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.
Until Thu, Dec 31, 2026 18:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialOn now© Shubert Ciencia · CC BY 2.0The 71st Korankei Momiji Festival runs November 1–30, 2026 in Asuke, Toyota City. The maples are lit up nightly from sunset to 9 p.m.; walking is free, parking is paid. Checked 2026-10-13.
Until Mon, Nov 30, 2026 21:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialOn now© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0Midosuji Illumination 2026 runs Tuesday 3 November to Thursday 31 December, lit every night from about 17:00 to 25:00 (1am) along 4 km of Midosuji from Umeda to Namba. No ticket needed; the lighting ceremony is on 23 November.
Until Thu, Dec 31, 2026 23:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialOn now© Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0In 2026, Roppongi Keyakizaka is lit 5 Nov–25 Dec, 17:00–22:00, and Marunouchi Naka-dori 12 Nov 2026–14 Feb 2027. Both are lit 12 Nov–25 Dec.
Until Sun, Feb 14, 2027 09:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialOn now© 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.
Until Sun, Nov 8, 2026 23:59 JST OkinawaFree
OfficialOn now© 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).
Until Thu, Nov 19, 2026 23:59 JST TokyoFree
OfficialThis weekend© 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.
Tue, Nov 10, 2026 18:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialThis weekend© Martin Falbisoner (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0The Umeda Sky Building Christmas Market 2026 runs 13 November–25 December in Wonder Square, the building's ground-floor plaza in Osaka, with stalls open 12:00–22:00 and free entry. The 25 m tree's light show starts at 18:00 in November and 17:00 in December; the limited mug costs ¥900.
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 12:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialThis weekend© 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.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
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.
Sun, Nov 15, 2026 08:00 JST KyotoFree
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.
Wed, Nov 18, 2026 10:00 JST 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.
Wed, Nov 18, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Sapporo White Illumination 2026 (46th edition) opens on Friday 20 November 2026. Odori stays lit to 25 December, Ekimae-dori to 11 February 2027, and Minami-1-jo-dori, Akapla and the Station South Exit plaza to 14 March 2027. Free to view, with a new Nakajima Park venue added for 2026.
Fri, Nov 20, 2026 16:30 JST SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© David Stanley · CC BY 2.0The 2026 Takachiho Yokagura Matsuri is free: Nov 22 (Sun) from 6 PM and Nov 23 (Mon, holiday) from 10 AM, all 33 dances in Takachiho Shrine's kagura hall. The nightly kagura runs 8-9 PM for ¥1,000. The 2026-27 village schedule was not yet posted as of Oct 13 (last season ran Nov 15, 2025 to Feb 7, 2026).
Sun, Nov 22, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0Tokyo Midtown Christmas 2026 runs November 26 to December 25, lit 17:00–23:00 in the Midtown Garden in Roppongi, and the illumination is free. The soap bubbles end December 20, the Path of Light stays until February 23, and the ice rink opens December 5 (checked 2026-10-14).
Thu, Nov 26, 2026 17:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© 掬茶 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0Hakodate Christmas Fantasy 2026 runs December 1–25 on the harbour in front of Hakodate's Red Brick Warehouses, free to enter, with fireworks every evening at 18:00. The 2026 lighting hours are not announced yet (as of 2026-10-13); in 2025 the tree was lit 16:30–17:45 and 18:00–22:00.
Tue, Dec 1, 2026 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
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
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.
Wed, Dec 2, 2026 16:00 JST 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.
Thu, Dec 3, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0The 2026 dates are not announced yet (checked 13 October 2026). The 2025 market ran 5–25 December at Hisaya-odori Park in Sakae, Nagoya: free entry, open 16:00–21:00 on weekdays and 11:00–21:00 at weekends.
Fri, Dec 4, 2026 16:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0OSAKA Hikari Renaissance 2026 runs 11–25 December around Osaka City Hall and Nakanoshima Park. The Central Public Hall projection mapping plays 17:30–21:30 (last show 21:20), free and in any weather; the City Hall façade and tree-lined street are lit 3 Nov–31 Dec, 17:00–25:00. Checked 2026-10-14.
Fri, Dec 11, 2026 16:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri 2026 runs December 15 (Tue) to 18 (Fri) at Kasuga Taisha, Nara. The highlight, the Owatari-shiki costume procession, leaves the Nara Prefectural Office at noon on Dec 17 and is free to watch from the street. Full day-by-day times from the shrine's official schedule, plus access.
Tue, Dec 15, 2026 13:00 JST 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.
Sat, Dec 19, 2026 09:00 JST 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.
Sat, Dec 19, 2026 16:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Thu, Dec 31, 2026 22:00 JST 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.
Thu, Dec 31, 2026 22:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0Fushimi Inari hatsumode 2027: entry free, New Year rite at 6:00 on 1 January; press and guide sites say the grounds are open around the clock. The car park closes 30 Dec-6 Jan; take JR to Inari or Keihan to Fushimi-Inari.
Thu, Dec 31, 2026 23:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Nightcrafter · CC BY-SA 4.0Meiji Jingu stays open all night from New Year's Eve; Jan 1 is 0:00–18:30 (previous 2025–26 official hours). Free, 1 min from Harajuku Station. 2026–27 hours not yet announced.
Thu, Dec 31, 2026 23:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Kestrel · CC BY-SA 4.0Hatsumode 2027 at Kawasaki Daishi: the New Year traditionally opens with the 0:00 goma rite on 1 January. Nearby roads close to cars at set hours on 1-3 Jan, so take the Keikyu Daishi Line; entry is free.
Fri, Jan 1, 2027Free
OfficialUpcoming© Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0The New Year Greeting at Tokyo's Imperial Palace is held every 2 January, a Saturday in 2027. In 2026 visitors entered via the Main Gate (Nijubashi) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m., free and without registration, for five balcony appearances.
Sat, Jan 2, 2027 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'.
