Everything ahead, grouped by month.
OfficialOn nowA 1,300-year-old torchlit tradition: Gifu's Imperial cormorant masters work leashed birds on the Nagara River nightly, May 11-October 15, 2026.
2026/05/11 19:45 Across JapanShared sightseeing boat (2026 rates): ¥4,200 adults / ¥2,100 children on regular days; ¥5,100 adults / ¥2,600 children on peak dates. Watching for free from the riverbank is also possible.
© Douggers · Public Domain
OfficialOn nowUSJ's anime-and-game mega-event marks its 10th anniversary with five blockbuster Japanese titles, including the park debut of 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' running into January 2027.
2026/05/30 08:30 OsakaRequires a Studio Pass (1-day from around 8,600 yen); some Cool Japan attractions need a separate Express Pass.
© Momopy~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowUSJ celebrates 25 years with a year-long 'Discover U!!!' festival — a new anniversary parade, classic film cars on display and special entertainment running from spring 2026 into March 2027.
2026/06/22 08:30 OsakaIncluded with a Studio Pass (1-day from around 8,600 yen); no separate ticket for the anniversary entertainment.
© Mr.henry yanayah · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialOn nowHello Kitty's indoor theme park celebrates 35 years with ribbon-themed decor and 'The Quest of Wonders' — its first all-new main parade in a decade — running all the way through the end of 2026.
2026/06/22 09:00 TokyoPassport tickets from around 3,300-4,000 yen (varies by date); cheaper online and on weekdays.
© Matryokeshi · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowThe world's only ocean-themed Disney park turns 25 with a year-long 'Sparkling Jubilee' — a new harbor show, the 'Dance the Globe!' production and 'Jubilee Blue' decor across all eight ports.
2026/06/22 09:00 TokyoRequires a Tokyo DisneySea park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, price varies by date).
© Cabeza2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialOn nowMt Fuji 2026: Yoshida & Subashiri open July 1, Fujinomiya & Gotemba July 10 (all close Sept 10). ¥4,000 fee, reservation, and gate rules — every trail.
2026/07/01 Across JapanA trail-entry fee applies (around 2,000-4,000 yen); mountain-hut stays extra
© Cesar I. Martins · CC BY 2.0
OfficialOn nowKnown as 'Osaka's Kitchen,' this 580-metre covered arcade packs around 150 stalls of fresh seafood, grilled crab, sea urchin, wagyu skewers and street snacks.
2026/07/01 08:00 OsakaFree
© Choi2451 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowUP BEAT!, one of Japan's longest-running house parties, turns 24 with three special 2026 shows — ZEROTOKYO, a Yokohama sunset boat party, and BANK30. Dates, line-ups and tickets.
2026/07/10 23:00 TokyoEach show from ¥3,000 (varies by show; see each page)
© UP BEAT! / UP BEAT SOUNDWORKS · 提供画像 (Provided by the organiser)
OfficialOn nowJapan's largest outdoor beer garden takes over Odori Park each summer, with rival breweries pouring ice-cold draft under the open sky.
2026/07/21 12:00 SapporoFree
© 禁樹なずな · Public domain
OfficialOn nowAround 600,000 sunflowers blaze across the Yatsugatake foothills, lit up after dark for a glowing field beneath the night sky.
2026/07/25 09:00 Across JapanFree
© さかおり (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialOn nowUSJ's 25th-anniversary ONE PIECE event runs July 30–Nov 19, 2026. Premier Show ¥3,000–6,000, Sanji's Pirate Restaurant ¥7,000 (lottery) — full ticket guide.
2026/07/30 08:30 OsakaStudio Pass required; the Premier Show and Sanji's Pirate Restaurant need separate paid/lottery tickets.
© Momopy~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowHirosaki's own summer lantern parade (Aug 1–7, 2026) — fan-shaped floats and a calmer chant that set it apart from nearby Aomori Nebuta.
2026/08/01 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialOn nowHakodate Port Festival 2026 (Aug 1–5): free Hokkaido summer festival with opening-night bay fireworks on Aug 1 and the famous Ika Odori squid dance Aug 2–3. Dates, times, access.
2026/08/01 19:45 Across JapanFree
© Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
OfficialOn nowAomori Nebuta 2026 reserved viewing seats: ¥4,000 prices, the 2026 sale dates (lottery + Jun 27 first-come), how to buy, and access from Tokyo.
2026/08/02 19:00 Across JapanReserved viewing seat ¥4,000 (Aug 7 daytime + fireworks set ¥9,500); handling fee added
© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowHow to buy paid grandstand seats at Japan's summer matsuri in 2026: lottery vs first-come, prices, the on-sale calendar and the official links.
2026/08/02 19:00Paid grandstand seats from ¥1,000 (varies by festival and tier)
© MIKI Yoshihito · CC BY 2.0OfficialOn nowGiant illuminated warrior floats are paraded through Aomori nightly as chanting dancers leap alongside in a blaze of color.
2026/08/02 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowAkita's Kanto Matsuri lights up Kanto Odori with about 280 bamboo poles and 10,000 lanterns, balanced on foreheads, hips and palms like glowing rice sheaves.
2026/08/03 18:45 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialOn nowPerformers balance towering bamboo poles strung with dozens of glowing lanterns on their palms, foreheads and shoulders.
2026/08/03 18:50 Across JapanFree
© hildgrim · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialThis weekendSome 10,000 dancers twirl flower-adorned straw hats to the rhythmic cry of 'Yassho, makasho!' in one of Tohoku's biggest parades.
2026/08/05 18:00 Across JapanFree
© No machine-readable author provided. Crown of Lenten rose assumed (based on copy · Public domain
OfficialThis weekendOn summer nights, 20,000 candles flicker across Nara Park's historic grounds in a serene sea of gentle light.
2026/08/05 19:00 NaraFree
© かるちる · CC0
OfficialThis weekendSendai Tanabata Festival 2026 (Aug 6–8): the fixed dates, the giant paper streamers, the Aug 5 fireworks, 5-min access from Sendai Station, and what to see.
2026/08/06 10:00 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialThis weekendJapan's grandest star festival drapes Sendai's arcades in thousands of giant, handmade paper streamers.
2026/08/06 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Nesnad · CC BY 3.0
OfficialThis weekendAround 12,000 fireworks reflect off Japan's largest lake near Otsu in a 40th-anniversary show fused with drones and lasers.
2026/08/06 19:30 KyotoFree
© Lonely Planet Japan · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialThis weekendAsagaya Tanabata Festival 2026 runs Aug 7–11, free, rain or shine. Tokyo's arcade tanabata is famous for giant handmade papier-mâché figures of the year's characters, right by JR Asagaya Station.
2026/08/07 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendFukushima Waraji Matsuri 2026 (Aug 7–9) parades a 12m, 2-ton straw sandal past the station before offering it to Haguro Shrine.
2026/08/07 18:30 Across JapanFree
© m-sasaki · CC BY 4.0
OfficialThis weekendNiigata Matsuri 2026 runs Aug 7–9: a 15,000-dancer folk parade on the 7th, then a Shinano River fireworks finale on the 9th.
2026/08/07 19:00 Across JapanFree
© DAI-nk · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendUP BEAT!'s 24th-anniversary finale, The Gathering, fills bayside BANK30 in Tokyo on Aug 8, 2026 — afternoon to night, guests Tomoyuki Tanaka (FPM) & Kentaro Takizawa. Door ¥3,500 / U-23 ¥2,000.
2026/08/08 15:00 TokyoDoor ¥3,500 / U-23 ¥2,000 (advance tickets available; open 15:00)
© UP BEAT! / UP BEAT SOUNDWORKS · 提供画像 (Provided by the organiser)OfficialThis weekendTen thousand fireworks burst over central Tokyo synced to a live concert lineup, a rare downtown display you can pair with a stadium seat.
2026/08/08 19:30 TokyoFree to glimpse from afar; the official stadium viewing-and-concert tickets are paid.
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendYosakoi Festival 2026 (Aug 9–12, Kochi): Otesuji grandstand seat prices, the 2026 sale dates (general sale opens Jun 29), how to buy, and how to get there.
