Matsuri Events in Japan

Spring Kemari Festival

This Nara festival features beautiful processions, rituals, and eventually a game of kemari.

Kōbe Festival

The Kōbe Festival is a citywide festival.

Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

See children's kabuki performances atop floats.

Kawanishi Genji Festival

The Kawanishi Genji Festival celebrates a Japanese literary classic-"Tale of Genji".

Takayama Spring Festival

The Takayama Spring Festival is one of Japan's most famous festivals.

Inuyama Festival

Celebrate the blooming of the cherry blossoms at the Inuyama Festival

Shizuoka Matsuri

The Shizuoka Festival is Shizuoka City's biggest spring festival.

Shingen-kō Festival and Samurai Parade

According to organizers, this is the largest samurai parade in the world.

Omihachiman Sagicho Fire Festival

One of Japan's deadliest festivals.

Tagata Shrine Hōnensai “Penis Festival”

Join this annual celebration of Tagata Shrine in Aichi and promote all things phallic.

Omizutori Fire Festival

One of the oldest Buddhist ceremonies still performed today.

Shigisan Tiger Festival

Attend a parade that features a portable shrine topped with a tiger and traditional Japanese instruments.

Ichiya Kanjo (One Night) Festival

A smaller, but unique festival in Osaka for fans of traditional Japanese culture

Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Festival

Another one of Japan's renowned "naked" festivals (sort of).

Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival

Magical, candle-lit hollowed out snow mounds, rice wine, and daifuku (rice cakes). What's not to love?

Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival

A quaint snow festival complete with snow sculptures and entertainment.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2025

Head to Nagasaki Lantern Festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Namahage Sedo Festival

A festival in which locals dress up as demons and scare the bejesus out of young children.

Kasedori Festival

This unique festival gets its name from the straw coats worn by the participants.

Tadami Snow Festival

Tadami has an abundance of snow, from which participants carve giant monuments and statues.

Konomiya Naked Festival

9,000 men, freezing water, and one God-man. Japan’s wildest naked festival is not for the faint-hearted.

Dojima Yakushido Setsubun Omizukumi Festival

Instead of bean-throwing, you toss joss sticks into a fire at this traditional Setsubun 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.

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival

One of the three greatest fire festivals in Japan.