Sat, Jan 9, 2027 09:00 JST OsakaFree
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.
Sat, Jan 23, 2027 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© 名古屋太郎 · CC BY-SA 4.0Wakakusa Yamayaki 2027 is on Saturday 23 January 2027 in Nara Park: fireworks at 6:15 pm, then the whole of Mt. Wakakusa is lit at 6:30 pm. Watching from the park lawns is free; paid-area ticket prices will be announced in early November (checked 2026-10-13). No rain date.
Sat, Jan 23, 2027 17:00 JST NaraFree
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.
Fri, Jan 29, 2027 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Tue, Feb 2, 2027 18:00 JST 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.
Wed, Feb 3, 2027 11:00 JST 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.
Thu, Feb 4, 2027 10:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialUpcoming© ぱちょぴ · CC BY-SA 3.0Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2027 runs Fri 5 – Sun 21 February (17 days) and is free to view. The Emperor's Parade is on Sat 13 & Sat 20 Feb, the Mazu Procession on Sun 7 & Sun 14 Feb, and the dragon dance runs daily, with ~15,000 Chinese lanterns across central Nagasaki.
Fri, Feb 5, 2027 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.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 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.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 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.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 09:00 JST 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.
Sat, Feb 6, 2027 10:00 JST OsakaFree
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.
Fri, Feb 12, 2027 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.
Fri, Feb 12, 2027 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Sun, Feb 14, 2027 12:00 JST 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.
Wed, Feb 17, 2027 07:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Sat, Feb 20, 2027 22:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Wed, Mar 3, 2027 Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© nakashi from Chofu, Tokyo, JAPAN · CC BY-SA 2.0Tokyo Marathon 2027 is Sunday, March 7, 2027: a 9:10 a.m. start at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and a finish on Gyoko-dori by Tokyo Station. The runner ballot results went out by Sept 18; what is still open is volunteering — Global Volunteers apply Nov 4–23 (JST). Checked 2026-10-14.
Sun, Mar 7, 2027 09:10 JST TokyoFree
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.
Thu, Mar 25, 2027 TokyoFree
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.
Sat, Mar 27, 2027 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.
Sat, Mar 27, 2027 NaraFree
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.
Thu, Apr 1, 2027 11:00 JST 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.
Fri, Apr 2, 2027 12:00 JST 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.
Sat, Apr 3, 2027 08:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Suikotei · CC BY-SA 4.0Kanamara Matsuri 2027 is expected on Sunday 4 April 2027, the first Sunday of April, at Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki; official dates are not yet announced (checked 11 Oct 2026).
Sun, Apr 4, 2027 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Wed, Apr 14, 2027 09:00 JST NagoyaFree
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.
Fri, Apr 16, 2027 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Sat, Apr 17, 2027 10:00 JST TokyoFree
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.
Mon, Apr 19, 2027 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Jovandavid · Public DomainThree 12-metre, 20-ton wooden floats — among Japan's largest — are hauled through Nanao's narrow streets.
Mon, May 3, 2027 09:00 JST 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.
Mon, May 3, 2027 10:00 JST 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.
Mon, May 3, 2027 10:00 JST FukuokaFree
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.
Fri, May 14, 2027 13:00 JST 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.
Sat, May 15, 2027 08:00 JST TokyoFree
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.
Sat, May 15, 2027 10:30 JST 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.
Sun, May 16, 2027 11:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0Nikko Toshogu's Spring Grand Festival (Nikko City, Tochigi) is held every year on May 17-18 -- a fixed date because it is a Shinto rite -- which in 2027 falls on Mon May 17 and Tue May 18. Usually, yabusame mounted archery starts at 1pm on the 17th on the Omotesando approach, and the Hyakumono-zoroi Sennin Musha Gyoretsu, a procession of over 1,200 people in 53 roles, sets off at 11am on the 18th for the Otabisho. Watching is free. Confirm the 2027 times on toshogu.jp before you go.
Mon, May 17, 2027 09:00 JST 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.
Wed, May 19, 2027 08:00 JST 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.
Wed, May 19, 2027 10:00 JST SapporoFree
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.
Fri, Jun 4, 2027 09:00 JST 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.
Wed, Jun 30, 2027 10:00 JST 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).
Sun, Jul 4, 2027 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
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.
Sat, Jul 31, 2027 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0Ito's largest festival honours William Adams (Miura Anjin): lantern floating on the Matsukawa, a taiko battle, then the sea fireworks on 10 August, the city's founding day. 2027 (81st) dates are not yet announced — this page will update.
Sun, Aug 8, 2027 19:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Vetalapancavimsatika · CC BY-SA 4.0Held 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.
Thu, Jun 8, 2028 07:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Jan Schoepe · CC0Naha's vibrant 'kitchen': vivid Okinawan reef fish, pork and produce downstairs, then a 'mochiagari' service cooks your picks at the upstairs eateries.
Open year-round OkinawaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Makoragi · CC BY 4.0Free sake museum in Kobe's Nada Gogo district inside a Taisho-era brewhouse, with life-size displays and tastings.
Open year-round OsakaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© BradBeattie · CC BY-SA 3.0Hakata's oldest 400 m covered arcade with 130+ shops, eateries and the famous Kawabata zenzai red-bean sweet.
Open year-round FukuokaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Ssemmanda will · CC BY-SA 4.0Nara's famous mochi shop where two artisans pound steaming mugwort rice at blinding speed, then hand you a warm, soft yomogi mochi filled with red bean.
Open year-round NaraFree
OfficialOpen year-round© shankar s. from Poona (pune), India, India · CC BY 2.0660 hectares where ~1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and lawns, bowing for shika-senbei crackers — a National Natural Monument.
Open year-round NaraFree
OfficialOpen year-round© pelican from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0Sapporo's 125-year-old fish market in the heart of downtown: crab legs, sea-urchin, salmon roe and steaming kaisen-don bowls from morning to early evening.
