Saikū Cultural Art Festival
★ Staff recommendation
Hot air balloons, a giant moon, and traditional performances from the past — welcome to the Saikū Cultural Art Festival.
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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.
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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.
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Takasaki Daruma Market
On the first two days of the year, many flock to Takasaki to buy daruma dolls.
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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.
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Maebashi Hatsuichi Daruma Festival
Daruma dolls are set alight in a traditional Japanese festival.
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Osaka Toka Ebisu Festival
Join the festive atmosphere of Osaka’s Toka Ebisu Festival at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, where locals gather to pray for wealth and success while enjoying street food and lively parades.
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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.
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NAKED Yoru Mode at Heian Shrine
Heian Shrine and NAKED create a colorful experience for those wanting to worship at night.
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Dontosai Festival
Put some heat into your winter and New Year with this steamy (in more ways than one!) festival.
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Shittenoji Doya Doya Festival
See dozens of loincloth-clad men and boys doused in very cold water as they compete in teams for banknotes.
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People-Throwing and Ash-Smearing Festival
Watch men get tossed into snow and behold the messy ash-smearing chaos.
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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.
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Togakushi Dondoyaki Fire Festival
A traditional Japanese New Years' festival to bring you some luck.
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Kyoto Candlelight Concert: Best of Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli)
Warm up a chilly night with candlelight and your favorite songs from Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi.
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Wakakusa Yamayaki in Nara
See an entire mountainside in Nara go up in flames as fireworks are launched behind it.
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Wonder Night Hill Illumination in Osaka
Step into a dazzling world of lights at one of southern Osaka’s largest illumination events.
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Beppu Tsurumi-Dake Cold Weather Competition
Test your mettle in quirky contests like icicle clinging and enjoy local flavors with a shochu guessing game.
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