Events in Japan

Tanbo Art

The Aomori town of Inakadate has become famous for its Tanbo Art event held from early June until early October each year. Tanbo means rice field. The ingenious art is created by growing …

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

This vibrant celebration of Nagasaki’s multicultural history is the event in the area’s autumn calendar. Dating back nearly 400 years, the Kunchi Festival is three days long and draws …

Great Tug-of-War

Update: For 2022, you will need to pre-register to join in the tug-of-war. Every year on the Sunday before National Sports Day in Naha, Okinawa, a Tug-of-War event is held, attracting thousands …

Otsu Hikiyama Festival

One of Shiga’s largest three festivals, the Otsu Hikiyama festival is a stunning display of elaborate Mikoshi and parades through the city streets.  The festival celebrates Otsu as a …

20th Kyoto Intercollegiate Festa

The 20th Intercollegiate Festa is a display organised by the students of Kyoto aimed at bonding with the local community as students make up 10% of the city’s population. The entertainment …

Osaka Kitchenware Street Festival

If you’re in the mood for some kitchen-based souvenirs for your trip to Japan – or need to fill up your kitchen here, then look no further. The Osaka Kitchenware street is holding …

Osaka Mecha Happy Festival

Started in 2000 with the aim of making Osaka the “Number One City of Children with Smiles”, this festival celebrates with dance displays by over 2800 performers. Held in six different …

Hannan City Yagura Festival 2023

The city of Hannan in Osaka prefecture hosts a unique festival in Autumn each year in which 20 yagura – towers that are typically stationary at the center of a festival – are carried …

Takayama Autumn Festival

Counterpart to the Takayama Spring Festival, this matsuri is based around the Sakurayama Hachinmangu shrine. The festival features large wheeled floats, mikoshi (shoulder borne portable shrines) …

Mammoth Flea Market Z (Autumn)

Officially it’s the “Manmos Flea Market Z”, but that’s just the transliteration of the Japanese word for Mammoth. Either way, this TV Aichi organized market is big. The …

Nada no Kenka Festival

The Nada no Kenka Matsuri is a fighting festival held at Matubara Hachiman Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture in October. The first day of celebrations sees seven yatai floats from seven …

Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival

The magic word here is samurai. And World Heritage Site. Experience the grandeur of the Shogun’s army in the grounds of the vast and gorgeous Toshogu Shrine. The Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn …

Goryo Jinja Shrine Autumn Festival

This small but beautiful festival see dozens of lanterns places carefully around the Shrine grounds creating a magical atmosphere. There is traditional entertainment such as music, singing and …

Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto’s Historical Parade 2023

Want to see a slice of Japanese history? The Jidai Matsuri—”Festival of Ages”—is one of Kyoto‘s biggest October draws. It commemorates the founding of Kyoto as the Imperial …

Kurama no Hi Matsuri

Bonfires, torches, shrines and gods are all out in the streets for this vibrant Kyoto festival. Taking place in Kurama, a small village north of Kyoto proper, the Kurama no Hi Matsuri is a …

2023 Kobe Port Fireworks Festival

In 2022, there will be a small-scale firework event with a 10-minute firework show every day for 5 consecutive days. Officially the “Kobe Port Marine Fireworks Festival”, this event …

Miyazakijingu Festival 2023

The Miyazakijingu Taisai (Miyazaki Shrine Grand Festival) is a traditional festival at one of Miyazaki’s major Shinto shrines with a history of more than 140 years. Colloquially known as …

Kanazawa Marathon 2023

Whether you’re a runner or more likely to be cheering people on from the side-lines, the Kanazawa marathon is a great day out. The race begins at Hirosaka-dori by the Shiinoki Cultural Complex …

Hi-watari (Ritual Fire Walking) Festival at Daigan-ji Temple

A festival held at Daigan-ji on the island of Itsukushima/Miyajima in which priests and brave members of the public walk briskly across searing hot coals in bare feet. The ceremonies generally …

Shurijo Castle Revival Festival

Watch the huge procession of the Ryukyu Kingdom in all its glory

Nigohachi Festival

The Nigohachi Festival (ni-go-hachi means two-five-eight) is an autumn festival that takes place in Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture. The road is closed in front of the Higashiomi city office, with a …

Karatsu Kunchi Festival

This is the main festival for Karatsu Shrine — a shrine with over 400 years of history and one of Saga Prefectures most popular festivals. The feature of this festival is the giant …

Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival

The city of Utsunomiya in Tochigi prefecture is renowned for its gyoza — the dumpling of Chinese origin that is a fixture of Japanese ramen restaurants. The festival takes place at …

No Limit! Halloween at Universal Studios Japan

Back with the full line-up for the first time in three years! Experience Halloween like never before at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Make your way through a terrifying horror Maze, fight …