Open year-round SapporoFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Xander Ashburn · CC BY 2.0Osaka's otaku mecca — over 150 shops of anime, games, electronics and figures, with cosplayers spilling onto neon-lit Ota Road.
Open year-round OsakaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© EllieBellie25 · CC BY-SA 4.0A whole building stacked with 23 okonomiyaki stalls: watch chefs layer cabbage, noodles and egg on sizzling teppan in Hiroshima's soul-food theme park.
Open year-round HiroshimaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© AUSH baowHAO 260088 · CC0Kanazawa's 300-year-old kitchen: ~170 stalls of Sea of Japan crab, sweet shrimp and just-sliced sashimi rice bowls under one covered arcade.
Open year-round KanazawaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Hanlu Cao · CC BY-SA 3.0A 106-hectare green expanse around Osaka Castle, ringed by moats and stone walls — 300 cherry trees, 1,200 plums, lawns and concerts year-round.
Open year-round OsakaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Nick-D · CC BY-SA 4.0Nagoya's most eclectic arcade — 1,200 shops mixing a 400-year temple town with vintage clothing, street food and otaku culture.
Open year-round NagoyaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Hirho · CC BY-SA 4.0Kyushu's only official Pokemon store, two minutes from Hakata Station, stocking 2,500+ items including Fukuoka-themed exclusives.
Open year-round FukuokaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA · CC BY 2.0Pokémon Center Osaka DX sits on 9F of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building, open 10:00–20:00 (official, checked 2026-10-11), with an underground link from Shinsaibashi Station Exit 4. The adjoining Pokémon Cafe OSAKA is reservation-only: 90-minute seatings, last orders 19:00.
Open year-round OsakaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Manish Prabhune · CC BY 2.0Atmospheric postwar alley by Shinjuku's west exit packed with ~60 yakitori, motsu-yaki and gyoza eateries.
Open year-round TokyoFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Angelo DeSantis from Berkeley, US · CC BY 2.0Tokyo's vast wholesale fish market with tuna auctions, viewing decks and fresh-sushi restaurants open to visitors.
Open year-round TokyoFree
OfficialOpen year-round© PattayaPatrol · CC BY-SA 4.0Dubbed 'Hakata's Kitchen,' this century-old covered alley packs 40-plus stalls of glistening Genkai-sea fish, fugu, and pickles that pro chefs swear by.
Open year-round FukuokaFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Stephen Kelly from San Francisco, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0Retro Shitamachi shopping street near Ueno lined with food stalls, wagashi sweets, croquettes and old-Tokyo charm.
Open year-round TokyoFree
OfficialOpen year-round© Wpcpey · CC BY-SA 4.0Yebisu beer's birthplace at Yebisu Garden Place, with a museum, guided tours and a tasting taproom.
Open year-round TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© kimubert · CC BY 2.0Glowing arches of hundreds of thousands of lights fill Kobe each winter, a moving memorial turned beloved festival.
Fri, Jan 23, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 名古屋太郎 · CC BY-SA 4.0Each January, fireworks burst over Nara before the entire grass-covered Mt. Wakakusa is set ablaze in a spectacular winter ritual.
Sat, Jan 24, 2026 17:30 JST NaraFree
OfficialPast event© Kinori · Public DomainHokkaido's winter wonderland: giant snow and ice sculptures fill Odori Park, drawing over two million visitors each February.
Wed, Feb 4, 2026 10:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© tab2_dawa · CC BY 2.0One of Japan's three great gardens glows after dark in seasonal light-up events, from snowy yukitsuri ropes to autumn-leaf reflections.
Fri, Feb 6, 2026 17:30 JST KanazawaFree
OfficialPast event© Diego Molla · CC BY-SA 3.0Otaru's historic canal and old streets glow with thousands of candles in snow lanterns, a quiet, romantic counterpoint to Sapporo's snow festival.
Fri, Feb 13, 2026 17:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© 雷太 · CC BY 2.0A UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, nestled in a mountain valley that turns magical under snow.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0Monks brandish giant flaming torches along Todaiji's Nigatsudo balcony each March, showering sparks over the crowd in a 1,200-year-old rite.
Thu, Mar 12, 2026 19:00 JST NaraFree
OfficialPast event© Stephane D'Alu · CC BY-SA 3.0One of Tokyo's most famous hanami spots: 1,000 cherry trees line Ueno Park's central path in a pink canopy each spring.
Wed, Mar 25, 2026 09:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 3.0Hundreds of cherry trees arch over the Meguro River, and at night pink paper lanterns turn the canal into a dream.
Thu, Mar 26, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© United States Embassy in Japan · Public domainJapan's largest LGBTQ+ celebration fills Yoyogi Park with a parade, live stages, food and a vibrant, welcoming community.
Sat, Apr 25, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Banzai Hiroaki · CC BY 2.0Okinawa's Golden Week dragon-boat festival packs Naha's port with thundering paddle races, music stages and fireworks over the harbor.
Sun, May 3, 2026 09:00 JST OkinawaFree
OfficialPast event© Taisyo · CC BY 3.0A vibrant Golden Week celebration along Peace Boulevard, with flower parades, yosakoi dancing, music stages and a giant flower tower.
Sun, May 3, 2026 09:30 JST HiroshimaFree
OfficialPast event© Jose Fernando from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0One of Tokyo's three great festivals: hundreds of portable shrines parade through Akihabara and the old Edo districts.
Sat, May 9, 2026 08:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Torsodog · CC BY-SA 3.0Asakusa's wildest weekend: nearly 100 portable shrines and two million people flood the streets around Senso-ji Temple.
Fri, May 15, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Danko Georgiev · CC BY-SA 3.0A grand samurai procession reenacts a feudal lord's entry into Kanazawa, complete with armor, geisha and lantern-lit floats.