2026/08/09 13:15 Across JapanPaid grandstand seats ¥1,000–¥3,000 per session (group/parasol tables ¥15,000–¥50,000)
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendThe original yosakoi: 200+ teams and ~18,000 dancers with naruko clappers thunder through Kochi's streets across four August days.
2026/08/09 17:00 Across JapanFree to watch on the streets; paid reserved (shaded) seats sold for the main venues.
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAwa Odori 2026 (Aug 12–15, Tokushima): grandstand seat prices, the 2026 on-sale dates, how to buy via Ticket Pia, and how to get there.
2026/08/12 18:00 Across JapanReserved grandstand ¥1,000 (C) – ¥3,000 (S); Minami-uchimachi SS ¥6,000 / Special ¥15,000
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's most famous dance festival: 100,000 dancers and a million spectators fill Tokushima with rhythm every August.
2026/08/12 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingTottori's Guinness-record umbrella dance returns Aug 13–14, 2026 for its 62nd edition — free to watch along the city-center parade route.
2026/08/13 18:00 Across JapanFree
© KASEI · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingGujo Odori 2026's all-night Tetsuya Odori runs over Obon, Aug 13-16, from 8 pm to 4-5 am. The stage is the old castle town of Gujo-Hachiman in Gifu, about a 20-min walk from Gujo-Hachiman Station. Verified dates, venue and access for first-timers.
2026/08/13 20:00Free
© Marho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThree thousand bronze and stone lanterns are lit across ancient Kasuga Taisha, filling the shrine's forest paths with a soft golden glow.
2026/08/14 19:00 NaraSmall fee to enter the inner lantern corridors
© Zairon · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNaha's vibrant 'kitchen': vivid Okinawan reef fish, pork and produce downstairs, then a 'mochiagari' service cooks your picks at the upstairs eateries.
2026/08/15 08:00 OkinawaFree
© Jan Schoepe · CC0
OfficialUpcomingA serene Yoshio Taniguchi pavilion honoring Zen philosopher D.T. Suzuki, built around a still 'Water Mirror Garden' for contemplation.
2026/08/15 09:30 KanazawaAdult ~¥310
© 金沢市 · CC BY 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcomingA Kisho Kurokawa building tucked into Shirakawa Park, strong on the Ecole de Paris, the Mexican Renaissance and local modern art.
2026/08/15 09:30 NagoyaCollection ~¥300; special exhibitions vary
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA lakeside museum in Ohori Park by architect Kunio Maekawa, mixing Dali and Warhol with Buddhist treasures across 16,000+ works.
2026/08/15 09:30 FukuokaCollection ~¥200; special exhibitions vary
© DrHughManning · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA Kenzo Tange landmark in Minato Mirai, freshly reopened after a three-year renovation, strong on modern art and Yokohama-rooted photography.
2026/08/15 10:00 YokohamaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's blockbuster urban festival packs international pop, rock and electronic stars into a stadium-and-convention-hall mega-event by the bay.
2026/08/15 10:00 Tokyo1-day ticket approx. ¥20,000
© LuxTonnerre · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThe world's largest fan convention: hundreds of thousands gather at Tokyo Big Sight to buy doujinshi and cosplay.
2026/08/15 10:30 TokyoWristband entry: ¥1,210 for morning entry (from 10:30) or ¥440 in advance / ¥1,000 same-day for afternoon entry (from 12:30). Lottery-only Early Entry (¥5,385) and cosplay changing-room priority (¥3,385) tickets are sold via TicketPay.
© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingA striking subterranean museum on Nakanoshima island devoted to postwar and contemporary art, behind a soaring bamboo-like steel facade.
2026/08/15 11:00 OsakaCollection exhibition ~¥430; special exhibitions vary
© Konrad Krzyżanowski · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingTodaiji admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child; hours run 7:30–17:30 Apr–Oct (8:00–17:00 Nov–Mar, as of July 2026). This page also covers the Aug 15, 2026 Manto Kuyoe evening, when thousands of lanterns light the Great Buddha Hall and the Kannomado window opens so the Buddha's face is visible from outside.
2026/08/15 19:00 NaraThe Manto Kuyoe evening service itself is a religious observance and is generally viewed from the precinct; on ordinary days, Daibutsuden admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child, or a joint Daibutsuden + Todaiji Museum pass ¥1,200 adult / ¥600 child (as of July 2026). Confirm any special-evening entry arrangements on the official site.
© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAround 40,000 fireworks erupt over Lake Suwa, their booms echoing off the surrounding mountains in one of central Japan's most spectacular summer displays.
2026/08/15 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingShinsaibashi's cult underground club where techno, drum & bass and Metalheadz nights roar through a no-frills, sound-first room.
2026/08/15 22:00 OsakaDoor charge varies by event (approx. ¥2,500–¥3,500, with drink)
© DVMG · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Edo's three great festivals returns to its full triennial form in 2026, with 50+ mikoshi paraded as spectators drench bearers in purifying water.
2026/08/16 07:30 TokyoFree
© American Art Association; Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912 · No restrictions
OfficialUpcomingCentral Sapporo's flagship art museum, with 5,000+ works spanning Hokkaido art, the Ecole de Paris, glasswork and modern Japanese painting.
2026/08/16 09:30 SapporoCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's first public contemporary art museum, a Kisho Kurokawa landmark crowning Hijiyama hill with bold rotating exhibitions.
2026/08/16 10:00 HiroshimaCollection ~¥370; special exhibitions vary
© Taisyo at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThousands of memorial lanterns drift down the Oi River below Arashiyama as the 'Torii-gata' bonfire of the Gozan Okuribi blazes on the hillside above.
2026/08/16 19:00 KyotoFree
© New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingMasked dancers in black hikosa-zukin hoods and deep amigasa hats sway through torchlit streets at one of Japan's three great Bon Odori, 700+ years old.
2026/08/16 19:30 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA thousand women dance through summer night with golden paper lanterns glowing on their heads — Kumamoto's most ethereal festival.
2026/08/16 20:00 Across JapanFree
© MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingGiant kanji and shapes blaze on five mountains around Kyoto to send ancestral spirits home at the close of Obon.
2026/08/16 20:00 KyotoFree
© ja:User:Kyoto-u · CC BY 2.5
OfficialUpcomingWorld-famous taiko ensemble Kodo hosts a three-day island arts festival with thunderous harbour-side concerts under the stars.
2026/08/21 17:00 Across JapanHarbour Concert tickets approx. ¥5,000–7,000 each; fringe events free
© Marco Tambara · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThe only museum in the world systematically collecting modern and contemporary Asian art — 5,000+ works from 23 Asian countries and regions.
2026/08/22 09:30 FukuokaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Hirho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly 15,000 shells light up the Karasugawa River in under an hour -- the fast, dense fireworks night that opens Gunma's biggest annual festival.
2026/08/22 19:30 Across JapanFree
© Akinori Takemoto · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA glossy multi-floor megaclub in the heart of Dotonbori serving open-format party nights with world-class DJs and VIP energy.
2026/08/22 22:00 OsakaDoor/VIP table pricing varies by night
© Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's biggest tropical-fish and aquatic-life markets fills an Asakusa hall with around 200 specialist booths.
2026/08/23 10:00 TokyoPaid admission (check the official site for the current ticket price).
© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictionsOfficialUpcomingComitia 157 — Japan's biggest original-manga fair — is Sun 23 Aug 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight West 1–4. Catalog is your entry (~¥1,500), free after 15:00. Date, access, tips.
2026/08/23 11:00 TokyoAround ¥1,500 (the catalog doubles as entry); free entry after 15:00.
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTwenty towering yatai floats - hand-built from scratch every year and dressed as scenes from kabuki and legend - parade the streets of Shinjo each August 24-26. This 260-plus-year-old UNESCO-listed float festival reaches a milestone in 2026: its 270th staging.
2026/08/24 15:00 Across JapanFree
© Katsutoshi Misawa (克年 三沢) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingA rapid-fire summer fireworks night lights up Minato Mirai 21 over Rinko Park and the Yokohama waterfront.
2026/08/24 18:30 YokohamaFree
© Marc Antomattei · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingTo mark the close of Mt. Fuji's climbing season, around seventy three-meter torches blaze along the streets of Fujiyoshida — counted among Japan's three most unusual festivals.
