Matsuri Events in Japan

Yamagata Hanagasa Festival

Celebrate the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, where over 10,000 dancers in vibrant attire bring the streets of Yamagata to life with traditional music and mesmerizing performances.

Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival

Don't miss this fantastic summer event, where thousands of lanterns, each lit by hand, illuminate the city.

Akita Kanto Festival

A parade of people balancing long, heavy poles-who wouldn't want to see that?

Hakodate Port Festival

The annual Hakodate Port Festival draws visitors wih lively fireworks, colorful parades, and the famous Squid Dance.

Nagaoka Fireworks Festival

Get ready for fireworks, float parades, and folk dance processions.

Hinokuni Festival

Enjoy one of Kumamoto City's summer festivals

Tatemon Festival

The Tatemon Festival in Uozu, Toyama, showcases stunning lantern-lit floats, traditional music, and a community celebration, making it a must-visit summer event.

Sumiyoshi Festival

A purification ritual and portable shrine festival at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

Gion Festival 2025

Gion Festival is a month-long festival in Kyoto.

Umeda Yukata Festival

It's summer in the city, and Umeda's annual Yukata Festival is back.

Tobata Gion Oyamakasa Festival

See the tall Yamagasa floats illuminating the Tobata night.

Hita Gion Festival

See the enormous yamaboko floats parade around the historic town of Hita.

Beppu Fire Sea Festival

See one of Kyushu's largest firework displays

Notojima Kōda Fire Festival

This is one of Japan's biggest fire festivals.

Kinugawa Onsen Dragon King Festival

Watch as the Manto Mikoshi, a portable shrine glowing with ten thousand lanterns, parades through the night.

Tenjin Festival

Who isn't impressed by illuminated boats and fireworks?

Shin-Umeda Osaka Summer Festival

Looking for a family-friendly festival in the heart of the city? The Shin-Umeda City Summer Festival features traditional Bon dances, kids' games, and exciting attractions.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa

Hakata Gion Yamasaka is one of Fukuoka's largest festivals.

Ikutama Festival

This lively summer festival is held each year at Ikutama Shrine in Osaka, easily accessible from Osaka Station.

Marine Festa in Kuchinotsu

A festival to see all the wonders of the sea

Tightrope Lion Dance

One of Japan’s more unusual festivals, here you can watch brave performers balance on a tightrope strung across a 10m-wide valley while wearing a heavy headdress. Held in the grounds of …

Yuwaku Bon-Bori Festival

A unique festival straight from the world of popular series Hanasaku Iroha, the following for this fiery event grows every year. The town of Yuwaku was used as a model for the town of Yunosagi …