Fri, Jun 5, 2026 14:00 JST KanazawaFree
OfficialPast event© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0Hiroshima's beloved summer kickoff: locals don yukata and fill the downtown streets for three festive nights.
Fri, Jun 5, 2026 16:00 JST HiroshimaFree
OfficialPast event© OKJaguar · CC BY-SA 4.0Sapporo erupts in color as thousands of dancers perform high-energy yosakoi routines through the streets each June.
Wed, Jun 10, 2026 10:00 JST SapporoFree
connpassPast event© 東京-山梨 AI ミートアップ · via connpassLearn how Xserver rolled out the Claude Code AI assistant while balancing security and remote-work efficiency.
Sun, Jun 21, 2026 13:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 音声系国際会議読み会 (ICASSPEECH) · via connpassA hybrid paper-reading session on ICASSP 2026 machine-learning research—speech synthesis, recognition, and voice conversion—open to all.
Mon, Jun 22, 2026 18:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 株式会社マネーフォワード · via connpassAn evening on real-world HR data and AI, with People Analytics talks and group discussions among practitioners.
Mon, Jun 22, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 株式会社ナレッジワーク · via connpassThree expert sessions on vector search, embeddings, and RAG-driven AI chat, high atop Azabudai Hills.
Tue, Jun 23, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Akosygin · Public DomainDive into otaku heaven: multi-floor anime stores, retro arcades, maid cafes and gachapon as far as the eye can see.
Wed, Jun 24, 2026 12:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 株式会社スペースデータ · via connpassNVIDIA and industry experts explore how digital twins power autonomous decisions in disaster prevention and urban infrastructure.
Wed, Jun 24, 2026 16:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© freee Tech Night · via connpassfreee engineers explain disposable per-PR preview environments that tame microservice complexity in the AI-coding era.
Wed, Jun 24, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Syced · CC0Tokyo's food paradise: graze on fresh sushi, tamagoyaki and seafood at the historic Tsukiji Outer Market.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 08:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Maplestrip · CC BY 3.0The flagship Pokemon store in Ikebukuro, packed with exclusive plush, seasonal merch and a giant Pikachu welcoming fans.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Syced · CC0Wander Japan's largest Chinatown for steaming nikuman, xiaolongbao and panda sweets among ornate gates and red lanterns.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 11:00 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© Matthide127 · CC0Yokohama's glittering bayfront at night — ride the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and stroll the illuminated waterfront promenade.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 17:00 JST YokohamaFree
connpassPast event© ファインディ株式会社 · via connpassFindy celebrates its DevRel offline community with lightning talks on the trajectories of sharing knowledge.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 18:30 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© クリエイター広場 · via connpassFrontier practitioners explore AI tools, autonomous agents, code quality, and engineering careers in the AI era.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 株式会社サイバーエージェント · via connpassCyberAgent engineers share Databricks migration stories, analytics democratization with Genie, and secure platform design.
Thu, Jun 25, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Mitchwandrew · CC BY 4.0Walk a luminous path through towering bamboo in Kyoto's Arashiyama, where filtered light and rustling stalks feel otherworldly.
Fri, Jun 26, 2026 07:00 JST KyotoFree
connpassPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A full-day deep dive into DNS operations, from fundamentals to advanced authoritative and resolver topics.
Fri, Jun 26, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
LumaPast event© City Green · via LumaA free open-air music night at SUNSET PARK CLUB — good sound, green vibes and an easy crowd.
Fri, Jun 26, 2026 18:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0One of Japan's most sacred shrines, set in a tranquil ancient forest in Nagoya and home to the legendary Kusanagi sword.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 09:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Rob Young · CC BY 2.0Tokyo's favorite escape: an easy, scenic mountain just an hour from Shinjuku, with temples, trails and a cable car.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 09:00 JST TokyoFree
LumaPast event© Isheba Cornwall · via LumaA free, easygoing gathering for book lovers to read together and swap summer recommendations.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© サポーターズCoLab（株式会社サポーターズ） · via connpassA summer-festival tech conference on 'AI and Career' with ~20 speakers, for engineers under 35.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 12:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0A retro shopping complex packed with vintage manga, rare figures, idol goods and Tokyo's famous towering soft-serve ice cream.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 12:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 東京Ruby会議13実行委員会 · via connpassA Ruby community conference on 'what lies behind the curtain,' with talks from sorah, Masayoshi Takahashi and more.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026 13:30 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© 一般社団法人リサーチアソシエーション · via connpassJapan's conference on design and UX research, themed 'WEAVING,' with sessions, panels and workshops.
Sun, Jun 28, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0A historic waterfront landmark hosting seasonal events year-round — Christmas markets, an ice rink, beer festivals and bay views.
Sun, Jun 28, 2026 11:00 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© Brett Fagan · CC0Kobe's waterfront glitters after dark — the red Port Tower, illuminated promenade and bay views make for a relaxed romantic evening.
Sun, Jun 28, 2026 17:00 JST Across JapanFree
connpassPast event© 日本MySQLユーザ会(MyNA) · via connpassOracle leaders and AWS reps discuss MySQL's latest features and the future of community collaboration.
Tue, Jun 30, 2026 18:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Sergiy Galyonkin · CC BY-SA 2.0Kyoto's most atmospheric nightlife lane — a narrow lantern-lit alley of riverside restaurants, sake bars and traditional teahouses.
Wed, Jul 1, 2026 18:00 JST KyotoFree
connpassPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Dive into Tokyo's booming AI scene at recurring meetups covering LLMs, ML research and applied data science.
Wed, Jul 1, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0One of the Kanto region's largest Tanabata festivals, where central Hiratsuka disappears beneath giant, gaudy bamboo streamers up to ten metres tall.
Fri, Jul 3, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© ajari · CC BY 2.0Explore Kanazawa's gold-leaf workshops, colorful Kutani porcelain and the preserved Higashi Chaya geisha district.