2026/08/26 15:00 Across JapanFree
© Sakaori (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOkinawa's biggest cultural park: explore a vast limestone cave, dress in Ryukyu attire, try bingata dyeing and Ryukyu glass, and catch the daily Super Eisa show.
2026/08/28 09:00 OkinawaAdults ¥2,000; children (4-14) ¥1,000
© Venkasub · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingNagoya's huge late-summer dance festival fills the city center with hundreds of energetic teams in a riot of color and choreography.
2026/08/28 11:00 NagoyaFree
© Kyu3 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOkinawa's biggest eisa festival, where drum troupes from across the islands perform thunderous traditional dance under summer skies.
2026/08/28 15:00 OkinawaFree
© Tet · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNoboribetsu's hot-spring Hell Festival returns Aug 29-30, 2026: a giant demon float, the 1-ton Oni Mikoshi, mass demon-dancing and fireworks -- free to attend.
2026/08/29 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Prosperosity · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingNara's energetic summer counterpoint — vivid street-dance teams parade past Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha and Sanjo-dori.
2026/08/29 11:00 NaraFree
© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's biggest samba parade fills Asakusa with feathered dancers and thundering bateria as competing teams vie for the championship along Umamichi Street.
2026/08/29 13:00 TokyoFree
© Frankie Fouganthin · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's own Awa dance takes over Koenji's backstreets as 10,000-plus dancers in 'ren' troupes whirl through the summer night.
2026/08/29 17:00 TokyoFree
© Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's most prestigious pyrotechnic competition, where the nation's top fireworks artisans battle for the Prime Minister's Award.
2026/08/29 17:10 Across JapanReserved seating required for prime spots (paid); riverbank viewing free
© Drivephotographer · CC0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's biggest club: a multi-floor Kiyamachi institution that has hosted Skrillex, Steve Aoki and Fatboy Slim for 1,000+ dancers.
2026/08/29 22:00 KyotoDoor charge varies by event (with drink)
© Mariemon at jp Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's only major summer full marathon starts and finishes at Odori Park, using stretches of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic route.
2026/08/30 08:30 SapporoSpectating free; runner entry opens in late March 2026.
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingBy lantern light, faceless dancers in straw hats move with hushed grace to mournful kokyu strings through old Yatsuo's stone lanes.
2026/09/01 17:00 Across JapanFree
© さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's oldest kabuki theatre in Kyoto stages a modern crossover, fusing the world of kabuki with the famous anime master-thief Lupin III. A playful, fast-paced gateway into the art form, with English audio guides available.
2026/09/02 11:00 KyotoTickets vary by seat class; check the official site. English audio guide available for rental.
© Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingPioneering woman conductor Midori Komai gives her farewell concert on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Kyowa Wing Hakuba Cultural Hall in Nagano — a one-time-only Hakuba Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and other European favourites. Doors 14:00, performance 15:00–17:00. Advance tickets ¥4,500 (students ¥2,000; under-12 free).
2026/09/05 15:00 Across JapanAdvance ¥4,500 / same-day ¥5,000. Nagano residents ¥3,500; junior- and senior-high students ¥2,000; elementary-age and younger free (a free seat ticket is required if the child uses a seat). Post-event archive streaming is also sold on teket (as of 2026-07-21; confirm current details before buying).
© Licht Philharmonic Project · © Midori Komai Orchestra Project (official promotional photo, used with permission)
OfficialUpcomingAn 800-capacity live house on the 10th floor of Hiroshima PARCO, a touring-band staple since 2001 in the Hondori shopping arcade.
2026/09/05 18:00 HiroshimaTicket price varies by show
© KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingA quirky Tokyo street festival born from a comic rakugo tale, where charcoal-grilled Pacific saury is served with sudachi citrus to long, happy queues.
2026/09/06 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingEvery September 7-9, the samurai town of Kakunodate fills with towering yama floats carrying warrior dolls by day; after dark comes the yamabuttsuke, when two floats that refuse to yield are rammed together in a thunderous, adrenaline-charged test of nerve.
2026/09/07 09:00 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 (Kikucha) · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingA three-week harvest food festival in Odori Park celebrating Hokkaido's bounty — fresh seafood, ramen, sweets, wine and local produce.
2026/09/11 10:00 SapporoFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingJapan's Munich-recognised Oktoberfest brings genuine German breweries, Bavarian food and oompah bands to Shiba Park beneath Tokyo Tower.
2026/09/11 11:00 TokyoPaid: entry plus a refundable glass deposit; food and beer charged on site.
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingThe birthplace of the giant 'sanshakudama', this Niigata shrine festival fires the world's largest fireworks shell — a four-shaku, 800kg behemoth.
2026/09/11 19:30 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingVietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2026 (Sep 12–13, Yokohama): pho, ao dai shows and water puppets on the bayfront, free — verified dates, venue and access.
2026/09/12 10:00 YokohamaFree
© Shizhao · CC BY-SA 2.5
OfficialUpcomingFor seven nights, around 500 food and game stalls line Hakozakigu's approach as a million visitors mark autumn's arrival — Fukuoka's great harvest festival.
2026/09/12 10:00 FukuokaFree
© Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingThe city's foreigner-friendly hub runs welcome events, language exchange salons, homestay visits and 'warm fellowship' gatherings where locals and internationals mingle.
2026/09/12 13:00 FukuokaFree
© N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAn underground live house and club beneath Tanukikoji, a pillar of Sapporo's scene hosting both touring bands and DJ nights.
2026/09/12 18:00 SapporoTicket/door price varies by live or club event
© Mugu-shisai · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAki Basho 2026 runs Sep 13–27 at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tickets go on sale Aug 8 — seat prices and how overseas fans can book, explained.
2026/09/13 08:30 TokyoTickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; traditional box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase through the official Japan Sumo Association site.
© Steve Cadman · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingDisney Halloween 2026 runs Sept 16 (Wed)–Oct 31 (Sat) at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea — the dates are official. Full costumes are allowed only Sept 15–30 and Oct 16–31 (not Oct 1–15). Dates, costume rules and ticket tips below.
2026/09/16 09:00 TokyoRequires a park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, varies by date); all Halloween entertainment is included.
© ELLusKa 86 · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingTeams haul massive wooden festival floats at full sprint through Kishiwada's streets in one of Japan's most thrilling matsuri.
2026/09/19 06:00 OsakaFree
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSome 600 people parade in full samurai costume through Aizuwakamatsu in a 'Lord's Procession' honouring the clan that made a famous last stand in Japan's last civil war.
2026/09/19 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Umako · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingAsia's biggest video-game expo celebrates its 30th edition with hands-on demos, cosplay and a record five-day run at Makuhari Messe.
2026/09/19 10:00 TokyoPublic-day ticket approx. ¥2,000–3,000 (advance)
© inf_supTJ · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingAsia's biggest gaming expo at Makuhari Messe, with hands-on demos of upcoming titles, cosplay and the latest hardware.
2026/09/19 10:00 TokyoPublic-day tickets sold in advance; business days are trade-only
© RuinDig/Yuki Uchida · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingHokuriku's biggest jazz event turns central Kanazawa into 200-plus free street performances across some 20 venues.
2026/09/19 11:00 KanazawaFree street performances; paid special concerts vary.
© Jovandavid · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingThe country's largest all-Japanese-artist rock festival fills a Chiba seaside park with 115 acts across five summer days.
2026/09/19 11:45 Tokyo1-day ¥16,000 / 5-day pass ¥55,000
© hildgrim · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingChiba's biggest street festival draws up to 800,000 visitors -- and in 2026 it moves from its traditional late-July weekend to September 19-20 because of record summer heat.
2026/09/19 13:00 Across JapanFree
© ヒタチギ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's flagship EDM festival turns Odaiba's waterfront into a two-night blaze of world-class DJs, lasers and pyrotechnics.
2026/09/19 14:00 Tokyo2-day pass approx. ¥30,000
© Martin Lewison · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingKumamoto's biggest autumn festival runs Sept 20-21, 2026: about 60 decorated parade horses and a twice-daily armored procession fill the streets, free to watch.
2026/09/20 06:00 Across JapanFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA biennial festival in the ancient capital, founded under Cannes-winning director Naomi Kawase, championing first- and second-time filmmakers across screenings set among Nara's temples and parks.
