Events Next Month in Japan

Okera Mairi: Old Year’s Eve at Yasaka-jinja Shrine

Want to ensure peace and prosperity for the new year? You might have to stay up all night.

Nijo-jo Castle Garden Special Opening

Usually only view-able from the stone foundation of the former castle keep, the Nijo-jo Castle gardens are being opened to celebrate the new year.

No Limit! Christmas at Universal Studios Japan

The whole of USJ will get a blanket of festive fun. Expect cheery decorations and a massive show under the impressive 30-meter-tall glowing Christmas tree.

Illumi Eeru Iwaki

See the streets lit up with cherry blossom illuminations

Saga Light Fantasy

Saga Station meets illumination

Fukuoka Christmas Market and Illuminations

Spend your Christmas wrapped up in the midst of the beautiful Fukuoka Christmas Market and Illuminations,

Nankinmachi Lantern Fair

Kobe's China Town comes alight with dozens of lanterns

Maebashi Hatsuichi Daruma Festival

Daruma make for one of the most traditional Japanese festivals you're likely to see at this event,

Kyoto Toka Ebisu Festival

Join in this noisy and raucous festival as people knock on wooden boards to get the attention of a lucky God.

Oni Hashiri: Ogres and Flaming Torches

A fiery display of vanquishing demons awaits

Dontosai Festival

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

Shittenoji Doya Doya Festival

See dozens of loincloth-clad men and boys doused in very cold water as they compete in teams for banknotes.

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival

One of the three greatest fire festivals in Japan.

Miyoshi Bonden Festival

Teams race to be the first to reach the shrine and onlookers also push to touch the special charms of this shrine.

Chinese New Year Festivities

Celebrate Lunar New Year in Kōbe.

Kobe Luminarie 2023

A beautiful light show and memorial in one Kobe event.

Wakakusa Yamayaki

See an entire mountainside in Nara go up in flames as fireworks are launched behind it.

Festival of Lights Osaka

See Osaka come alive with light on those cold winter nights.

Kayabuki no Sato Snow Lantern Festival

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

Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2024

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

Ashikaga Flower Park Illuminations 2023

Visit one of the best illuminations in Japan and relive the wonder of the spring wisteria.

Shirakawago Winter Light-Up 2024

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

Lake Towada Winter Story of Light

Visit an illuminated winter wonderland with fireworks each night in Aomori.