Fri, Jul 3, 2026 10:00 JST KanazawaFree
LumaPast event© Mira Musette · via LumaA free pop-up of paper ephemera and collage at Design Festa Gallery Harajuku — browse, shop, make.
Fri, Jul 3, 2026 10:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0The summer edition of Earth Garden turns Yoyogi Park into a festive evening night-market — lanterns, world music, beer and global street food after dark.
Fri, Jul 3, 2026 15:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© Server-Side Kotlin Meetup · via connpassAn offline lightning-talk night for server-side Kotlin developers, capped with a casual networking reception.
Fri, Jul 3, 2026 19:30 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© ステラコネクト-ハーモリウム- · via connpassA hands-on Fukuoka meetup to try 'vibe coding' with AI tools like Codex and Claude—build small apps from natural-language prompts together.
Sat, Jul 4, 2026 17:00 JST FukuokaFree
LumaPast event© 宇田川寛和｜TIB JAM · via LumaA free idea-pitching and networking event for builders and founders, hosted at Tama Mirai Messe.
Sun, Jul 5, 2026 14:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0Yokohama's historic waterfront warehouses host seasonal festivals — Oktoberfest, flower garden, ice rink and food fairs.
Mon, Jul 6, 2026 11:00 JST YokohamaFree
connpassPast event© 株式会社タイミー · via connpassA Timee case-study session on business strategy and design challenges—how product design and designers' roles evolve in the AI era.
Mon, Jul 6, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
MeetupPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A friendly, long-running monthly meetup for iOS and Swift developers in Tokyo — talks in English, all levels welcome.
Tue, Jul 7, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Nesnad · CC BY 4.0German beer festivals tour Japan's cities each year with imported brews, sausages and live oompah bands.
Wed, Jul 8, 2026 12:00 JST Across JapanFree
connpassPast event© Nutanix Japan G.K. · via connpassA hybrid meetup celebrating the new book 'Nutanix Cloud Platform Practical Guide,' with chapter walkthroughs from its authors.
Wed, Jul 8, 2026 18:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Benford Choi · CC BY-SA 3.0Rolling purple lavender fields perfume the Hokkaido hills at Japan's most iconic flower farm, framed by distant snow-capped peaks.
Fri, Jul 10, 2026 08:30 JST SapporoFree
JmtyPast event© pickle · via jmtyA free, all-ages pickleball gathering near Odo Station bringing students, staff and locals together to play and connect across generations.
Sun, Jul 12, 2026 10:00 JST KyotoFree
connpassPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A relaxed, beginner-welcome security meetup blending quiet self-study time with lightning talks—for anyone curious but intimidated by hardcore sessions.
Sun, Jul 12, 2026 13:00 JST TokyoFree
JmtyPast event© こまつな／江戸川ベースnappa · via jmtyA free, family-friendly Sunday gathering in Edogawa where kids and adults play, sing and connect across English and Japanese—no experience needed.
Sun, Jul 12, 2026 15:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© PattayaPatrol · CC BY-SA 4.0Over 30,000 golden lanterns light the approach to Yasukuni Shrine across four summer nights, with Aomori nebuta floats and bon-odori dancing.
Mon, Jul 13, 2026 18:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictionsTwelve fan-shaped portable shrines representing the gods meet a procession of giant 50-kilogram flaming torches before Japan's tallest waterfall — one of the country's three great fire festivals.
Tue, Jul 14, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
MeetupPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Monthly gatherings for JavaScript, TypeScript and web developers in Tokyo, with bilingual talks and casual networking.
Tue, Jul 14, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© ちょちょじ · CC BY 3.0Fukuoka's adrenaline-fueled finale: teams race one-ton festival floats through the dawn streets of Hakata.
Wed, Jul 15, 2026 04:59 JST FukuokaFree
connpassPast event© RailsTokyo Team · via connpassA Ruby on Rails community meetup in Akihabara featuring a keynote on 'SRE for Rails Engineers,' sponsor talks, and networking.
Thu, Jul 16, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Corpse Reviver · CC BY 3.0Gion Matsuri 2026 runs all July at Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine. Saki Matsuri yoiyama is July 14-16 and the float parade is July 17 at 9:00; Ato Matsuri yoiyama is July 21-23 and the parade is July 24 at 9:30. Verified dates, times and access.
Fri, Jul 17, 2026 09:00 JSTFree
OfficialPast event© Corpse Reviver · CC BY 3.0Kyoto's grandest festival fills July with towering wooden floats, lantern-lit evening parties, and 1,100 years of tradition.
Fri, Jul 17, 2026 09:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© Nissy-KITAQ · CC BY-SA 3.0Kokura Gion Daiko 2026 was held July 17-19 around Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu -- free entry, an estimated 300,000 visitors over the three days, 400 years of two-sided drumming. The 2027 dates are not yet announced.
Fri, Jul 17, 2026 18:00 JST FukuokaFree
connpassPast event© FlutterGakkai · via connpassAn offline Flutter developer meetup where speakers and listeners alike grow to love Flutter even more, with talks from active engineers.
Fri, Jul 17, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© skyseeker · CC BY 2.0A pristine alpine valley in the Northern Japan Alps, with the Kappa Bridge, clear Azusa River and jagged peaks rising all around.
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 06:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Original: Mithun Kunwar
Derivative work: Radomianin · CC BY-SA 4.0Three seaside days of Nepal in Tokyo's Odaiba — momo and dal bhat, Himalayan crafts, folk dance and music against the bay, free to all.
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo's Brazilian Day festival returns July 18–19, 2026 at Yoyogi Park. Officially Festival Brasil & Latino Tokyo — free entry, samba parades, churrasco and live Latin music, dates and access verified.
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© JAWS-UG CDK支部 · via connpassThe 5th annual AWS Cloud Development Kit conference at Azabudai Hills, themed 'change'—how CDK evolves alongside AI coding agents.