2026/09/20 10:00 NaraScreening tickets typically around 1,000-1,500 yen; some free outdoor and community programs.
© DimiTalen · CC0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest reptile and exotic-animal expo packs Tokyo Big Sight with geckos, snakes, frogs and the breeders who love them.
2026/09/20 10:00 TokyoAdults ¥1,400 advance / ¥1,600 door; elementary ¥700 advance / ¥800 door; preschoolers free.
© Vassil · CC0
OfficialUpcomingPet Haku Osaka 2026 runs Sep 21-23 at Intex Osaka. Ticket prices (advance vs door) and the exact rules for bringing your own pet, explained.
2026/09/21 10:00 OsakaAdults (junior-high+) ¥1,300 advance / ¥1,500 door; children (age 4-elementary) ¥700 advance / ¥800 door.
© Judgefloro · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest Indian festival fills Yoyogi Park with curry stalls, chai, sari shops, Bollywood dance and classical music — a two-day plunge into India in the heart of Tokyo.
2026/09/26 10:00 TokyoFree
© Nesnad · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe beachside successor to TAICOCLUB — a genre-spanning electronic festival in front of Izu's Shirahama Beach.
2026/09/26 11:00 Across JapanTickets ¥16,000–22,000; Under-23 ¥13,000 (accommodation separate)
© tenaciousme from Toronto, Canada · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingMatsue's castle and canals glow with lanterns every weekend from Sept 26-Oct 18, 2026, 18:00-21:00 -- a quiet, romantic alternative to Japan's big-city illuminations.
2026/09/26 18:00 Across JapanFree
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5
OfficialUpcomingAround 100 fishing boats escort three deities' mikoshi across the sea at this World Heritage shrine's grand autumn festival.
2026/10/01 09:00 FukuokaFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe Ueno Park edition of the free Caribbean-Latin street fair — Latin food, mojitos, salsa and reggae beside the fountain plaza in one of Tokyo's most famous parks.
2026/10/03 10:00 TokyoFree
© Ben P L from Provo, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingSeven towering floats, each carrying 300+ glowing red lanterns, parade through Fukushima nights to the beat of taiko in one of Japan's three great lantern festivals.
2026/10/03 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Nihonmatsuri · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA 380-year-old shrine festival blending Japanese, Chinese and Dutch flair — spinning dragon dances, whirling umbrella floats and roaring 'Motte-koi' chants.
2026/10/07 07:00 FukuokaFree
© Marine-Blue · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFor three days every October 8-10, Ainu elders at Lake Akan hold sacred kamuinomi prayers, a torchlit lakeside parade, and a ceremonial send-off of the marimo algae balls into the water - a tradition dating to 1950 that protects the lake's famous round colonies, a Japanese Special Natural Monument since 1952.
2026/10/08 10:00 Across JapanFree
© 663highland · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingUNESCO-listed Belgian beer culture lands in front of Kyoto's Higashi-Honganji temple — dozens of imported brews, frites, waffles and live music in an open-air city festival.
2026/10/08 12:00 KyotoFree
© Henxter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingEleven gilded Edo-era floats parade through old Takayama by day, then glow with 100+ lanterns at dusk in one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals.
2026/10/09 09:00 NagoyaFree
© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFourteen giant wooden floats, each topped by a towering doll of a legendary hero, are hauled through the canal-side 'Little Edo' streets of Sawara to lilting Sawara-bayashi music every autumn - October 9-11 in 2026 - in one of the Kanto region's three great float festivals, just a day-trip from Tokyo.
2026/10/09 10:00 Across JapanFree
© katorisi · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKonpira-san's biggest festival (Oct 9-11, 2026): once a year the mountain deity 'comes down' -- a ~600-strong procession carries the mikoshi 2km through Kotohira by torchlight.
2026/10/09 16:00 Across JapanFree
© Kanchi1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSome 33,000 round kochia bushes turn Miharashi Hill a blazing crimson each October, a fluffy red carpet rolling toward the Pacific Ocean.
2026/10/10 09:30 Across JapanAdults (high-school+) from ¥450; price rises during peak kochia season
© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions
OfficialUpcomingA free international food-and-culture fair at seaside Yamashita Park: 50+ stalls of global cuisine and world music and dance performances on stage.
2026/10/10 10:00 YokohamaFree
© Jason M. C., Han · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNagoya's biggest autumn party crowns Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in armor, leading a 600-strong procession from the station to Nagoya Castle.
2026/10/10 10:00 NagoyaFree
© Base64 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSaijo Sake Festival 2026 runs October 10–11 in Hiroshima's sake capital — Japan's largest sake-tasting event. Confirmed dates, 2025 reference ticket price, and access below.
2026/10/10 10:00 HiroshimaFestival free to enter; the 'Sake Plaza' tasting pass is paid
© OS6 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of the world's most respected boutique raves — a Funktion-One sound system in the Gunma mountains, lineup kept secret.
2026/10/10 12:00 Across Japan~¥23,000 (Under-28) to ¥29,000; includes camping
© photo: Qurren (talk) Taken with Canon PowerShot G9 X · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingIn a 340-year-old Nara ritual, shrine 'seko' wrangle wild stags with ropes inside a wooden arena before a Shinto priest saws off their autumn antlers.
2026/10/10 12:00 NaraAround ¥1,000 (adults)
© TR15336300101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJoin thousands pulling the world's largest straw rope through Naha in this Guinness-record Okinawan autumn festival.
2026/10/11 11:00 OkinawaFree
© Okimoto · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingTens of thousands grab a Guinness-record 200m rope and heave for 30 minutes in the middle of Naha's main road — Okinawa's most thunderous autumn spectacle.
2026/10/11 14:30 OkinawaFree
© Yuet Man Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's premier tech expo, where AI, robotics, mobility and IoT from hundreds of companies and startups go hands-on under one roof.
2026/10/13 10:00 TokyoFree
© Comyu · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingThree portable shrines are violently crashed together as seven ornate floats clash in Japan's most famous 'fighting festival.'
2026/10/14 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingFifty-four golden, 5.5-metre taiko-dai floats are hoisted by 150-strong crews in one of Shikoku's three great festivals.
2026/10/16 08:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingWalk ancient moss-covered pilgrimage paths through the forested Kii Mountains to sacred Kumano shrines, a UNESCO World Heritage route.
2026/10/17 08:00 Across JapanFree
© Subramaniam K V · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTacos, jerk chicken and mojitos meet salsa and reggae rhythms — a free, sun-soaked open-air fair celebrating Caribbean and Latin American culture along Yoyogi Park's avenue.
2026/10/17 10:00 TokyoFree
© KQuhen · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingIn Tokyo's 'Little Edo', towering tiered floats with revolving dolls roll past kurazukuri warehouses and clash in 'Hikkawase' flute-and-drum face-offs.
2026/10/17 10:00 TokyoFree
© 三塚 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingELLEGARDEN, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and Sambomaster headline a headland-side music festival on Miyako Island, Okinawa on October 17, 2026.
2026/10/17 11:00 OkinawaAdvance ¥9,000 / Door ¥10,000 (day-of sales only if not sold out) / Miyako Island resident student ticket ¥4,000 / children under elementary-school age free (up to 3 per guardian)
© Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest analog-game fair, where thousands of indie board, card and tabletop creators sell and demo their games over one weekend.
2026/10/17 11:00 TokyoAround ¥1,500 advance / ¥2,000 same-day (2026 reference; autumn fees TBA); elementary schoolers and younger free.
© Lance Cpl. David Hersey · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingOver 5 million LEDs transform the park into a glowing garden — a luminous wisteria tunnel, a great wisteria of light and reflective ponds rank it among Japan's top three illuminations.
2026/10/17 15:30 TokyoEvening admission around ¥1,400 (varies by light stage).
© Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe hairpin Irohazaka road climbs through a moving gradient of red and gold to Lake Chuzenji, where the 97-m Kegon Falls plunges past blazing maples.
2026/10/18 08:00 TokyoFree
© Christophe Robin · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest ramen festival gathers 36 famous shops from Hokkaido to Kyushu under one open-air roof in Komazawa Park — one steaming bowl at a time.
