OfficialOn nowA 1,300-year-old torchlit tradition: Gifu's Imperial cormorant masters work leashed birds on the Nagara River nightly, May 11-October 15, 2026.
2026/05/11 19:45 Across JapanShared sightseeing boat (2026 rates): ¥4,200 adults / ¥2,100 children on regular days; ¥5,100 adults / ¥2,600 children on peak dates. Watching for free from the riverbank is also possible.
© Douggers · Public Domain
OfficialOn nowHirosaki's own summer lantern parade (Aug 1–7, 2026) — fan-shaped floats and a calmer chant that set it apart from nearby Aomori Nebuta.
2026/08/01 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialOn nowAomori Nebuta 2026 reserved viewing seats: ¥4,000 prices, the 2026 sale dates (lottery + Jun 27 first-come), how to buy, and access from Tokyo.
2026/08/02 19:00 Across JapanReserved viewing seat ¥4,000 (Aug 7 daytime + fireworks set ¥9,500); handling fee added
© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowHow to buy paid grandstand seats at Japan's summer matsuri in 2026: lottery vs first-come, prices, the on-sale calendar and the official links.
2026/08/02 19:00Paid grandstand seats from ¥1,000 (varies by festival and tier)
© MIKI Yoshihito · CC BY 2.0OfficialOn nowGiant illuminated warrior floats are paraded through Aomori nightly as chanting dancers leap alongside in a blaze of color.
2026/08/02 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialOn nowAkita's Kanto Matsuri lights up Kanto Odori with about 280 bamboo poles and 10,000 lanterns, balanced on foreheads, hips and palms like glowing rice sheaves.
2026/08/03 18:45 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialOn nowPerformers balance towering bamboo poles strung with dozens of glowing lanterns on their palms, foreheads and shoulders.
2026/08/03 18:50 Across JapanFree
© hildgrim · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialOn nowSome 10,000 dancers twirl flower-adorned straw hats to the rhythmic cry of 'Yassho, makasho!' in one of Tohoku's biggest parades.
2026/08/05 18:00 Across JapanFree
© No machine-readable author provided. Crown of Lenten rose assumed (based on copy · Public domain
OfficialOn nowOn summer nights, 20,000 candles flicker across Nara Park's historic grounds in a serene sea of gentle light.
2026/08/05 19:00 NaraFree
© かるちる · CC0
OfficialOn nowSendai Tanabata Festival 2026 (Aug 6–8): the fixed dates, the giant paper streamers, the Aug 5 fireworks, 5-min access from Sendai Station, and what to see.
2026/08/06 10:00 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialOn nowJapan's grandest star festival drapes Sendai's arcades in thousands of giant, handmade paper streamers.
2026/08/06 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Nesnad · CC BY 3.0
OfficialThis weekendAround 12,000 fireworks reflect off Japan's largest lake near Otsu in a 40th-anniversary show fused with drones and lasers.
2026/08/06 19:30 KyotoFree
© Lonely Planet Japan · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialThis weekendAsagaya Tanabata Festival 2026 runs Aug 7–11, free, rain or shine. Tokyo's arcade tanabata is famous for giant handmade papier-mâché figures of the year's characters, right by JR Asagaya Station.
2026/08/07 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendFukushima Waraji Matsuri 2026 (Aug 7–9) parades a 12m, 2-ton straw sandal past the station before offering it to Haguro Shrine.
2026/08/07 18:30 Across JapanFree
© m-sasaki · CC BY 4.0
OfficialThis weekendNiigata Matsuri 2026 runs Aug 7–9: a 15,000-dancer folk parade on the 7th, then a Shinano River fireworks finale on the 9th.
2026/08/07 19:00 Across JapanFree
© DAI-nk · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendYosakoi Festival 2026 (Aug 9–12, Kochi): Otesuji grandstand seat prices, the 2026 sale dates (general sale opens Jun 29), how to buy, and how to get there.
2026/08/09 13:15 Across JapanPaid grandstand seats ¥1,000–¥3,000 per session (group/parasol tables ¥15,000–¥50,000)
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendThe original yosakoi: 200+ teams and ~18,000 dancers with naruko clappers thunder through Kochi's streets across four August days.