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 12:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Matthide127 · CC0A summer seaside festival at Yamashita Park with parades, a lit-up boat procession and fireworks over Yokohama Bay.
Sat, Jul 18, 2026 16:00 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© Globetrotter19 · CC BY-SA 3.0On the 21st of every month, nearly 1,000 stalls fill the grounds of UNESCO-listed Toji Temple with street food, antiques, pickles and crafts beneath its great pagoda.
Tue, Jul 21, 2026 08:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© 禁樹なずな · Public domainJapan's largest outdoor beer garden takes over Odori Park each summer, with rival breweries pouring ice-cold draft under the open sky.
Tue, Jul 21, 2026 12:00 JST SapporoFree
connpassPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo's Google Developer Group runs talks and workshops on Android, Cloud, AI and web — open to all and often bilingual.
Tue, Jul 21, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© VRChat.rb · via connpassA Rubyist gathering inside the metaverse—Ruby fans meet in VRChat to talk tech and socialize, held during Vket 2026 Summer Tech Week.
Tue, Jul 21, 2026 22:00 JSTFree
OfficialPast event© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Otaru's biggest summer festival fills the port with the mass 'Shio Nerikomi' dance and a closing fireworks display.
Fri, Jul 24, 2026 11:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© さかおり (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0Around 600,000 sunflowers blaze across the Yatsugatake foothills, lit up after dark for a glowing field beneath the night sky.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Hasui Kawase · Public domainSado Island's 140th Kozan Matsuri (Jul 25-26) pairs a gold-mine shrine ritual with a town-wide Okesa dance through Aikawa and fireworks over the harbor.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0The 23rd Shinjuku Eisa Festival was held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, 13:00-20:00, free, on the streets around Shinjuku Station. Around 23 Okinawan eisa troupes drummed through both the east and west sides of the station. The 2027 date has not been announced yet.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 13:00 JST TokyoFree
connpassPast event© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0Kyoto's Google Developer Group runs monthly study sessions and hackathons on Android, Flutter, AI/ML and Cloud.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 13:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY-SA 4.0Osaka's thousand-year river festival ends with a flotilla of lantern-lit boats and fireworks reflected on the Okawa River.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 15:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialPast event© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0One of Japan's three great river festivals — lantern-laden 'makiwara' boats glide across the Tenno River by night.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 18:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Adbh266 · CC BY-SA 4.0By night, daytime banner floats transform into 'lantern pyramids' — 12 tiers of 309 glowing lanterns swaying as bearers race them through Kitakyushu.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 18:30 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© 桜庭シェリー · CC BY-SA 3.0Tokyo's most storied summer fireworks show launches 20,000 shells over the Sumida River with Tokyo Skytree glowing behind.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Jovandavid · Public DomainThe 2026 Kanazawa Fireworks Festival (Hokkoku Hanabi) has finished — it was held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 19:50, with about 12,000 shells over the Saigawa River in central Kanazawa, free to watch. It ran for the third year as a Noto earthquake recovery-support edition. The 2027 date is not yet announced.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 19:50 JST KanazawaFree
OfficialPast event© Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA · CC BY 2.0One of the Seto Inland Sea's largest displays — about 10,000 shells, including wide 10-go bursts, choreographed to music over Hiroshima Port.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026 20:00 JST HiroshimaFree
connpassPast event© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0Nagoya's Google Developer Group gathers Tokai-region engineers for talks on Google tech, AI, Android and the web.
Sun, Jul 26, 2026 13:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0The 58th Toyota Oiden Festival has finished — the Oiden fireworks lit up the Yahagi River on July 26, 2026, after the Sohodori dance on July 25. It was the festival's last summer edition: from 2027 it moves to autumn, with the 59th planned for October 30-31, 2027.
Sun, Jul 26, 2026 19:00 JST NagoyaFree
connpassPast event© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Hokkaido's broad, cross-stack engineering community runs hybrid meetups to help Sapporo's developers gather, grow and connect.
Tue, Jul 28, 2026 19:00 JST SapporoFree
connpassPast event© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0One of Japan's longest-running AWS user groups, with Osaka deep-dive talks, hands-on sessions and certification prep.
Thu, Jul 30, 2026 19:00 JST OsakaFree
OfficialPast event© VulcanSphere · CC BY 4.0The planet's biggest cosplay festival: teams from 40+ countries parade through Nagoya and battle for the World Cosplay Championship at Oasis 21.
Fri, Jul 31, 2026 10:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Alan & Flora Botting · CC BY-SA 2.0Nagoya's quirky downtown district throws a lively summer festival with cosplay, world dance and a wet 'kara-okuri' parade.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 10:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Marho · CC BY-SA 4.0A Guinness-record wall of taiko drums thunders through Morioka as thousands of dancers chant 'Sakkora choiwayasse!'
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0Hirosaki's own summer lantern parade (Aug 1–7, 2026) — fan-shaped floats and a calmer chant that set it apart from nearby Aomori Nebuta.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A 700-metre 'Grand Niagara' cascade and Tokyo's largest shells light up the Arakawa, fired in tandem with Toda City across the water.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 19:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A 1,000-shell opening burst in five seconds sets the tone for one of Tokyo's biggest riverside fireworks shows over the Edogawa.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 19:15 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0The Hakodate Port Festival 2026 is over - it ran 1-5 August 2026. The festival is held on the same calendar dates every year, so the 2027 edition falls on Sunday 1 - Thursday 5 August 2027. Free to attend, 5 minutes' walk from JR Hakodate Station.
Sat, Aug 1, 2026 19:45 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Kazehayashi · CC BY-SA 4.0Billed as Japan's noisiest festival: dozens of lantern-lit festival cars thunder through Kuwana to a relentless din of drums and gongs deep into the night.
Sun, Aug 2, 2026 18:30 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0Giant illuminated warrior floats are paraded through Aomori nightly as chanting dancers leap alongside in a blaze of color.