2026/10/22 10:00 TokyoFree
© Shisma · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA 2-km parade of 2,000 people in meticulously accurate costumes marches through 1,000 years of Kyoto history, from Heian nobles to Meiji revolutionaries.
2026/10/22 12:00 KyotoFree
© Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingMen in loincloths haul flaming 80-kg torches through a mountain village after dark in one of Kyoto's wildest, most primal night festivals.
2026/10/22 18:00 KyotoFree
© ja:User:Si-take. · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingHakata Okunchi 2026 (Oct 23–24) is Kushida Shrine's free autumn festival in Fukuoka — a 1,200-year harvest rite, famous for the Oct 24 ox-cart procession. Dates, schedule, access.
2026/10/23 10:00 FukuokaFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA laid-back eco-minded community fair in Yoyogi Park — organic food, world music, crafts and a mellow forest atmosphere that draws Tokyo's international and creative crowd.
2026/10/24 10:00 TokyoFree
© zannaland · CC BY-SA 2.0OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great 'fighting' festivals, where teams ram a giant drum-float and mikoshi together to a thundering 'ton-ten-ton' beat.
2026/10/24 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingHiroshima's biggest autumn food fair fills the grounds of Hiroshima Castle with okonomiyaki, oysters, lemons and gourmet stalls from every corner of the prefecture.
2026/10/24 10:00 HiroshimaFree
© EllieBellie25 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest cosplay event transforms Ikebukuro's Sunshine City into a sea of 20,000+ costumed fans, with stages, parades and city-wide photo spots.
2026/10/24 16:30 TokyoFree
© Solomon203 · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingYokohama's flagship full marathon starts at Landmark Tower and is the only domestic race that runs on the Bay Expressway.
2026/10/25 08:30 YokohamaFull marathon entry from around ¥18,500; spectating is free.
© Marc Antomattei · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAsia's premier competitive film festival returns for its 39th edition, taking over the Hibiya–Yurakucho–Ginza district with world premieres, red carpets and onstage Q&As with directors and stars.
2026/10/26 10:00 TokyoIndividual screening tickets typically around 1,500-2,000 yen; some open-air and free programs.
© Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcoming**The Saga International Balloon Fiesta 2026 runs Oct 30–Nov 3, 2026 on the banks of the Kase River in eastern Saga City, and it's completely free to watch.** Asia's largest sky-sports event fills the Kyushu sky with 100+ hot-air balloons, drawing over 800,000 visitors across five days.
2026/10/30 06:30 FukuokaFree
© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingKanda Curry Grand Prix 2026 is set for Oct 31-Nov 1, 2026, per the official site (checked Jul 2026; still marked provisional). Free entry -- about 20 finalist shops from Kanda's 400+ curry houses, and visitor voting crowns the champion.
2026/10/31 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAn all-night art festival turns Roppongi into an open-air gallery, with installations, performances and museums glowing from dusk till dawn.
2026/10/31 10:00 TokyoFree
© Nicolas1981 · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingOne of the Kanto region's largest illuminations blankets a hillside German-themed park in millions of lights, best seen from its observation wheel.
2026/10/31 16:00 Across JapanPaid: adults ¥1,500, children (age 4–elementary) ¥800; parking from ¥1,000.
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingNo official 2026 Halloween announcement from Shibuya City yet (as of July 2026) — details usually land in early October. Confirmed now: a year-round street-drinking ban (6PM–5AM) has covered Shibuya Station since Oct 2024, and 2023–2025 saw escalating crowd-control measures.
2026/10/31 18:00 TokyoFree
© Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThree costumed demons roam the streets of hillside Onomichi, tapping children with sticks to bring them good health.
2026/11/01 09:00 HiroshimaFree
© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOver 4,000 maples of 11 varieties set Aichi's Korankei gorge ablaze in crimson, with evening light-ups reflecting on the Tomoe River until 9 p.m.
2026/11/01 09:00 NagoyaFree
© Shubert Ciencia · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThe Yaeyama Islands' biggest festival fills central Ishigaki with a citizens' parade, island music and a closing fireworks display over the harbour town.
2026/11/01 11:00 OkinawaFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's only autumn geisha dance, staged by the geiko and maiko of the Gion Higashi district. Ten days of elegant kyomai dance under lanterns, accompanied by live shamisen and song — a refined seasonal highlight of Kyoto.
2026/11/01 13:30 Kyoto¥6,000 (viewing only); ¥7,000 with a tea ceremony. Two shows daily at 13:30 and 16:00.
© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest illumination floods a European-style canal town with millions of lights every night of the year across this Nagasaki resort.
2026/11/01 17:00 Across JapanPark admission ticket required (varies by plan)
© Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThe original Kagoshima Ohara Matsuri (Nov 2–3, 2026) fills Tenmonkan with 16,500+ dancers — not to be confused with Tokyo's May Shibuya version.
2026/11/02 18:50 Across JapanFree
© Sanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingFourteen colossal lacquered floats — golden lions, samurai helmets and dragons up to 7 m tall — are dragged through town and onto a beach where they sink in sand.
2026/11/02 19:30 FukuokaFree
© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOsaka's grand boulevard glows for winter as kilometres of ginkgo trees light up from Umeda to Namba in a record-setting display.
2026/11/03 17:00 OsakaFree
© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAt Tokyo's National Noh Theatre, watch the 650-year-old art of noh and its comic counterpart kyogen, including a piece performed by celebrated kyogen master Nomura Mansai. English subtitles appear on screens built into the seatbacks.
2026/11/06 18:30 TokyoFront-stage ¥5,800 / Side-stage ¥4,000 (students ¥2,800) / Middle-stage ¥3,500 (students ¥2,500).
© Yoshiyuki Ito · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOn November's rooster days, Asakusa's Otori Shrine fills with stalls selling glittering 'kumade' rakes meant to scoop up luck and fortune for the year ahead.
2026/11/07 10:00 TokyoFree
© Fuchu · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great fireworks competitions, where rival pyrotechnicians fire 20,000 shells over the Sakuragawa river to be crowned the nation's best.
2026/11/07 17:30 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingThe year's final grand sumo tournament fills Fukuoka Kokusai Center for 15 days of ring-entering ceremonies, salt-throwing and thunderous bouts of giants.
2026/11/08 08:30 FukuokaFrom ~¥3,800 (arena seats) to box seats
© davidgsteadman · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingTokyo Disneyland and DisneySea transform into glittering winter wonderlands for Disney Christmas — festive parades, nighttime sparkle and holiday-exclusive shows, food and merchandise at both parks.
2026/11/11 09:00 TokyoRequires a park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, varies by date); all Christmas entertainment is included.
© Emran Kassim · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest Spanish festival brings giant paella pans, flamenco, sevillanas contests and Iberian wine to Yoyogi Park for two passionate autumn days.
2026/11/14 10:00 TokyoFree
© Ruben Ortega · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingAsia's largest open-submission art fair fills Tokyo Big Sight with thousands of jury-free booths from independent creators of every conceivable medium.
2026/11/14 11:00 TokyoPaid: roughly ¥800–¥1,000 for a one-day pass (children free).
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingOver 6 million LEDs blanket a mountainside amusement park — ride a panoramic chairlift through a sea of light with the Ferris wheel and rides glowing under the stars.
2026/11/14 16:00 TokyoAdmission with illumination around ¥1,000–2,300 (varies; combo tickets available).
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's most celebrated maple temple glows after dark in autumn, its crimson leaves mirrored in a tranquil pond.
2026/11/14 17:30 KyotoEvening light-up admission around 600-700 yen
© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's Arashiyama bursts into crimson and gold each November, with mountain temples, a scenic train and bamboo groves.
2026/11/15 08:00 KyotoFree
© Takeshi Kuboki · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's earthquake-recovery marathon returns Nov 15, 2026 — 20,000 runners from Kobe City Hall out along the Akashi coast to a Harborland finish.
2026/11/15 09:00 OsakaMarathon ¥18,000 (Japan residents) / ¥24,200 (overseas entrants); 2-person relay ¥30,400
© Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingFrom late autumn, Tokyo's avenues glow: Roppongi's blue keyaki-zaka and Marunouchi's golden champagne lights dazzle nightly.
