CALENDAR
Everything ahead, grouped by month.
OfficialOn now© Douggers · Public DomainA 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.
OfficialOn now© Momopy~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0USJ'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.
OfficialOn now© Mr.henry yanayah · CC BY-SA 4.0USJ 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.
OfficialOn now© Matryokeshi · CC BY-SA 3.0Hello 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.
OfficialOn now© Cabeza2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0The 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).
OfficialOn now© Choi2451 · CC BY-SA 3.0Known 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
OfficialOn now© Momopy~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0USJ'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.
OfficialOn now© Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan'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.
OfficialOn now© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0A 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
OfficialOn now© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Japan'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.
OfficialOn now© Steve Cadman · CC BY-SA 2.0Aki 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.
OfficialOn now© ELLusKa 86 · Public domainDisney 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.
OfficialOn now© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0Kitakyushu's biggest summer festival sends massive 'Wasshoi' dance parades and mikoshi through Kokura, capped by fireworks.
2026/09/19 09:00 FukuokaFree
OfficialOn now© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0Teams 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
OfficialOn now© Umako · Public domainSome 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
OfficialOn now© inf_supTJ · Public domainAsia'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)
OfficialOn now© RuinDig/Yuki Uchida · CC BY 4.0Asia'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
OfficialOn now© Jovandavid · Public DomainKanazawa Jazz Street 2026 runs 19-21 September, with a reception live on the 18th: 200-plus mostly free street sets across about 20 spots in central Kanazawa, plus ticketed special concerts.
2026/09/19 11:00 KanazawaFree street performances; paid special concerts vary.
OfficialOn now© hildgrim · CC BY-SA 2.0The 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
OfficialOn now© ヒタチギ · CC BY-SA 4.0Chiba'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
OfficialOn now© Martin Lewison · CC BY-SA 2.0Japan'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
OfficialThis weekend© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0Kumamoto'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
OfficialThis weekend© DimiTalen · CC0A 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.
OfficialThis weekend© Vassil · CC0Japan'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.
OfficialThis weekend© Judgefloro · CC BY-SA 4.0Pet 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.
OfficialThis weekend© Nesnad · CC BY 4.0Japan'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
OfficialThis weekend© tenaciousme from Toronto, Canada · CC BY 2.0The 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)
OfficialThis weekend© 663highland · CC BY 2.5Matsue'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
OfficialUpcoming© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0Around 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
OfficialUpcoming© Ben P L from Provo, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0The 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
OfficialUpcoming© Nihonmatsuri · CC BY 4.0Seven 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
OfficialUpcoming© Marine-Blue · CC BY-SA 3.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 3.0Marimo Festival 2026 runs 8–10 October at Lake Akan, Hokkaido. Every ceremony is free to watch: Ainu elders open with kamuinomi prayers, a torchlit parade winds along the lake on the second night, and on the final morning the marimo are carried by dugout canoe back into the water — a rite held every year since 1950 to protect a Special Natural Monument.
2026/10/08 10:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Henxter · CC BY-SA 4.0UNESCO-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
OfficialUpcoming© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0Eleven 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
OfficialUpcoming© katorisi · CC BY 3.0Fourteen 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
OfficialUpcoming© Kanchi1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0Konpira-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
OfficialUpcoming© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictionsSome 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jason M. C., Han · CC BY-SA 4.0World Festa Yokohama is a free food-and-culture fair at Yamashita Park - 50-plus world-cuisine stalls and stage acts. Yokohama listings put 2026 on 10-11 October; the organiser had not posted dates as of 4 Sep 2026.
2026/10/10 10:00 YokohamaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Base64 · CC BY-SA 3.0Nagoya'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
OfficialUpcoming© OS6 · CC BY-SA 3.0Saijo 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
OfficialUpcoming© photo: Qurren (talk) Taken with Canon PowerShot G9 X · CC BY-SA 3.0One 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
OfficialUpcoming© Okimoto · Public DomainJoin thousands pulling the world's largest straw rope through Naha in this Guinness-record Okinawan autumn festival.