Sun, Aug 2, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Cp9asngf · CC BY-SA 3.0One of Japan's three great fireworks festivals, famed for the colossal 'Phoenix' shells fired across the Shinano River as a prayer for peace.
Sun, Aug 2, 2026 19:20 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Akita'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.
Mon, Aug 3, 2026 18:45 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© hildgrim · CC BY-SA 2.0Performers balance towering bamboo poles strung with dozens of glowing lanterns on their palms, foreheads and shoulders.
Mon, Aug 3, 2026 18:50 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© No machine-readable author provided. Crown of Lenten rose assumed (based on copy · Public domainSome 10,000 dancers twirl flower-adorned straw hats to the rhythmic cry of 'Yassho, makasho!' in one of Tohoku's biggest parades.
Wed, Aug 5, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© かるちる · CC0On summer nights, 20,000 candles flicker across Nara Park's historic grounds in a serene sea of gentle light.
Wed, Aug 5, 2026 19:00 JST NaraFree
OfficialPast event© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Sendai 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.
Thu, Aug 6, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Nesnad · CC BY 3.0Japan's grandest star festival drapes Sendai's arcades in thousands of giant, handmade paper streamers.
Thu, Aug 6, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Lonely Planet Japan · CC BY-SA 4.0Around 12,000 fireworks reflect off Japan's largest lake near Otsu in a 40th-anniversary show fused with drones and lasers.
Thu, Aug 6, 2026 19:30 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Asagaya 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.
Fri, Aug 7, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© m-sasaki · CC BY 4.0Fukushima Waraji Matsuri 2026 (Aug 7–9) parades a 12m, 2-ton straw sandal past the station before offering it to Haguro Shrine.
Fri, Aug 7, 2026 18:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© DAI-nk · CC BY-SA 3.0Niigata Matsuri 2026 runs Aug 7–9: a 15,000-dancer folk parade on the 7th, then a Shinano River fireworks finale on the 9th.
Fri, Aug 7, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0Japan's most famous dance festival: 100,000 dancers and a million spectators fill Tokushima with rhythm every August.
Wed, Aug 12, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© KASEI · CC BY-SA 3.0Tottori's Guinness-record umbrella dance returns Aug 13–14, 2026 for its 62nd edition — free to watch along the city-center parade route.
Thu, Aug 13, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Marho · CC BY-SA 4.0Gujo 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.
Thu, Aug 13, 2026 20:00 JSTFree
OfficialPast event© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainAround 40,000 fireworks erupt over Lake Suwa, their booms echoing off the surrounding mountains in one of central Japan's most spectacular summer displays.
Sat, Aug 15, 2026 19:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© American Art Association;
Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912 · No restrictionsOne 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.
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 07:30 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · CC BY 4.0Thousands of memorial lanterns drift down the Oi River below Arashiyama as the 'Torii-gata' bonfire of the Gozan Okuribi blazes on the hillside above.
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 19:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Masked 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.
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 19:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan · CC BY 2.0A thousand women dance through summer night with golden paper lanterns glowing on their heads — Kumamoto's most ethereal festival.
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 20:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© ja:User:Kyoto-u · CC BY 2.5Giant kanji and shapes blaze on five mountains around Kyoto to send ancestral spirits home at the close of Obon.
Sun, Aug 16, 2026 20:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialPast event© Akinori Takemoto · CC BY-SA 4.0Scheduled for Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 on the Karasugawa riverbed upstream of Wada Bridge — that date has now passed. A record of the fast, dense fireworks night on the first day of the Takasaki Matsuri, with roughly 15,000 shells in under an hour.
Sat, Aug 22, 2026 19:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Katsutoshi Misawa (克年 三沢) · CC BY 2.0Held Aug 24–26, 2026 in Shinjo, Yamagata — now ended. A record of the 260-plus-year-old UNESCO-listed float festival, where 20 towering yatai floats, hand-built every year and dressed as scenes from kabuki and legend, paraded the streets.
Mon, Aug 24, 2026 15:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Marc Antomattei · CC BY-SA 4.0A rapid-fire summer fireworks night lights up Minato Mirai 21 over Rinko Park and the Yokohama waterfront.
Mon, Aug 24, 2026 18:30 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© Sakaori (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0To 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.
Wed, Aug 26, 2026 15:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Kyu3 · CC BY-SA 4.0Nagoya's huge late-summer dance festival fills the city center with hundreds of energetic teams in a riot of color and choreography.
Fri, Aug 28, 2026 11:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© Tet · CC BY 4.0Okinawa's biggest eisa festival, where drum troupes from across the islands perform thunderous traditional dance under summer skies.
Fri, Aug 28, 2026 15:00 JST OkinawaFree
OfficialPast event© Prosperosity · CC BY-SA 3.0Noboribetsu'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.
Sat, Aug 29, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0Held on Aug 29–30, 2026 at Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha and along Sanjo-dori — now ended. A record of Nara's energetic summer dance festival, where vivid street-dance teams paraded through the city.
Sat, Aug 29, 2026 11:00 JST NaraFree
OfficialPast event© Frankie Fouganthin · CC BY-SA 4.0Held Saturday, Aug 29, 2026 from 13:00 along Umamichi-dori to Kaminarimon-dori in Asakusa — the 41st edition has ended. The 2027 date is not yet announced. A record of Tokyo's biggest samba parade.
Sat, Aug 29, 2026 13:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia · CC BY-SA 2.0Tokyo's own Awa dance takes over Koenji's backstreets as 10,000-plus dancers in 'ren' troupes whirl through the summer night.
Sat, Aug 29, 2026 17:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0By lantern light, faceless dancers in straw hats move with hushed grace to mournful kokyu strings through old Yatsuo's stone lanes.
Tue, Sep 1, 2026 17:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0A quirky Tokyo street festival born from a comic rakugo tale, where charcoal-grilled Pacific saury is served with sudachi citrus to long, happy queues.