2026/11/15 17:00 TokyoFree
© Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest media, broadcast and pro-AV technology show—cameras, audio, lighting, XR and content tech under one roof.
2026/11/18 10:00 TokyoFree
© Joseph Breck & Sons; New England Agricultural Warehouse; Henry G. Gilbert N · No restrictions
OfficialUpcomingEvery god in Japan is said to gather at Izumo Taisha for Kamiari-zuki (Nov 9-Dec 8, 2026) -- the one shrine where the 'godless month' becomes the 'month with gods'.
2026/11/18 19:00 Across JapanFree
© senngokujidai4434 · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThe Tokyo chapter of the international MUTEK festival of electronic music and audiovisual art, held each November (dates TBA).
2026/11/19 12:00 TokyoPer-edition passes & single-show tickets (see official site)
© David Kernan · CC BY 4.0OfficialUpcoming**Tokyo Christmas Market 2026 at Jingu Gaien has not announced its dates yet — the 2025 edition ran Nov 21–Dec 25, and 2026 is expected to follow a similar late-Nov–Dec 25 run (watch tokyochristmas.net).** Held at Meiji Jingu Gaien in front of the Memorial Picture Gallery, it brings a ~14 m Christmas pyramid, wooden chalet stalls and warm glühwein in a keepsake mug; entry started from ¥1,000 (adults, weekdays) in 2025.
2026/11/21 11:00 TokyoTicketed entry — expected ~¥1,000 weekday / ~¥1,500 weekend, higher on peak days; 2026 prices to be confirmed at tokyochristmas.net (as of July 2026). Food, drinks and the souvenir glühwein mug cost extra.
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest German-style Christmas market: a glittering tree, wooden hutte stalls, mulled wine and bay-side lights by the historic red brick warehouses.
2026/11/21 11:00 YokohamaPaid timed entry (around ¥500–1,000 — check official site).
© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcoming**Sapporo White Illumination 2026 is expected to light up Odori Park from ~late November to December 25, 2026, with the Station-front and other sites glowing into February 2027 (pending the official announcement).** It's **free**, centred on Odori Park a step from **Odori Station**, and the warm, glowing heart of Sapporo's winter.
2026/11/21 16:30 SapporoFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingRamen Expo Osaka 2026 runs late Nov–Dec, ~60 shops, ~¥900/bowl. 2026 dates aren't out yet — 2025 ran Nov 22–Dec 30 in six acts, so expect a similar window.
2026/11/22 10:00 OsakaPark admission plus ramen tickets (typically around ¥900 per bowl).
© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFrom nightly hour-long showings at Takachiho Shrine to the free two-day, all-33-dance Yokagura Matsuri and month-long hamlet sessions each winter, Takachiho Yokagura is one of Kyushu's most accessible sacred night rituals -- a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property since 1978.
2026/11/22 18:00 Across JapanFree
© David Stanley · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingWild Japanese macaques bathe in a steaming mountain hot spring as snow falls around them — the world-famous 'snow monkeys' of Nagano, most iconic in winter.
2026/12/01 08:30 Across JapanPark admission around ¥800; the 'Snow Monkey Pass' (~¥3,500) bundles transport and entry.
© Daisuke tashiro from Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAt one of Japan's top hot-spring towns, kimono-clad locals cool the scalding spring water with long wooden paddles in time to folk songs — a centuries-old daily ritual at Netsunoyu.
2026/12/01 09:30 Across JapanAdults ¥700, elementary children ¥350
© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingChichibu Night Festival 2026 runs Dec 2 (Wed)–3 (Thu); the main night is Dec 3, when lantern-lit UNESCO floats are hauled up Dangozaka and winter fireworks fill the sky for about two hours. Free to attend; about 80 minutes from Ikebukuro — dates, venue and access below.
2026/12/02 14:00 TokyoFree
© Katorisi · CC BY 4.0OfficialUpcomingAn indoor winter edition of Belgian Beer Weekend in Shinjuku's airy Sankaku Hiroba — 60-plus Belgian beers, cheese-and-chocolate pairings and embassy chef dinners, warm and comfortable.
2026/12/02 16:00 TokyoFree
© Henxter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSix lantern-lit floats are hauled up steep Dango-zaka as winter fireworks burst overhead — one of Japan's three great float festivals and a UNESCO heritage event.
2026/12/03 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingA giant live fir tree and German cuisine light up Hisaya-odori Park in central Sakae for Nagoya's signature European winter market.
2026/12/04 16:00 NagoyaFree
© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThe 40th NAHA Marathon runs Dec 6, 2026: 30,000 runners cross 5 southern Okinawa towns on the Peace Memorial Park course to a finish in Naha.
2026/12/06 09:00 OkinawaEntry ¥11,000 (general) / ¥9,000 (ages 65+ and under 18); spectating along the course is free.
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5OfficialUpcomingTokyo Comic Con 2026 runs Dec 11-13 at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo. Hollywood guest signings, screen-used props and a huge cosplay scene, with paid single- and multi-day passes — verified access and photo/autograph booking tips.
2026/12/11 10:00 TokyoPaid: single-day and multi-day passes (prices vary by year).
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingA 890-year-old festival whose daytime parade marches costumes from the Heian through Edo eras through central Nara.
2026/12/15 09:00 NaraFree
© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingShueisha's free mega anime-and-manga festival packs Makuhari Messe with Shonen Jump stages, exclusive reveals, voice-actor events and rare merch.
2026/12/19 09:00 TokyoFree
© Jack145945 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingWind, snow and ice encase the alpine firs into surreal white 'snow monsters'; ride the ropeway up and see them glow under colored floodlights at night.
2026/12/26 17:00 Across JapanFree outdoors; Zao Ropeway round-trip fare (several thousand yen) to reach the summit juhyo.
© Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingWinter Comiket returns to Tokyo Big Sight for a rare 3-day run, Dec 29-31, 2026 — the first 3-day winter edition since C95 in December 2018.
2026/12/29 10:00 TokyoPaid wristband entry required for general visitors each day (exact price not yet announced). Circle (doujin seller) participation is by application, expected to open around August 2026.
© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's official free countdown lights up the Metropolitan Government Building with giant projection mapping, live acts and a midnight cheer in Shinjuku.
2026/12/31 22:00 TokyoFree
© Markus Leupold-Löwenthal · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSome two million Osakans cross the arched Sorihashi bridge to greet the year at 'Sumiyossan,' head shrine of Japan's 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines.
2026/12/31 22:00 OsakaFree
© Saigen Jiro · CC0
OfficialUpcomingSeventeen monks heave on ropes to toll Chion-in's 70-ton bell 108 times on New Year's Eve, each deep strike clearing a worldly desire.
2026/12/31 22:30 KyotoPaid viewing — advance reservation required (from 2025)
© Marianne North · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's head Inari shrine welcomes some 2.5 million New Year worshippers who pray for prosperity beneath endless tunnels of vermilion torii.
2026/12/31 23:00 KyotoFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly three million people stream through the towering torii to pray at Tokyo's grandest shrine in the first three days of the year.
2026/12/31 23:00 TokyoFree
© Nightcrafter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAround a million people pack Osaka's Imamiya Ebisu Shrine over January 9-11 to pray to 'Ebessan', the god of business prosperity - collecting a lucky fukuzasa bamboo branch from kimono-clad 'fuku-musume' maidens to the chant 'come with your bamboo for a thriving business'.
2027/01/09 09:00 OsakaFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingFamous as Japan's earliest-blooming plum grove, Atami Bairin opens its winter ume from early January with taiko, geisha dances and hot-spring charm.
2027/01/09 09:00 Across JapanModest garden admission during the festival (recent years a few hundred yen).
© Ogata Kōrin · Public domain
OfficialUpcoming**The Grand Sumo Hatsu Basho 2027 runs January 10–24, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo** — the New Year tournament that opens the sumo calendar. It runs 15 straight days (Sun→Sun); **tickets are required** (buy via the official English site). Arrive by ~14:00–15:00 for the top-division bouts, which always finish by ~18:00.
2027/01/10 08:00 TokyoTickets required (no free entry). Prices vary by day and seat tier; 2027 prices are released with the tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp. As a rough guide (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki ~¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes ~¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair seats from ~¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ~¥11,000+ (SS). On-sale is typically 5–8 weeks before — check the official site for the exact 2027 date.