2026/08/09 17:00 Across JapanFree to watch on the streets; paid reserved (shaded) seats sold for the main venues.
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendAwa Odori 2026 (Aug 12–15, Tokushima): grandstand seat prices, the 2026 on-sale dates, how to buy via Ticket Pia, and how to get there.
2026/08/12 18:00 Across JapanReserved grandstand ¥1,000 (C) – ¥3,000 (S); Minami-uchimachi SS ¥6,000 / Special ¥15,000
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialThis weekendJapan's most famous dance festival: 100,000 dancers and a million spectators fill Tokushima with rhythm every August.
2026/08/12 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Rosino · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialThis weekendTottori's Guinness-record umbrella dance returns Aug 13–14, 2026 for its 62nd edition — free to watch along the city-center parade route.
2026/08/13 18:00 Across JapanFree
© KASEI · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThree thousand bronze and stone lanterns are lit across ancient Kasuga Taisha, filling the shrine's forest paths with a soft golden glow.
2026/08/14 19:00 NaraSmall fee to enter the inner lantern corridors
© Zairon · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNaha's vibrant 'kitchen': vivid Okinawan reef fish, pork and produce downstairs, then a 'mochiagari' service cooks your picks at the upstairs eateries.
2026/08/15 08:00 OkinawaFree
© Jan Schoepe · CC0
OfficialUpcomingA serene Yoshio Taniguchi pavilion honoring Zen philosopher D.T. Suzuki, built around a still 'Water Mirror Garden' for contemplation.
2026/08/15 09:30 KanazawaAdult ~¥310
© 金沢市 · CC BY 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcomingA Kisho Kurokawa building tucked into Shirakawa Park, strong on the Ecole de Paris, the Mexican Renaissance and local modern art.
2026/08/15 09:30 NagoyaCollection ~¥300; special exhibitions vary
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA lakeside museum in Ohori Park by architect Kunio Maekawa, mixing Dali and Warhol with Buddhist treasures across 16,000+ works.
2026/08/15 09:30 FukuokaCollection ~¥200; special exhibitions vary
© DrHughManning · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA Kenzo Tange landmark in Minato Mirai, freshly reopened after a three-year renovation, strong on modern art and Yokohama-rooted photography.
2026/08/15 10:00 YokohamaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe world's largest fan convention: hundreds of thousands gather at Tokyo Big Sight to buy doujinshi and cosplay.
2026/08/15 10:30 TokyoWristband entry: ¥1,210 for morning entry (from 10:30) or ¥440 in advance / ¥1,000 same-day for afternoon entry (from 12:30). Lottery-only Early Entry (¥5,385) and cosplay changing-room priority (¥3,385) tickets are sold via TicketPay.
© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingA striking subterranean museum on Nakanoshima island devoted to postwar and contemporary art, behind a soaring bamboo-like steel facade.
2026/08/15 11:00 OsakaCollection exhibition ~¥430; special exhibitions vary
© Konrad Krzyżanowski · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingTodaiji admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child; hours run 7:30–17:30 Apr–Oct (8:00–17:00 Nov–Mar, as of July 2026). This page also covers the Aug 15, 2026 Manto Kuyoe evening, when thousands of lanterns light the Great Buddha Hall and the Kannomado window opens so the Buddha's face is visible from outside.
2026/08/15 19:00 NaraThe Manto Kuyoe evening service itself is a religious observance and is generally viewed from the precinct; on ordinary days, Daibutsuden admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child, or a joint Daibutsuden + Todaiji Museum pass ¥1,200 adult / ¥600 child (as of July 2026). Confirm any special-evening entry arrangements on the official site.
© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Edo's three great festivals returns to its full triennial form in 2026, with 50+ mikoshi paraded as spectators drench bearers in purifying water.
2026/08/16 07:30 TokyoFree
© American Art Association; Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912 · No restrictions
OfficialUpcomingCentral Sapporo's flagship art museum, with 5,000+ works spanning Hokkaido art, the Ecole de Paris, glasswork and modern Japanese painting.
