The heat of summer isn’t quite over yet, and there are plenty of festivals across Japan to carry on the holiday feeling. Here’s a taste of what you can expect in September.
For events in Tokyo and the surrounding area, see our listings on Tokyo Cheapo.
Kansai events
These are events in Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, Mie, and the surrounding areas.
Uneme Festival
While more melancholic and somber than most Japanese summer festivals, this is also one of the most beautiful. Watch as lantern-lit traditional boats glide across the Sarusawa Lake in Nara in memory of Uneme, a court lady who drowned herself in the lake after being spurned by the emperor.
Kiyomizu Temple Seiryu-e Dragon Festival
Head to the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera to see the procession of the blue dragon as he drinks from the Otowa Waterfall below the temple. With masked characters and colorful dances, this is a simple but impressive display, adding a touch of the mystical to one of Kyoto’s most famous spots.
Danjiri Matsuri
Osaka’s Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri has rightfully earned its place on the list of Japan’s rowdiest festivals — and possibly the most dangerous too. Local teams whirl their wheeled carts around town, often reaching high speeds and with participants riding on top of them. At night they are strewn with lanterns and create a beautiful scene.
Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair
Showing that there’s a modern side to Kyoto, the Manga Anime Fair is one of the biggest in Kansai and is a fun mix of tradeshow, market, and festival. Get your fix of everything anime and celebrate the creativity of some of Japan’s most famous forms of entertainment.
| Advance sales: ¥1,600 | ||
Kangetsu no Yube: Full Moon Viewing
A chance to float beneath a full moon on a beautiful lake, this Kyoto event is as tranquil as it gets. It’s a tradition that’s continued since the Heian era. If the moon is in the right position, you’ll see it both in the sky and the lake at once.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
| At the door: ¥300 | ||
Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks
This display takes place on the northern side of Lake Biwako at Nagahama Port. For 2024, instead of one big show, there will be four small shows lasting 20 minutes on four successive nights.
Kanto events
These are events just outside of Tokyo, including Tochigi, Ibaraki, and the surrounding areas.
Tonegawa Fireworks Festival
The Tonegawa Fireworks Festival will be held at Sakai Riverside Park. Award-winning pyrotechnicians will go head-to-head as 30,000 firework shells shoot into the sky for 90 minutes. The fireworks will synchronize with lights and music as the whole area is illuminated.
Tōhoku events
These are events in Aomori, Miyagi, and the surrounding areas.
All Japan Kokeshi Festival
People from all across Japan gather at Naruko Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture to celebrate the craftsmanship of Kokeshi dolls, a traditional Japanese wooden doll that has no arms or legs. Get ready for people dressed as dolls and a unique burning ceremony. Pop into the local hot springs while you’re there — they even have dedicated hand baths!
Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
Featuring 700 jazz bands in an urban outdoor setting, the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival brings the blue note to the streets of Sendai City each September. Not all of the acts are professional or big names, but all are very good at what they do, and this festival promises a treat for anyone.
Misawa Air Base Festival
A rare chance for civilians to enter the air base, this festival attracts around 100,000 visitors a year and entertains them with aerial displays, fly-bys, and music as well as plenty of food stands. It’s the largest air show in northern Japan and is popular, so expect busy stations and buses.
Chūbu events
These are events in Nagano, Aichi, Fukui, Shizuoka, Yamanashi and surrounding areas.
Karuizawa Momiji Festival
Made famous by Terrace House, Karuizawa is a date spot and a half, especially during the autumn leaf season. This long-running event celebrates the golden colors with food stalls, entertainment, and plenty of good-spirited fun.
Owara Kaze no Bon Dance Festival
Head to Toyama for a calm, yet mysterious, night festival that sees performers dance in slow and graceful movements to traditional Japanese instruments like the shamisen and kokyū.
Mt. Fuji Rainbow Flower Festival
The Fuji Motosuko Resort is most famous for its shibazakura festival in spring, but the field also turns shades of yellow, red, pink, and orange in autumn. The backdrop of Mt. Fuji makes this a great day trip from Tokyo on a clear day.
| Advance sales: ¥700 | At the door: ¥1,000 | |
Kyūshū & Okinawa events
Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival
Check out the Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival, the island chain’s last major summer festival. It’s a corker — three days of dancing and celebration as Okinawans gather to welcome their ancestors. With traditional Ryukyu dress, massive taiko drums, song, and dance, it’s an event not to be missed.
Nagasaki Kyoryuchi Festival
An unusual festival in Japan, Kyoryuchi is the nickname of the foreign settlement in Oura which dates back to the late 1850s, and this event celebrates the wide array of cultures there. With choirs, art workshops, a stamp rally, and even a Scottish pipe band, you can enjoy the different aspects that come together to create this diverse community.
Nagasaki Sasebo Seaside Festival
This festival in Nagasaki’s main draw is the island’s largest firework display. If summer hanabi (fireworks) aren’t your jam (and if not, why not?), the Seaside Festival includes music, balloon art, jazz, food stalls, dance exhibitions, family games, traditional taiko drumming, and harbor cruises.
Pro tip: Check back for more events as we update this post! If you’re going to be in Tokyo, see our detailed events listings for the area.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
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