© Creazilla · CC0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's wildest custom-car show, where 300,000 fans crowd in for tuned machines, concept builds and motorsport glamour.
2027/01/15 09:00 TokyoAdvance digital ticket only, around ¥3,000 (weekend day); preschoolers free with an adult.
© Vincent van Gogh · Public domainOfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great fire festivals: villagers defend a giant wooden shrine with blazing torches as attackers try to set it alight in a wild snowbound battle.
2027/01/15 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingIn a Daisetsuzan gorge, ice domes and towers fill a riverside field, lit nightly in shifting colors with weekend fireworks over the snow.
2027/01/23 13:00 Across JapanCooperation fee around ¥500 (junior-high+); free for younger children.
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcoming**Kobe Luminarie 2027 runs Jan 29 (Fri) – Feb 7 (Sun), 2027** — the 32nd edition. You can see the light arches **free from the surrounding streets**; the special **paid zones at Meriken Park** need a ticket (advance ¥500 weekday / ¥750 weekend, as of July 2026). All three venues are walkable from Sannomiya Station.
2027/01/29 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Yoyogimura · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSculptors spray the clear blue waters of Lake Shikotsu onto frames to build towering turquoise ice domes and tunnels, glowing in jewel tones after dark.
2027/01/30 10:00 SapporoDonation around ¥500 (high-school age+); free for younger children.
© Inlet Masu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's most famous Setsubun rite, where a masked exorcist drives off blue, red and yellow demons in an ancient court ceremony, ringed by 800 food stalls.
2027/02/02 18:00 KyotoFree
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0OfficialUpcomingSumo wrestlers and celebrity 'lucky men' hurl tonnes of beans from Naritasan's great hall, where the chant is only 'fortune in' — no demons to expel.
2027/02/03 11:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSapporo Snow Festival 2027: confirmed Feb 4–11 dates, the three free sites (Odori, Susukino, Tsudome), and how to get there from New Chitose Airport.
2027/02/04 10:00 SapporoFree
© Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore (U.S. Navy) · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingHokkaido's second-biggest snow fest pairs colossal stage-sized snow sculptures by the Ishikari River with an international ice-carving championship.
2027/02/05 09:00 SapporoFree
© 京浜にけ · CC BY 3.0OfficialUpcomingNagasaki Lantern Festival 2027's official dates: Feb 5–21 (17 days), free to view. ~15,000 red Chinese lanterns and giant zodiac lantern objects light central Nagasaki nightly from 17:00–22:00, with a daily dragon dance and parades.
2027/02/05 17:00 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingJapan's earliest cherry blossoms: about 850 vivid pink Kawazu-zakura line a 4km stretch of the Kawazu River in Izu, blooming a month before Tokyo's sakura.
2027/02/06 09:00 Across JapanFree
© Kirin7739 · CC0
OfficialUpcomingWestern Japan's biggest international cooperation festival: NGO booths, world food stalls and global music fill the Umeda Sky Building, free to all.
2027/02/06 10:00 OsakaFree
© Satdeep Gill · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOtaru's historic canal and old rail line glow with thousands of hand-lit snow lanterns and floating candles for eight winter nights.
2027/02/06 17:00 SapporoFree
© 欅 (Keyaki) · CC BY-SA 3.0![Wonder Festival 2027 [Winter]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpub-0f4e7c05fe4645118224685565717085.r2.dev%2Fevent%2F16c304784892bf53.jpg&w=1280&q=75&dpl=dpl_CRXnPUZvy1tZE6GKhxY2gTu1VMm3)
OfficialUpcomingThe world's biggest garage-kit and figure fair fills Makuhari Messe with thousands of hand-built model figures sold for one day only by amateur and pro sculptors.
2027/02/07 10:00 TokyoAdmission ticket required (~¥2,000–2,500); 'one-day license' allows licensed-figure sales.
© Albert C. Beckwith, Peter K. Graichen · CC0OfficialUpcomingDemon-masked 'namahage' brandishing torches stampede down a snowy mountainside at Shinzan Shrine in a fierce, firelit Oga winter spectacle.
2027/02/12 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly 3,000 plum trees in over 60 varieties scent one of Japan's Three Great Gardens, drawing crowds for taiko, tea ceremony and geisha dances.
2027/02/13 08:00 Across JapanInner garden ~¥300 for non-residents; festival grounds largely free.
© Etwas Neues · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingHundreds of candlelit snow igloos glow across Yokote while children inside invite passersby in for sweet sake — plus 4,000 mini-kamakura lighting the riverbed.
2027/02/15 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Rarisan · CC0
OfficialUpcomingEvery February 17-20, dozens of Enburi troupes dance through Hachinohe in tall black eboshi hats to summon an early spring and good harvest - a roughly 800-year-old rite tracing to the Kamakura era, now a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
2027/02/17 07:00 Across JapanFree
© Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThousands of loincloth-clad men pack a freezing temple hall at midnight, surging to seize two sacred shingi sticks flung into the throng — one of Japan's wildest rites.
2027/02/20 22:00 Across JapanFree
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainOfficialUpcomingKyoto Marathon 2027 runs Feb 21, sending 16,000 runners past Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji and five more UNESCO sites before finishing at Heian-jingu Shrine.
2027/02/21 09:00 KyotoMarathon entry ¥18,500 (Kyoto residents) / ¥19,500 (other domestic) / ¥35,000 (overseas); pair-ekiden ¥34,000/pair; wheelchair race ¥3,000. Spectating is free.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0OfficialUpcomingOsaka Marathon 2027 is set for Sunday, 28 February 2027. Entry is confirmed and open: the general field runs 28 July - 28 August 2026 (lottery, cap 28,420). Here's what's confirmed, how the lottery works, the ¥16,000 fee and the Osaka Castle finish.
2027/02/28 09:00 OsakaPaid, lottery entry; the full-marathon fee is around ¥16,000 (spectating is free).
© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOn March 3 across Japan, families display tiered hina dolls of the Heian court to wish for girls' health, amid peach blossoms and sweet hishi-mochi.
2027/03/03 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo Marathon 2027 runs March 7: entry fee, the Aug 14–28 lottery window, the course, and how overseas runners enter via lottery, charity, or tour packages.
2027/03/07 09:10 TokyoFree
© nakashi from Chofu, Tokyo, JAPAN · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's leading art fair, spanning antiques to cutting-edge contemporary across 150-plus galleries in the heart of Marunouchi.
2027/03/12 11:00 TokyoPaid admission ticket (around ¥3,000 in recent editions); the day before public opening is an invitation-only preview.
© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcoming**The 2027 Grand Sumo Haru Basho (Spring Tournament) runs March 14–28, 2027 at EDION Arena Osaka (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium), about a 5-minute walk from Namba.** It is the only one of the six annual tournaments held in Osaka — 15 straight days of top-division sumo, Sunday to Sunday.
2027/03/14 08:30 OsakaApproximate 2026 prices; 2027 prices are released with each tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp (as of July 2026). Rough per-person ranges: ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000; masu-seki tatami boxes around ¥9,000–15,000 by tier and day; Western chair seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (SS). A limited number of same-day chair seats (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the box office each morning, first-come, if seats remain.
© No machine-readable author provided. Peter 111 assumed (based on copyright claim · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingThe world's largest women-only marathon, where every finisher is handed a Baccarat crystal tumbler by a tuxedoed attendant at the Nagoya Dome.
2027/03/14 09:10 NagoyaPaid, lottery entry (spectating is free).
© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingA 700m 'sakura tunnel' of 260-plus cherry trees arches over the Imperial Palace moat, best seen by rowboat or under evening illumination.
2027/03/25 TokyoFree
© Manish Prabhune · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingF1 returns to legendary Suzuka — the figure-eight circuit drivers and fans rate among the greatest in the world.
2027/03/26 09:00 NagoyaThree-day tickets vary by grandstand; general admission is the most affordable
© Pksois23 · CC0
OfficialUpcomingOver 1,000 cherry trees frame the brilliant white 'White Heron' castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in one of Japan's most picture-perfect hanami scenes.
2027/03/27 OsakaFree
© Seattleite7 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAround 30,000 cherry trees in 200 varieties blanket a sacred mountainside, blooming in waves up four zones from Shimo to Oku Senbon.
