unexpected Kyoto venues
Kyoto and photography merge to create Kyotographie, one of Japan’s largest international photo festivals. Kyotographie has been held in Kyoto since 2013 and is a photography festival that harmonizes with the city.
Mifune Festival
May 17Kyoto
One of Japan’s most celebrated boat festivals
Taking place on the Katsura River in Arashiyama, Kyoto, the Mifune Festival is a sight to behold. Traditional and highly decorative boats carry performers and musicians as they put on a show, with audiences seated on the banks.
The festival is an extension of the Kurumazaki Shrine Grand Festival, and means the “three boat festival”.
Kobe Festival
May 17Kobe, Hyōgo
Inner-city festival featuring a parade, markets, and performances
This bright and energetic festival takes place over two days, with separate celebrations in the nine wards of the city on the first day. Sunday is the main event, with a big parade as well as markets and live performances.
Kankame Inari Festival
May 13–14Kyoto
Traditional festival with geiko and maiko entertainment the night before
Held at a shrine so small it isn’t even on Google Maps, this festival is a fantastic opportunity to see the geiko and maiko of Kyoto (called geisha in Tokyo).
On the first evening, the geiko and maiko will entertain with games and drinks, while on the second day, there will be a traditional ceremony.
Craft Gyoza Fes Osaka
May 2–6Osaka
A celebration of everyone’s favorite dumpling
There will be a range of gyoza on offer from several stalls. Entry is free, but everything else is around ¥700. You can choose from a range of flavors and ingredients.
The Meat Osaka
April 29–May 6Osaka
Sample meats from around the country
The Meat Osaka is — as the name suggests — a food festival focused on all things meat. There will be over a dozen different meat dishes on offer. Think lemon fried chicken, Hokkaido-raised beef roasted to perfection, wagyu beef cutlets, pork bacon steak, and more, all starting at ¥800.
Kanto events
These are events just outside of Tokyo, including Tochigi, Ibaraki, and the surrounding areas.
Togyo 1,000 Samurai Procession
May 17–18Nikkō, Tochigi
Costumed samurai escort sacred mikoshi through Nikko
For samurai lovers, there’s only one place for you to be this month, and that’s Tochigi. Featuring 1,200 participants all dressed in full samurai costumes, the procession takes place on the second day of the Nikko Tōshōgū Shrine Grand Festival. They escort mikoshi to a hall in the shrine grounds, giving you an idea of what the shogun’s army may have looked like.
Ashikaga Great Wisteria Festival
April 11–May 20Ashikaga, Tochigi
Colorful wisteria carpeting a massive flower park
Ashikaga Flower Park’s annual Great Wisteria Festival is the place to see pretty purple wisteria — fuji-no-hana in Japanese — in all its glory. And also to see less common varieties in pink, white, and yellow. Basically, it’s a really big park with a lot of wisteria. Get tickets here.
Mamada Snake Festival
May 5Mamada, Tochigi
A unique festival to ward off bad luck
One of Japan’s more unusual events, the Mamada Snake Festival sees participants carry 15-meter-long snakes around town. Don’t worry, these aren’t some super pythons, but crafts made by local high-school kids.
Tōhoku events
These are events in Aomori, Miyagi, and the surrounding areas.
Sakata Festival
May 19–21Sakata, Yamagata
Renowned for its giant lion head floats and wheeled floats
Held every year since 1609, this three-day festival features some equally impressive and terrifying floats, known especially for the giant lion heads.
There will be 350 stalls selling festival favorites, and you’ll be able to enjoy a local festival that doesn’t get as many visitors as the bigger ones in Japan.
Sendai Aoba Festival
May 16–17Sendai, Miyagi
A multi-day festival lighting up Sendai
First held in 1655, the Sendai Aoba Festival takes place at the beginning of the warm season, in early May. On the Saturday night, you’ll get to see suzume odori, the sparrow dance, performed by thousands of dancers.
On the Sunday, many mikoshi (portable shrines) and large yamaboko floats are paraded down the city streets. Food, crafts, and various stalls will also be available.
Hiroshima events
These are events in Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and the surrounding areas.
Shinkawa Market Festival
May 5Ube, Yamaguchi
Local spring celebration feat. fox wedding
One of the highlights of this local festival is the fox wedding parade. Watch as a traditionally dressed bride and groom have their faces painted like foxes and are paraded through the town on rickshaws.
Hiroshima Flower Festival
May 3–5Hiroshima
A lot more than a mere flower show
Offering more than the name suggests, the Hiroshima Flower Festival includes a yosakoi dance-off, a flower queen contest, parades, and illuminations at night. Over 100 teams compete in the yosakoi, and there will be stage performances too, so there’s certainly enough to keep you entertained.
Chūbu events
These are events in Nagano, Aichi, Fukui, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and surrounding areas.
Hamamatsu Festival
May 3–5Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Battle kites and float processions
A festival split in two, this event features some traditional elements alongside kite-flying. On all three days, in the early evening, a procession takes place near Hamamatsu Station, with floats resembling temples and carrying musicians close to Hamamatsu Station. There will be buses running to the kite-flying site from there.
Fuji Shibazakura
April 12–May 25Yamanashi
Some of Yamanashi’s most iconic views
This is a great time to see Mt. Fuji and enjoy the local delicacies. The shibazakura festival offers carpets of stunningly bright flowers. The moss phlox is known as the lawn cherry and is impressive, with or without Fuji-san in the background.
Kyūshū & Okinawa events
Hakata Dontaku Festival
May 3–4Fukuoka
One of the country’s biggest Golden Week festivals
This is thought to be the largest of the Golden Week festivals in Japan, drawing crowds from across the country. Famed for the extravagant costumes worn by the competing teams, the festival dates back to 1179 and was originally a celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Fun fact: The Hakata Dontaku Festival was eventually banned for its perceived extravagance, but returned as the Dontaku Festival not long after.
Naha Hari Dragon Boat Races
May 3–5Naha, Okinawa
High-energy dragon boat battles, music, and traditional dancing
Every May during Japan’s Golden Week, the Naha Hari transforms the Nahashin Port into a battle zone, as dragon-boat teams compete in high-energy races.
One of Okinawa’s biggest annual events, the Hari festival runs over three days and attracts more than 150,000 spectators.
This is a wonderful time to visit the wharf to watch the races and enjoy the carnival atmosphere, with music, drumming, traditional dancing, and live entertainment.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in May 2016. Last updated in April 2026 by Patrick Balfe.
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