2026/10/11 11:00 OkinawaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Yuet Man Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0Tens 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
OfficialUpcoming© Comyu · CC BY-SA 3.0Japan'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
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Three 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
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Fifty-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
OfficialUpcoming© Subramaniam K V · CC BY 3.0Walk 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
OfficialUpcoming© KQuhen · CC BY-SA 4.0Tacos, 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
OfficialUpcoming© 三塚 · CC BY-SA 4.0In 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
OfficialUpcoming© Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0ELLEGARDEN, 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)
OfficialUpcoming© Lance Cpl. David Hersey · Public domainJapan'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0Over 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Christophe Robin · CC BY-SA 2.0The 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
OfficialUpcoming© Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© ja:User:Si-take. · CC BY-SA 3.0Men 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
OfficialUpcoming© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0Hakata 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
OfficialUpcoming© zannaland · CC BY-SA 2.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0One 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
OfficialUpcoming© EllieBellie25 · CC BY-SA 4.0Hiroshima'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
OfficialUpcoming© Solomon203 · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan'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
OfficialUpcoming© Marc Antomattei · CC BY-SA 4.0Yokohama'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0Asia'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0**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
OfficialUpcoming© Shisma · CC BY 4.0Tokyo Ramen Festa 2026 runs for five days, October 30 (Fri) to November 3 (Tue, holiday), at Komazawa Olympic Park's Central Plaza in Tokyo. Entry is free; ramen costs ¥1,100 (tax incl.) per bowl, paid by ticket.
2026/10/30 11:00 TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Kanda Curry Grand Prix 2026 (the 14th final) runs Saturday Oct 31 and Sunday Nov 1, 2026 at Ogawa Hiroba, Kanda, Tokyo. The organizer's official site now lists the venue, curry hours (Oct 31 11:00–19:00, Nov 1 11:00–17:00) and the voting deadline (Nov 1, 16:00), still marked 開催予定 (planned) — checked 13 September 2026. Free entry; curry sold per dish. Shop list not yet announced.
2026/10/31 10:00 TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Nicolas1981 · CC BY-SA 3.0An 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
OfficialUpcoming© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainOne 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 2.0No 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
OfficialUpcoming© TR15336300101 · CC BY-SA 4.0Dates for Nara's 2026 deer antler-cutting ceremony had not been announced as of September 18, 2026. It is usually held in October, but in 2025 it was scheduled for November 8–9, and the November 9 session was cancelled due to weather.
2026/11/01 NaraSame-day tickets only: adults (junior high and up) ¥1,000, children (elementary) ¥500 (2025 rates)
OfficialUpcoming© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0Three costumed demons roam the streets of hillside Onomichi, tapping children with sticks to bring them good health.
2026/11/01 09:00 HiroshimaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Shubert Ciencia · CC BY 2.0Over 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
OfficialUpcoming© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0Kyoto'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0Japan'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)
OfficialUpcoming© Sanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0The 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
OfficialUpcoming© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0Fourteen 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
OfficialUpcoming© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0Osaka'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
OfficialUpcoming© Yoshiyuki Ito · CC BY-SA 3.0At 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0The Yaeyama Islands' biggest festival fills central Ishigaki with a citizens' parade, island music and a closing fireworks display over the harbour town.
2026/11/07 OkinawaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Fuchu · CC BY-SA 4.0On 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
OfficialUpcoming© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainOne 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
OfficialUpcoming© davidgsteadman · Public domainThe 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
OfficialUpcoming© C2revenge · CC BY-SA 4.0Every 10 November, Otonashi Shrine in Ito (Shizuoka) hosts a famously odd festival: a 'bottom sumo' contest where contestants bump hips to festival music. 2026: Tue 10 Nov, 18:30–21:00.
2026/11/10 18:30 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Emran Kassim · CC BY 2.0Tokyo 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Ruben Ortega · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan'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
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Asia'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).
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Over 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0Kyoto'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
OfficialUpcoming© Takeshi Kuboki · CC BY 2.0Kyoto's Arashiyama bursts into crimson and gold each November, with mountain temples, a scenic train and bamboo groves.
2026/11/15 08:00 KyotoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan'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 (Fees per the official race guidelines, as of September 18, 2026.)
OfficialUpcoming© Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0From 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
OfficialUpcoming© Joseph Breck & Sons;
New England Agricultural Warehouse;
Henry G. Gilbert N · No restrictionsJapan'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
OfficialUpcoming© senngokujidai4434 · CC BY 2.0Izumo Taisha's Kamiari-sai 2026 runs from the Kamimukae welcoming rite at 19:00 on Wednesday, November 18 to the Karasade send-off rite at 16:00 on Wednesday, November 25.