2027/03/27 NaraFree
© Tawashi2006 · CC BY 2.1 jpOfficialUpcomingThe world's largest anime expo leaves Tokyo for the first time and brings its public days to Intex Osaka.
2027/03/27 10:00 OsakaPaid admission; ticket prices for the 2027 Osaka edition to be announced on the official site.
© Jack145945 · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingJapan's hot-spring capital throws its biggest party of the year — a fire festival on Mount Ogi, free baths across the city and a mikoshi parade thanking the springs.
2027/04/01 11:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKofu's streets fill with roughly 1,500 armour-clad marchers and around 30 horses re-enacting the Koshu army's departure for battle - a Guinness World Record 'largest gathering of people dressed as samurai,' held on the first weekend of April.
2027/04/02 12:00 Across JapanFree
© 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingThirteen three-tiered floats with karakuri puppets parade below Inuyama Castle, glowing with lanterns under the cherry blossoms.
2027/04/03 09:00 NagoyaFree
© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingA major indoor EDM festival (past headliners include Swedish House Mafia and Marshmello), confirmed for April 2027 at Saitama Super Arena.
2027/04/03 11:00 TokyoTickets & lineup TBA on the official site
© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's earliest big fireworks of the year — around 10,000 shells choreographed to live music over the East China Sea off Ginowan.
2027/04/10 18:30 OkinawaTicketed reserved seating in tiers; a free viewing area is also available. Exact 2027 date confirmed in winter.
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingTwelve ornate Edo-era yatai floats with karakuri puppets parade through old Takayama, glowing with around 100 lanterns each at the night festival.
2027/04/14 09:00 NagoyaFree
© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0OfficialUpcomingFounded by footballer Hidetoshi Nakata, this open-air festival pours around 130 regional breweries' sake in the heart of Roppongi each spring.
2027/04/16 11:00 TokyoPaid: a starter set buys a glass plus tasting tokens; extra tokens sold on site.
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingTokyo's biggest environmental festival fills Yoyogi Park with eco-food stalls, live music and 300+ booths — zero-waste, English-friendly and free to wander.
2027/04/17 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingKYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 (Apr 17–May 16): Kyoto's international photography festival shows world-class work in temples and machiya across the city. Confirmed dates, venues, Passport tickets.
2027/04/17 10:00 KyotoPer-venue tickets or an all-venue Passport; some programs are free.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOn the night of April 19, hundreds of near-naked men carry a giant drum on a tall wooden tower through Hida-Furukawa while rival neighborhood teams charge in to plant their small drums against it - the wild Okoshi-daiko, heart of a UNESCO-listed festival that also parades nine ornate floats on the 20th.
2027/04/19 09:00 Across JapanFree
© teru · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingAround 2,600 cherry trees encircle Hirosaki Castle's moats, famous for petal-carpeted 'flower rafts' and dazzling nighttime illuminations.
2027/04/23 09:00 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA beloved open-air house & techno festival held over Golden Week on a hilltop in Higashi-Izu (next edition dates TBA).
2027/05/01 10:00 Across JapanMulti-tier passes plus camping/parking (see official site)
© 要塞騎士 · CC0OfficialUpcomingThree 12-metre, 20-ton wooden floats — among Japan's largest — are hauled through Nanao's narrow streets.
2027/05/03 09:00 KanazawaFree
© Jovandavid · Public DomainOfficialUpcomingGiant kites duel over the Nakatajima dunes by day; by night, illuminated palace-style floats and brass bands fill downtown Hamamatsu.
2027/05/03 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's biggest festivals: around 2 million people watch 750-plus troupes parade with shamoji clappers, flower floats and stage shows over May 3–4.
2027/05/03 10:00 FukuokaFree
© フェレス · CC BY-SA 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcoming**The Grand Sumo Natsu Basho (Summer Tournament) runs May 9–23, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo** — a 15-day honbasho, Sunday to Sunday, and one of only three Tokyo tournaments each year. Tickets sell via the official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket; arrive around 14:00–15:00 for the top division (the day ends by ~18:00).
2027/05/09 08:30 TokyoTickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase via the official Japan Sumo Association ticket site.
© Gregg Tavares · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great festivals returns in full force: mikoshi processions fill Kanda, Nihonbashi and Akihabara in this 2027 honmatsuri year.
2027/05/15 08:00 TokyoFree
© Jose Fernando from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingA two-stage open-air house/techno/bass festival with camping in the Kyoto countryside (next edition dates TBA).
2027/05/15 10:00 KyotoAdvance standing ~¥9,000–10,000; group packs; camping/parking extra
© Oilstreet · CC BY 2.5
OfficialUpcomingA 1,400-year-old imperial procession of 500 people in Heian-era robes winds 8km through Kyoto, oxen and ox-carts adorned with hollyhock leaves.
2027/05/15 10:30 KyotoFree
© Marie-Sophie Mejan · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOsaka's Den Den Town shuts its main street for one of Japan's largest cosplay parades, where thousands of costumed fans flood the otaku district.
2027/05/16 11:00 OsakaFree
© Jason Riedy · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingNikko Toshogu's Spring Grand Festival returns May 17-18, 2027: yabusame archery and a 1,200-person samurai procession reenacting Ieyasu's journey to Nikko.
2027/05/17 09:00 TokyoFree
© Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Hokuriku's three great festivals: six towering 6-metre warrior floats crowned with giant musha-ningyo figures are hauled through old port-town streets.
2027/05/19 08:00 KanazawaFree
© Jonathan Mercieca · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingSome 400 lilac trees burst into bloom in Odori Park, with a lilac wine garden and outdoor music marking the start of the northern spring.
2027/05/19 10:00 SapporoFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest indie game festival fills Kyoto's Miyako Messe with playable booths from developers worldwide.
2027/05/21 10:00 KyotoTicketed (around ¥2,000+ per day, 2026 reference); Day 1 is business-only.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAsakusa's wildest weekend returns in 2027: roughly 100 mikoshi and two million visitors expected to pack the streets around Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine.
2027/05/21 11:00 TokyoFree
© Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingHundreds of riders in full samurai armour thunder across Fukushima's coast for armoured horse races and a wild scramble to catch sacred flags shot into the sky.
2027/05/29 09:00 Across JapanThe main-day grounds (Hibarigahara) are ticketed for grandstand seating; street processions are free to watch. Exact 2027 dates (last weekend of May) confirmed in advance.
© Hajime NAKANO · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingKanazawa's grandest festival reenacts feudal lord Maeda Toshiie's triumphant entry into the castle, with a costumed warrior procession, tea ceremonies and lantern-lit dances.
2027/06/04 09:00 KanazawaFree
© Z3144228 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOsaka's Aizen Matsuri (fixed every Jun 30–Jul 2) just wrapped its 2026 run — here's what happened, and the reliable placeholder for 2027.
2027/06/30 10:00 OsakaFree
© Ogiyoshisan · Public domain
OfficialUpcoming**The 2027 Grand Sumo Nagoya Basho runs July 11–25, 2027 at IG Arena (IGアリーナ), Nagoya's new arena that opened in July 2025.** It's a 15-day tournament; the top-division bouts run each afternoon and always finish by about 6:00pm. Tickets go on sale roughly 5–8 weeks ahead via the official English site.
2027/07/11 08:00 NagoyaPaid, ticketed. Prices are set per tournament; 2027 figures are released with the Nagoya basho. For scale (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000 per person; masu-seki tatami boxes about ¥9,000–15,000 per person by tier and day; chair (isu-seki) seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (SS). Confirm the exact 2027 prices on sumo.or.jp.
© elmimmo · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingFor five days every July 31-August 4, 27 towering, gold-leafed floats and three shrines' mikoshi processions fill Hachinohe's streets - a 300-year-old harvest-thanksgiving festival and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that draws over a million visitors.
2027/07/31 18:00 Across JapanFree
© 8-Forest · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingHeld in full only in even-numbered years, Hie Shrine's grand procession sends a 500-strong parade of courtly costumes and portable shrines on a ten-hour route past the Imperial Palace and Ginza.
2028/06/08 07:30 TokyoFree
© Vetalapancavimsatika · CC BY-SA 4.0