2026/08/16 09:30 SapporoCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's first public contemporary art museum, a Kisho Kurokawa landmark crowning Hijiyama hill with bold rotating exhibitions.
2026/08/16 10:00 HiroshimaCollection ~¥370; special exhibitions vary
© Taisyo at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThousands of memorial lanterns drift down the Oi River below Arashiyama as the 'Torii-gata' bonfire of the Gozan Okuribi blazes on the hillside above.
2026/08/16 19:00 KyotoFree
© New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingMasked dancers in black hikosa-zukin hoods and deep amigasa hats sway through torchlit streets at one of Japan's three great Bon Odori, 700+ years old.
2026/08/16 19:30 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA thousand women dance through summer night with golden paper lanterns glowing on their heads — Kumamoto's most ethereal festival.
2026/08/16 20:00 Across JapanFree
© MIKI Yoshihito from Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingGiant kanji and shapes blaze on five mountains around Kyoto to send ancestral spirits home at the close of Obon.
2026/08/16 20:00 KyotoFree
© ja:User:Kyoto-u · CC BY 2.5
OfficialUpcomingWorld-famous taiko ensemble Kodo hosts a three-day island arts festival with thunderous harbour-side concerts under the stars.
2026/08/21 17:00 Across JapanHarbour Concert tickets approx. ¥5,000–7,000 each; fringe events free
© Marco Tambara · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThe only museum in the world systematically collecting modern and contemporary Asian art — 5,000+ works from 23 Asian countries and regions.
2026/08/22 09:30 FukuokaCollection admission modest; special exhibitions vary
© Hirho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly 15,000 shells light up the Karasugawa River in under an hour -- the fast, dense fireworks night that opens Gunma's biggest annual festival.
2026/08/22 19:30 Across JapanFree
© Akinori Takemoto · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's biggest tropical-fish and aquatic-life markets fills an Asakusa hall with around 200 specialist booths.
2026/08/23 10:00 TokyoPaid admission (check the official site for the current ticket price).
© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions
OfficialUpcomingTwenty towering yatai floats - hand-built from scratch every year and dressed as scenes from kabuki and legend - parade the streets of Shinjo each August 24-26. This 260-plus-year-old UNESCO-listed float festival reaches a milestone in 2026: its 270th staging.
2026/08/24 15:00 Across JapanFree
© Katsutoshi Misawa (克年 三沢) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingTo mark the close of Mt. Fuji's climbing season, around seventy three-meter torches blaze along the streets of Fujiyoshida — counted among Japan's three most unusual festivals.
2026/08/26 15:00 Across JapanFree
© Sakaori (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOkinawa's biggest cultural park: explore a vast limestone cave, dress in Ryukyu attire, try bingata dyeing and Ryukyu glass, and catch the daily Super Eisa show.
2026/08/28 09:00 OkinawaAdults ¥2,000; children (4-14) ¥1,000
© Venkasub · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingNagoya's huge late-summer dance festival fills the city center with hundreds of energetic teams in a riot of color and choreography.
2026/08/28 11:00 NagoyaFree
© Kyu3 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOkinawa's biggest eisa festival, where drum troupes from across the islands perform thunderous traditional dance under summer skies.
2026/08/28 15:00 OkinawaFree
© Tet · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNoboribetsu's hot-spring Hell Festival returns Aug 29-30, 2026: a giant demon float, the 1-ton Oni Mikoshi, mass demon-dancing and fireworks -- free to attend.
2026/08/29 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Prosperosity · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's biggest samba parade fills Asakusa with feathered dancers and thundering bateria as competing teams vie for the championship along Umamichi Street.
2026/08/29 13:00 TokyoFree
© Frankie Fouganthin · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's own Awa dance takes over Koenji's backstreets as 10,000-plus dancers in 'ren' troupes whirl through the summer night.
2026/08/29 17:00 TokyoFree
© Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's most prestigious pyrotechnic competition, where the nation's top fireworks artisans battle for the Prime Minister's Award.
2026/08/29 17:10 Across JapanReserved seating required for prime spots (paid); riverbank viewing free
© Drivephotographer · CC0
OfficialUpcomingBy lantern light, faceless dancers in straw hats move with hushed grace to mournful kokyu strings through old Yatsuo's stone lanes.
