OfficialThis weekend© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0Karatsu Kunchi 2026 runs Mon 2 – Wed 4 November. The highlight is the Nov 3 Otabisho Shinko, when 14 floats are hauled onto the sand at Nishinohama. Free to watch; two floats turn 180 this year.
Mon, Nov 2, 2026 19:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialThis weekend© Fuchu · CC BY-SA 4.0Asakusa's Tori-no-Ichi 2026 is on Saturday, November 7 and Thursday, November 19 — no third rooster day. Otori Shrine and Chokokuji in Senzoku, 0:00–24:00 each day, 7 minutes from Iriya Station (official sites, checked 2026-10-13).
Sat, Nov 7, 2026 TokyoFree
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.
Wed, Dec 2, 2026 14:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 06:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Wed, Oct 7, 2026 07:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 09:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.'
Wed, Oct 14, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0Jidai Matsuri 2026 is Thursday, October 22: about 2,000 people in period costume leave the Kyoto Imperial Palace at noon and reach Heian Jingu around 14:30. Free from the roadside; paid seats from ¥5,000. Rain date: Oct 23.
Thu, Oct 22, 2026 12:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© ja:User:Si-take. · CC BY-SA 3.0Thursday, October 22, 2026: torches are lit at 6pm and the festival runs past midnight around Yuki Shrine in Kurama village. Free to watch. Cars are barred from 3pm, so take the Eizan Railway — the last train back from Kurama leaves at 23:24 (checked 2026-10-13).
Thu, Oct 22, 2026 18:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Fri, Oct 23, 2026 10:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© トンテン (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0Imari Tonten-ton Festival 2026 runs Fri Oct 23 to Sun Oct 25 in central Imari, Saga. The finale river plunge is scheduled for 5:32pm on Oct 25 (official route map). Free to watch; checked 2026-10-13.
Fri, Oct 23, 2026 17:00 JST Across JapanFree