6 Most Unusual Festivals in Japan

When looking through a Western cultural lens, some events and festivals in Japan may seem “weird” — you won’t often see a large phallus parading down the streets of New York, for example.

We’ve combed through the fire fights, funky cat costumes, and crying babies to give you the crème de la crème of unusual festivals in Japan.

1. Kasedori (straw birdmen) Festival

Famous for straw birdmen
February 11 every year
Yamagata Prefecture

Around 30 to 40 young men don coats and shoes made of straw and parade about the castle town of Kaminoyama in Yamagata. Mimicking a bird, these men go around “ka-kawing” their ballad at onlookers, who, rightly so, throw water on them in reply. Note that it is winter during the festival.

The Kasedori Festival has been held since the Edo period (so for around 400 years). The name derives from the Japanese characters for “earning bird” and “fire bird”, and so is known for prosperity in business as well as fire prevention.

To really get in the spirit (and really soak up the prosperity), chuck water and pick up the straw that falls from the birds (it’s lucky). But don’t pull it out yourself. Girls may tie the straw around their hair in hopes of it becoming even more beautiful.

Kasedori Festival

Dates:11th Feb, 2025

Entry:Free

Venue:

Kaminoyama Castle

Read more

2. Fertility festivals

Festivals celebrating male and (less often) female genitalia
Varies
All over Japan

Believe it or not, there are so many fertility festivals in Japan that we had to make a long, long list of them. Most take place in early spring and pray for a bountiful harvest. Phallic imagery — usually in the form of shoulder-borne sculptures — is common and celebrated.

Our top recommendations:

• Kanamara Festival in Kanagawa Prefecture (first Sunday of April)
• Tagata Shrine Festival in Aichi Prefecture (March 15 every year)
• Dontsuku Festival in Shizuoka Prefecture (late September or early October)

3. Naked festivals

Expect many scantily clad men
Usually in January and February
All over Japan

While getting your kit off is also famous elsewhere in the world, Japan has a historical and cultural reason for stripping down to loincloths in many of their festivals.

Hadaka (Naked) Festivals are Shinto traditions with the idea of getting as close to naked as possible — “naked as the day you were born” in other words. This is to be closer to the spirits purely and innocently.

Folks may be participating in a ritual, such as an ice bath, or they could be fighting each other — think mud fights. Traditionally, only men participated, but in recent years, women have also been allowed to join. Note that these days clothing is getting less and less revealing.

Top naked festivals in Japan:

• Konomiya Hadaka Festival in Aichi Prefecture (13th day of the lunar calendar every year)
• Dontosai Festival in Miyagi Prefecture (January 14)
• Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Festival in Okayama Prefecture (3rd Saturday of February every year)

4. Nakizumo crying baby festivals

Who knew that crying babies could be so entertaining?
Usually April to October every year
All over Japan

You’ve heard of sumo and you’ve heard of babies. Put them together and what do you get? No, not a tiny fighting sumo wrestler, but instead tears, lots of tears — or so we hope!

During each event, babies go head to head, carried by a sumo wrestler, and donned in the appropriate garb. Once they start howling, a prayer/song is conducted, and the sumo stomps with the baby. There is no loser (all criers are winners here, the louder the better). Don’t judge too much, it’s all done for the baby’s own good so that they can be blessed and grow up big and strong.

There’s a website that lists the ones across the country, but here are the most popular:

• Asakusa Nakizumo Festival (April every year)
• Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine Nakizumo Festival (May every year): This one doesn’t include sumo wrestlers, just babies.

5. Demon festivals

Friend or foe?
Around New Year
All over Japan

Oni are creatures from Japanese myths and legends, often translated into English as demons. Usually depicted as red or green with grotesque faces and protruding horns, these beings come to life when villagers put on masks and elaborate costumes during festivals. Ironically, despite being seen as violent, they are sometimes used to drive away misfortune, as is the case for the Oni Hashiri (Demon Run) Festival in Nara.

In other festivals, they are not so welcome, as is the case during the holiday Setsubun — people chant “Oni wa soto!” (“Demons out!”). Charming.

Here are some of our most recommended demon festivals:

• Oni Hashiri in Nara (January 14): Demons protect the townsfolk from evil spirits with dramatic displays.
• Namahage Sedo Festival (second Friday–Sunday of February): Folks in scary masks frighten local children in Akita.

6. Fire festivals

Fire symbolizes purity, but also danger
Usually at the start of the year
All over Japan

Like many moths to many flames, thousands flock to fire festivals around Japan each year. Fire is often seen as a purification element in both of Japan’s main religions, Shinto and Buddhism. During the new year, old things are often burnt as a symbol of letting go.

It’s not too unusual to find things afire in other countries — see the UK’s Bonfire Night or Valencia Fallas in Spain — but Japan has some festivals with a, you could say, raging edge. The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival is one of the most famous and includes trying to burn down a towering shrine … with intoxicated folks still clinging to it.

Here are the top unusual fire festivals in Japan:

• Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival (January 15): Watch as one of the biggest fire battles in Japan commences.
• Omihachiman Sagicho Fire Festival (mid-March): Watch men dance dangerously close to burning floats.
• Kebesu Festival (October 14): Viewers are advised to wear flame-resistant clothing as a man brandishes a fiery stick.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.