2026/11/18 19:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© David Kernan · CC BY 4.0The 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)
OfficialUpcoming© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0**Sapporo White Illumination 2026 (46th edition) opens on Thursday 19 November 2026.** Odori stays lit to 24 December, Ekimae-dori to 10 February 2027, and Minami-1-jo-dori, Akapla and the Station South Exit plaza to 13 March 2027. Free to view, with a new Nakajima Park venue added for 2026.
2026/11/19 16:30 SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0For 2026 the market moves to Shin-Toyosu (20 Nov–25 Dec) plus Shiba Park (4–25 Dec) — not Jingu Gaien. Official dates, hours and addresses.
2026/11/20 16:00 Tokyoチケットの価格・販売開始日は未発表（公式が決定次第告知）。
OfficialUpcoming© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0Official: 21 Nov – 30 Dec 2026 at Expo '70 Commemorative Park, across 6 sessions. 10 shops per session, 60 total. Free admission (park fee ¥450).
2026/11/21 11:00 Osaka入場無料。別途、万博記念公園・自然文化園・日本庭園の共通入園料（高校生以上450円・小中学生無料）が必要。ラーメンはチケット制。
OfficialUpcoming© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 3.0Japan'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).
OfficialUpcoming© David Stanley · CC BY 2.0From 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
OfficialUpcoming© Daisuke tashiro from Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0Wild 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0At 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
OfficialUpcoming© Katorisi · CC BY 4.0Chichibu 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
OfficialUpcoming© Henxter · CC BY-SA 4.0An 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
OfficialUpcoming© Wikimedia Commons · Public domainSix 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
OfficialUpcoming© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2026 dates have not been announced yet (checked 4 September 2026). Nagoya's German-style Christmas market last ran 5–25 December 2025 at Hisaya-odori Park in central Sakae — free to enter, with a giant live fir tree and German food and crafts. Tokai Television and Chunichi Shimbun organise it, and each edition's dates are published on tokai-tv.com/xmasmarket.
2026/12/04 16:00 NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY 2.5The 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Chad Davis · CC BY 2.0COMITIA 158 runs on Sunday 13 December 2026, 11:00–16:00, at Tokyo Big Sight East Halls 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Entry is by catalog — Tia's Magazine 158, ¥1,400 in advance or ¥1,500 on the day, free for under-12s. 6,000 circle slots. (Official COMITIA site, as of 8 September 2026.)
2026/12/13 11:00 TokyoThe catalog, Tia's Magazine 158, is your entry pass: ¥1,400 in bookshops in advance, ¥1,500 at the venue. Free for under-12s. The catalog goes on sale 15 November 2026. (Official COMITIA site, as of 8 September 2026.)
OfficialUpcoming© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0A 890-year-old festival whose daytime parade marches costumes from the Heian through Edo eras through central Nara.
2026/12/15 09:00 NaraFree
OfficialUpcoming© Jack145945 · CC BY-SA 4.0Shueisha'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
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Ito's winter fireworks over the seafront: Sat 19 Dec 2026, 20:30–21:00 at Nagisa Park, paired with the Winter Yosakoi Sozura dance festival and the ITO MARCHE stalls. 10 min walk from JR Ito Station.
2026/12/19 16:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0Wind, 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0Winter 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Markus Leupold-Löwenthal · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo'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
OfficialUpcoming© Saigen Jiro · CC0Some 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
OfficialUpcoming© Marianne North · Public domainSeventeen 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)
OfficialUpcoming© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0Kyoto'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
OfficialUpcoming© Nightcrafter · CC BY-SA 4.0Roughly 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
OfficialUpcoming© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0Around 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
OfficialUpcoming© Ogata Kōrin · Public domainFamous 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Creazilla · CC0**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.
OfficialUpcoming© Vincent van Gogh · Public domainJapan'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0One 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
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0A flat seaside fun-run in Ito, Shizuoka: Sun 17 Jan 2027, starting and finishing at Ito Orange Beach with 2 km, 5 km and 10 km courses plus a family category. About 2,500 runners; 15 min walk from JR Ito Station.
2027/01/17 08:00 Across JapanEntry fees vary by distance; 2027 fees and the entry window were not yet posted when checked (see Ito City's official page). Free to watch.
