Events This Week in Japan

Yasaka Shrine Setsubun

One of the many traditional Setsubun festivals taking place across Kyoto (and Japan), Yasaka Shrine’s version is unusual in that it features Geiko – the Kyoto version of Geisha. On …

Heian Jingu Setsubun

One of the best-known Setsubun festivals in Kyoto, this is a great place to drive away those evil spirits and welcome in the new spring season. Priests begin the day with a cleansing ritual at …

Dojima Yakushido Setsubun Omizukumi Festival

Celebrated to mark the end of winter and the day before spring begins on the old lunar calendar, Setsubun is an age-old Japanese ceremony thought to drive evil spirits from the house. Many people …

Noboribetsu Onsen “Naked Man” Festival

Officially called the Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Water Festival (Noboribetsu onsen yu matsuri), this unique festival takes place at the coldest time of year, when the last thing you want to be is …

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 2023

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival will be held for the first time in three years! Featuring more than 15,000 lanterns, the festival originally started as a simple Chinese New Year celebration. In …

Sapporo Snow Festival 2023

For where to stay and what to do, see our Sapporo Snow Festival Mega Guide. The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place every year for a week in early February across three main sites: Odori Park, …

Shirakawago Winter Light-Up 2023

The 2023 Shirakawa-go Winter Light-up has been announced! It will go ahead this year but reservations will be required. Where is Shirakawago? Shirakawago is a picturesque village in Gifu …

Lake Towada Winter Story of Light

Lake Towada will be transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland with fireworks each night. The festival includes fireworks at 7:30 p.m., activities that require advanced reservations, and …

Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival

A snowy wonderland appears each winter in this quiet hot spring town as hundreds of small snow-houses are built. Illuminated on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings for the one month duration of …

Zao Snow Monster Festival

While most snow festivals feature man-made sculptures, the snow monsters of Zao — called juhyo in Japanese — are entirely natural, created in rare circumstances that require specific …

Kujuku Islands Oyster Eating Festival

The big grass square at the 99 Islands Pearl Sea Resort in Sasebo plays host to a festival of oysters on weekends and public holidays throughout February (and on the first Sunday of March this …

Osaka Illuminage

Illuminage will happen at five venues this year throughout Osaka and Kobe (and even one in Fukuoka) — that’s a lot of lights. For more of Osaka’s best winter illuminations, …

Atami Plum Blossom Festival

Banish winter blues with a trip to the seaside hotspring resort Atami, where the Atami Plum Garden hosts a Plum Blossom Festival throughout January and February. Atami is known to have some of …

Sapporo White Illumination

This winter light-up takes place at five different locations including Odori Park, Sapporo Eki-mae Dori and Minami 1-Jo Dori. All locations switch on the lights on November 22nd, but while Odori …