Events in Japan

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.

Yasaka Shrine Setsubun

Setsubun at Yasaka Shrine's is unusual because it features geiko, geisha from Kyoto.

Heian Jingu Setsubun

One of the best-known Setsubun festivals in Kyoto.

Dojima Yakushido Setsubun Omizukumi Festival

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

Noboribetsu Onsen “Naked Man” Festival

A steamy festival in the depths of the freezing winter

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.

Miyajima Oyster Festival

Chow down on cheap oysters at one of the most beautiful spots in Japan.

Kamihinokinai Paper Balloon Festival

Watch the magical sight of of dozens of paper balloons adorning the night sky.

Tadami Snow Festival

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

Sapporo Snow Festival 2024

See the beauty of winter at the Sapporo Snow Festival

Kasedori Festival

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

Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival

It gets very, very cold in the far north of Hokkaido, so what better place to have a festival with giant carved ice sculptures?

Namahage Sedo Festival

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

Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival

A quaint snow festival complete with snow sculptures and entertainment.

Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival

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

Ashikaga Flower Park Illuminations 2023

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

Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival

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

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival 2024

A quieter alternative in Sapporo's beautiful snows.