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0The 52nd Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival runs 23 January to 7 March 2027 (official). In 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 Across JapanThe cooperation fee for 2027 (52nd edition) has not been announced as of 2026-09-18. For the 51st edition in 2026 it was ¥1,000, with the site open 17:00–21:30 on weekdays and 11:00–21:30 at weekends and on holidays (last entry 21:15).
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Ito's once-a-year bargain market: Sat 23 Jan 2027 9:00–16:00 and Sun 24 Jan 9:00–15:00 at Matsukawa Fuji-no-Hiroba, selling Izu seafood, dried fish and farm produce at 'ridiculous' prices. 10 min walk from JR Ito Station.
2027/01/23 09:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Yoyogimura · CC BY-SA 4.0Kobe 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
OfficialUpcoming© Inlet Masu · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2027 Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival runs 30 January to 23 February, open 10:00–20:00 (official). Sculptors 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 SapporoAdmission (cooperation fee): ¥1,000 for junior-high age and over on weekdays, ¥3,000 at weekends and on public holidays; free for elementary-school children and younger (official, as of 2026-09-18)
OfficialUpcoming© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0Kyoto'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
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Sumo 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
OfficialUpcoming© Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore (U.S. Navy) · Public domainSapporo 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
OfficialUpcoming© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainNagasaki 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
OfficialUpcoming© 欅 (Keyaki) · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2027 edition runs 6–13 February (Otaru Tourism Association, announced 9 June 2026). Otaru'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 SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© 京浜にけ · CC BY 3.0The 68th Asahikawa Winter Festival runs 6–11 February 2027 (official). Hokkaido's second-biggest snow fest pairs colossal stage-sized snow sculptures by the Ishikari River with an international ice-carving championship.
2027/02/06 SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Kirin7739 · CC0Dates for the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival 2027 had not been announced as of September 18, 2026. The 2026 edition (the 36th) ran February 7 to March 8, a 3-minute walk from Kawazu Station in Izu.
2027/02/06 09:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Satdeep Gill · CC BY-SA 4.0Western 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
![Wonder Festival 2027 [Winter]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpub-0f4e7c05fe4645118224685565717085.r2.dev%2Fevent%2F16c304784892bf53.jpg&w=1280&q=75&dpl=dpl_BSsTJVd8yHRs9X3eqr8CFhv2qbbB)
OfficialUpcoming© Albert C. Beckwith, Peter K. Graichen · CC0The 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Rarisan · CC0Hundreds of candlelit snow igloos glow across Yokote while children inside invite passersby in for sweet sake — plus 4,000 mini-kamakura lighting the riverbed.
2027/02/12 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Demon-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
OfficialUpcoming© Etwas Neues · CC BY-SA 3.0Roughly 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Immanuelle · CC BY 4.0Every February the whole of Mount Omuro (580 m) above Izu Kogen is set alight. 2027: Sunday 14 February (planned) — ten signal fireworks at noon, then about 40 minutes of flames racing to the summit. Rain or wind pushes it to the next week.
2027/02/14 12:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Every 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
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Ito's annual All-Japan Pillow Fight Championship at the Ito Municipal Gymnasium. The tourist association's calendar lists Sat 20 – Sun 21 Feb 2027, but the 15th edition's official guidelines are not yet published (as of 2026-09-13). From the 14th edition's official rulebook: eight per team (general, libero, three attackers, three support), three 2-minute sets, yukata compulsory, entry fee 5,000 yen per team.
2027/02/20 09:00 Across JapanEntry for the open division was 5,000 yen per team including accident insurance (14th edition guidelines). The fee for the 15th edition has not been announced. The defending champions enter free.
OfficialUpcoming© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainThousands 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0Kyoto Marathon 2027 runs on Sunday, February 21, 2027, starting at Takebishi Stadium Kyoto in Nishikyogoku at 9:00 a.m. and finishing in front of Heian-jingu Shrine, with a field of 16,000.
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. (Fees per the official race guidelines, as of September 18, 2026.)
OfficialUpcoming© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0Osaka Marathon 2027 runs on Sunday 28 February 2027. General entry closes at 17:00 on 28 August 2026 and lottery results are emailed on 28 September. The ¥16,000 fee is not the final bill — an admin charge and a compulsory charity donation take it to about ¥18,000. Caps, eligibility and race-number collection, straight from the race guidelines.