Sun, Sep 6, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 掬茶 (Kikucha) · CC BY-SA 4.0Every 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.
Mon, Sep 7, 2026 09:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Sapporo Autumn Fest 2026 ran Sep 11–Oct 3 in Odori Park and has ended. Check the official site for the 2027 dates.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026 10:00 JST SapporoFree
OfficialPast event© Cobalt Fox · Public DomainThe birthplace of the giant 'sanshakudama', this Niigata shrine festival fires the world's largest fireworks shell — a four-shaku, 800kg behemoth.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026 19:30 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© Shizhao · CC BY-SA 2.5Held on Sep 12–13, 2026 at Nihon-odori, Yokohama — now ended. A record of the free bayfront festival of pho and banh mi stalls, ao dai try-ons and water-puppet theatre, with venue and access.
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 10:00 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© そらみみ (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0Hojoya runs 12-18 September 2026 - seven days and seven nights at Hakozakigu Shrine in Fukuoka, with several hundred stalls along the approach and around a million visitors. Free to enter.
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 10:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0The city's foreigner-friendly hub runs welcome events, language exchange salons, homestay visits and 'warm fellowship' gatherings where locals and internationals mingle.
Sat, Sep 12, 2026 13:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 09:00 JST FukuokaFree
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© 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.
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© ヒタチギ · CC BY-SA 4.0Held on Sep 19, 2026 around Kashiwa Station — now ended (200,000 visitors per Kashiwa City). Sep 20 was cancelled as a typhoon approached. A record of Kashiwa City's biggest festival in its first year after moving from summer to September because of extreme heat.
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 13:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0The Sept 20, 2026 procession of Kumamoto's Fujisaki Hachimangu grand festival (Boshita Matsuri) and decorated horses were cancelled after the July 28 earthquake. Shrine rites began Sept 13. 2027 dates are not announced (checked 2026-10-14).
Sun, Sep 20, 2026 06:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Sep 26, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Thu, Oct 1, 2026 09:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 3, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 3, 2026 18:00 JST Across JapanFree
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© 663highland · CC BY-SA 3.0Held Oct 8–10, 2026 at Lake Akan, Hokkaido — now ended. The free-to-watch festival, held every year since 1950, is known for kamuinomi prayers by Ainu people from across Hokkaido, a torchlit parade and a rite returning the marimo — a Special Natural Monument — to the lake by dugout canoe.
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 12:00 JST KyotoFree
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© 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.
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 16:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 10:00 JST YokohamaFree
OfficialPast event© Okimoto · Public DomainJoin thousands pulling the world's largest straw rope through Naha in this Guinness-record Okinawan autumn festival.
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 11:00 JST OkinawaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 14:30 JST OkinawaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Tue, Oct 13, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
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© 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.
Fri, Oct 16, 2026 08:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 08:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
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© Base64 · CC BY-SA 3.0The 72nd Nagoya Festival is on Oct 17 (Sat) and 18 (Sun), 2026, centered on Hisaya-odori Park, free. There is no Three Heroes parade in 2026; the parade floats, karakuri puppets and kagura are shown in the park instead. Checked 2026-10-14.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 11:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sun, Oct 18, 2026 08:00 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
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 10:00 JST HiroshimaFree
OfficialPast event© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0The Saga International Balloon Fiesta 2026 runs Friday, October 30 to Tuesday, November 3, 2026 on the Kase River banks in Saga City, and entry is free. Competition flights go up daily 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 3:00–5:00 p.m. (final day mornings only), and the La Montgolfier Nocturne night glow is on November 2 and 3 from 6:30 p.m. A temporary JR station, Balloon Saga Station, opens at the venue during the fiesta (official info checked 2026-10-13).
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 06:30 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© 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.
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Nicolas1981 · CC BY-SA 3.0Roppongi Art Night 2026 runs all night from 17:00 on Oct 31 to 6:00 on Nov 1 — the first all-nighter in three years. Free entry (some programs paid) across Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and the National Art Center; RAN Focus features France (checked 2026-10-14).
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 2.0Shibuya City announced its 2026 Halloween measures at a September 30 press conference (verified 2026-10-11). The slogan is "GOODBYE BAD HALLOWEEN". The Hachiko statue will be fenced off Oct 30–Nov 1, 62 alcohol retailers in and around the no-street-drinking zone are asked to suspend sales from 6:00 PM Oct 31 to 5:00 AM Nov 1, and about 185 security guards plus about 70 ward staff will be deployed. Tokyo police plan traffic restrictions around Shibuya Station from the evening of Oct 30 to the early morning of Nov 1. The permanent 6:00 PM–5:00 AM public-drinking ban (in force since Oct 1, 2024) applies as usual.
Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialPast event© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0Onomichi's Betcha Matsuri 2026 runs November 1–3. The demon parade is on November 3 (a national holiday): it leaves the Otabisho (the mikoshi's resting place) in the morning and returns to Ichinomiya (Kibitsuhiko) Shrine around 18:30 (checked 2026-10-13). Free to watch.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 09:00 JST HiroshimaFree
OfficialPast event© Sanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0Kagoshima's 75th Ohara Matsuri runs Nov 2, 2026 (Mon) from 18:50 (night festival) and Nov 3 (Tue, national holiday) 10:20–15:25 (main festival) on a 1,480 m stretch of the Tenmonkan tram street. It is the original festival — not the May event in Tokyo's Shibuya.
Mon, Nov 2, 2026 18:50 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialPast event© 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
OfficialPast event© 武田信徳 · CC BY 4.0The Iruma Air Show 2026 is on Tuesday, November 3, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. (gates 8 a.m.) at JASDF Iruma Air Base in Sayama, Saitama, and entry is free. The Blue Impulse time is not announced yet (about 11 a.m. in 2025). Last year there was no visitor parking. Checked 2026-10-14.
Tue, Nov 3, 2026 08:00 JST TokyoFree