2026/09/01 17:00 Across JapanFree
© さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's oldest kabuki theatre in Kyoto stages a modern crossover, fusing the world of kabuki with the famous anime master-thief Lupin III. A playful, fast-paced gateway into the art form, with English audio guides available.
2026/09/02 11:00 KyotoTickets vary by seat class; check the official site. English audio guide available for rental.
© Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingPioneering woman conductor Midori Komai gives her farewell concert on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Kyowa Wing Hakuba Cultural Hall in Nagano — a one-time-only Hakuba Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and other European favourites. Doors 14:00, performance 15:00–17:00. Advance tickets ¥4,500 (students ¥2,000; under-12 free).
2026/09/05 15:00 Across JapanAdvance ¥4,500 / same-day ¥5,000. Nagano residents ¥3,500; junior- and senior-high students ¥2,000; elementary-age and younger free (a free seat ticket is required if the child uses a seat). Post-event archive streaming is also sold on teket (as of 2026-07-21; confirm current details before buying).
© Licht Philharmonic Project · © Midori Komai Orchestra Project (official promotional photo, used with permission)OfficialUpcomingA quirky Tokyo street festival born from a comic rakugo tale, where charcoal-grilled Pacific saury is served with sudachi citrus to long, happy queues.
2026/09/06 10:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingEvery September 7-9, the samurai town of Kakunodate fills with towering yama floats carrying warrior dolls by day; after dark comes the yamabuttsuke, when two floats that refuse to yield are rammed together in a thunderous, adrenaline-charged test of nerve.
2026/09/07 09:00 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 (Kikucha) · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe birthplace of the giant 'sanshakudama', this Niigata shrine festival fires the world's largest fireworks shell — a four-shaku, 800kg behemoth.
2026/09/11 19:30 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingVietnam Festa in Kanagawa 2026 (Sep 12–13, Yokohama): pho, ao dai shows and water puppets on the bayfront, free — verified dates, venue and access.
2026/09/12 10:00 YokohamaFree
© Shizhao · CC BY-SA 2.5
OfficialUpcomingFor seven nights, around 500 food and game stalls line Hakozakigu's approach as a million visitors mark autumn's arrival — Fukuoka's great harvest festival.
2026/09/12 10:00 FukuokaFree
© Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingThe city's foreigner-friendly hub runs welcome events, language exchange salons, homestay visits and 'warm fellowship' gatherings where locals and internationals mingle.
2026/09/12 13:00 FukuokaFree
© N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAki Basho 2026 runs Sep 13–27 at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tickets go on sale Aug 8 — seat prices and how overseas fans can book, explained.
2026/09/13 08:30 TokyoTickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; traditional box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase through the official Japan Sumo Association site.
© Steve Cadman · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingTeams haul massive wooden festival floats at full sprint through Kishiwada's streets in one of Japan's most thrilling matsuri.
2026/09/19 06:00 OsakaFree
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSome 600 people parade in full samurai costume through Aizuwakamatsu in a 'Lord's Procession' honouring the clan that made a famous last stand in Japan's last civil war.
2026/09/19 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Umako · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingHokuriku's biggest jazz event turns central Kanazawa into 200-plus free street performances across some 20 venues.
2026/09/19 11:00 KanazawaFree street performances; paid special concerts vary.
© Jovandavid · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingChiba's biggest street festival draws up to 800,000 visitors -- and in 2026 it moves from its traditional late-July weekend to September 19-20 because of record summer heat.
2026/09/19 13:00 Across JapanFree
© ヒタチギ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingKumamoto's biggest autumn festival runs Sept 20-21, 2026: about 60 decorated parade horses and a twice-daily armored procession fill the streets, free to watch.
2026/09/20 06:00 Across JapanFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest reptile and exotic-animal expo packs Tokyo Big Sight with geckos, snakes, frogs and the breeders who love them.
2026/09/20 10:00 TokyoAdults ¥1,400 advance / ¥1,600 door; elementary ¥700 advance / ¥800 door; preschoolers free.