2027/02/28 09:00 OsakaAn individual general entry costs ¥16,000 in Japan / US$145 from overseas. On top of the entry fee you must also pay an administration charge (6.0% of the settled amount for domestic entries) and a compulsory charity donation of at least two units (¥500 each in Japan), so a domestic individual entry actually comes to roughly ¥18,000. Watching from the roadside is free. (Race guidelines, as of 16 August 2026.)
OfficialUpcoming© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 3.0On 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
OfficialUpcoming© nakashi from Chofu, Tokyo, JAPAN · CC BY-SA 2.0Tokyo 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
OfficialUpcoming© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan'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.
OfficialUpcoming© No machine-readable author provided. Peter 111 assumed (based on copyright claim · CC BY-SA 3.0**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.
OfficialUpcoming© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0The 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).
OfficialUpcoming© Manish Prabhune · CC BY 2.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© Pksois23 · CC0F1 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
OfficialUpcoming© Seattleite7 · CC BY-SA 4.0Over 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
OfficialUpcoming© Tawashi2006 · CC BY 2.1 jpAround 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jack145945 · CC BY-SA 4.0The 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Japan'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
OfficialUpcoming© 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) · CC BY-SA 4.0The 53rd Shingen-ko Festival is expected in Kofu in April 2027, but the exact dates are still unannounced as of September 2026. Casting is set: actor Maki Miya as Takeda Shingen — only the third woman in the role — and opera singer Kohei Yamamoto as Yamamoto Kansuke.
2027/04/02 12:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0Dates for Inuyama Festival 2027 had not been announced as of September 18, 2026. The festival falls on the first Saturday and Sunday of April, which points to April 3-4, 2027.
2027/04/03 08:00 NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0One 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.
OfficialUpcoming© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0Twelve 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
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Founded 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo'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
OfficialUpcoming© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0KYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 runs 17 April to 16 May 2027, its 15th edition. The dates are confirmed on the official site; the theme, artist line-up, venue list and 2027 ticket prices are not yet announced. For reference, the 2026 all-venue Passport was ¥5,500 in advance (¥3,000 for students) and single-venue tickets ran ¥800–¥1,500, with under-15s free.
2027/04/17 10:00 Kyoto2027 prices are not yet announced (as of September 2026). For reference, the 2026 edition priced the all-venue Passport at ¥5,500 in advance and ¥5,800 online / ¥6,000 paper during the festival, with a ¥3,000 student Passport; single-venue tickets ran ¥800–¥1,500 (student ¥400–¥800), an Express Passport was ¥15,000, and children under 15 entered free. Some programmes are free.
OfficialUpcoming© teru · Public domainOn 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
OfficialUpcoming© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Around 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
OfficialUpcoming© 要塞騎士 · CC0A 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)
OfficialUpcoming© Jovandavid · Public DomainThree 12-metre, 20-ton wooden floats — among Japan's largest — are hauled through Nanao's narrow streets.
2027/05/03 09:00 KanazawaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0Giant 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
OfficialUpcoming© フェレス · CC BY-SA 2.1 jpOne 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
OfficialUpcoming© Gregg Tavares · CC BY 2.0The 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0Sanja Matsuri 2027 had no announced dates as of September 18, 2026. Asakusa Shrine runs it on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday anchored on the third Saturday of May, which points to May 14-16, 2027.
2027/05/14 13:00 TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Jose Fernando from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0One 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
OfficialUpcoming© Oilstreet · CC BY 2.5A 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
OfficialUpcoming© Marie-Sophie Mejan · CC BY 4.0A 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jason Riedy · CC BY 2.0Osaka'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
OfficialUpcoming© Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0Nikko 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jonathan Mercieca · CC BY-SA 4.0One 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
OfficialUpcoming© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Some 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
OfficialUpcoming© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0Japan'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.
OfficialUpcoming© Hajime NAKANO · CC BY 2.0Hundreds 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.
OfficialUpcoming© Z3144228 · CC BY-SA 4.0Kanazawa'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
OfficialUpcoming© Ogiyoshisan · Public domainOsaka'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
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Held on the Matsukawa in Ito, Shizuoka since 1956: competitors sit in a one-metre washtub and paddle 400 m from Ideyu Bridge to Fuji-no-Hiroba with a paddle shaped like a rice scoop. The 2026 race was on Sunday 5 July; the 2027 date is not yet announced (as of 2026-09-13).
2027/07/04 09:00 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© elmimmo · CC BY 2.0The 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.
OfficialUpcoming© 8-Forest · CC BY-SA 4.0For 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
