Festival Events in Japan

Asahikawa Winter Festival

Giant snow sculptures, light projections, fireworks, and hearty winter foods in one of Japan’s coldest cities. Learn what's in store at the Asahikawa Winter Festival

Radish Festival

Warm up this February at Ōhara’s Sanzen-in Temple, where locals serve steaming soup made from locally grown radish.

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

Light up a cold winter's day with this lantern festival.

Mount Omuro Yamayaki

A traditional festival in which the old grass on Mount Omuro is burnt away to allow new grass to grow.

Mihara Daruma Festival

Festival food and daruma dolls aplenty. For a daruma market of historic proportions, there's none quite like Mihara City's annual Daruma Festival.

Chinese New Year Festivities

Celebrate Lunar New Year in Kōbe.

Shirakawago Winter Light-Up 2026

See a traditional Japanese village lit up bright on a cold winter's night.

Demon Festival on Mount Yoshino in Nara

Fancy a dance with a demon? Nara's Kinpusenji Temple offers a unique Setsubun experience with its annual Demon Festival.

Kayabuki no Sato Snow (Miyama Village) Lantern Festival

An amazing chance to see a remote, snow-covered thatched village illuminated with hundreds of lanterns.

Beppu Tsurumi-Dake Cold Weather Competition

Test your mettle in quirky contests like icicle clinging and enjoy local flavors with a shochu guessing game.

People-Throwing and Ash-Smearing Festival

Watch men get tossed into snow and behold the messy ash-smearing chaos.

Dontosai Festival

Put some heat into your winter and New Year with this steamy (in more ways than one!) festival.

Bad-Mouthing Festival

This bizarre New Year's Eve ritual, dating back to the Edo period, lets participants shout away their frustrations while trekking to the temple summit.

Kōdai-ji Zen Temple Autumn Illuminations

Experience the enchanting autumn night illumination at Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto. Wander through beautifully lit gardens with stunning autumn leaves.

Minō Momiji Festival

Get the most out of Autumn with a trip to the Minō Momiji Festival.

Kōrankei Momiji Festival

Catch the colors of the autumn leaves at this traditional Maple tree festival.

Japan Umeshu Festa

Join the Japan Umeshu Festa in Kyoto for a unique opportunity to taste over 100 varieties of plum wine.

Okinawa International Carnival

Samba, biker runs, live music, tug-of-war competitions, karate demonstrations, and much more.

Yatsushiro Myōken Festival

One of the oldest festivals in Japan with parades, performances, and costumes galore.

Shinno Festival

Discover Osaka's Shinno Festival, which takes place annually at Sukunahikona Shrine, where local businesses and visitors come together to pray for health and prosperity.

Izumo Taisha Kamiari Festival

Enjoy a different festival experience at this sombre event.

Suminoe Art Beat

Celebrate creativity at Suminoe Art Beat in Osaka, featuring art, food, and a giant duck.

Hitaki Fire Festival at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fire up your autumn with the Hitaki Fire Festival at Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan

Experience Halloween like never before at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.