© Vassil · CC0
OfficialUpcomingPet Haku Osaka 2026 runs Sep 21-23 at Intex Osaka. Ticket prices (advance vs door) and the exact rules for bringing your own pet, explained.
2026/09/21 10:00 OsakaAdults (junior-high+) ¥1,300 advance / ¥1,500 door; children (age 4-elementary) ¥700 advance / ¥800 door.
© Judgefloro · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest Indian festival fills Yoyogi Park with curry stalls, chai, sari shops, Bollywood dance and classical music — a two-day plunge into India in the heart of Tokyo.
2026/09/26 10:00 TokyoFree
© Nesnad · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingMatsue's castle and canals glow with lanterns every weekend from Sept 26-Oct 18, 2026, 18:00-21:00 -- a quiet, romantic alternative to Japan's big-city illuminations.
2026/09/26 18:00 Across JapanFree
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5
OfficialUpcomingAround 100 fishing boats escort three deities' mikoshi across the sea at this World Heritage shrine's grand autumn festival.
2026/10/01 09:00 FukuokaFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSeven towering floats, each carrying 300+ glowing red lanterns, parade through Fukushima nights to the beat of taiko in one of Japan's three great lantern festivals.
2026/10/03 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Nihonmatsuri · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA 380-year-old shrine festival blending Japanese, Chinese and Dutch flair — spinning dragon dances, whirling umbrella floats and roaring 'Motte-koi' chants.
2026/10/07 07:00 FukuokaFree
© Marine-Blue · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFor three days every October 8-10, Ainu elders at Lake Akan hold sacred kamuinomi prayers, a torchlit lakeside parade, and a ceremonial send-off of the marimo algae balls into the water - a tradition dating to 1950 that protects the lake's famous round colonies, a Japanese Special Natural Monument since 1952.
2026/10/08 10:00 Across JapanFree
© 663highland · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingUNESCO-listed Belgian beer culture lands in front of Kyoto's Higashi-Honganji temple — dozens of imported brews, frites, waffles and live music in an open-air city festival.
2026/10/08 12:00 KyotoFree
© Henxter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingEleven gilded Edo-era floats parade through old Takayama by day, then glow with 100+ lanterns at dusk in one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals.
2026/10/09 09:00 NagoyaFree
© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFourteen giant wooden floats, each topped by a towering doll of a legendary hero, are hauled through the canal-side 'Little Edo' streets of Sawara to lilting Sawara-bayashi music every autumn - October 9-11 in 2026 - in one of the Kanto region's three great float festivals, just a day-trip from Tokyo.
2026/10/09 10:00 Across JapanFree
© katorisi · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKonpira-san's biggest festival (Oct 9-11, 2026): once a year the mountain deity 'comes down' -- a ~600-strong procession carries the mikoshi 2km through Kotohira by torchlight.
2026/10/09 16:00 Across JapanFree
© Kanchi1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA free international food-and-culture fair at seaside Yamashita Park: 50+ stalls of global cuisine and world music and dance performances on stage.
2026/10/10 10:00 YokohamaFree
© Jason M. C., Han · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNagoya's biggest autumn party crowns Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in armor, leading a 600-strong procession from the station to Nagoya Castle.
2026/10/10 10:00 NagoyaFree
© Base64 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSaijo Sake Festival 2026 runs October 10–11 in Hiroshima's sake capital — Japan's largest sake-tasting event. Confirmed dates, 2025 reference ticket price, and access below.
2026/10/10 10:00 HiroshimaFestival free to enter; the 'Sake Plaza' tasting pass is paid
© OS6 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingIn a 340-year-old Nara ritual, shrine 'seko' wrangle wild stags with ropes inside a wooden arena before a Shinto priest saws off their autumn antlers.
2026/10/10 12:00 NaraAround ¥1,000 (adults)
© TR15336300101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJoin thousands pulling the world's largest straw rope through Naha in this Guinness-record Okinawan autumn festival.
2026/10/11 11:00 OkinawaFree
© Okimoto · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingTens of thousands grab a Guinness-record 200m rope and heave for 30 minutes in the middle of Naha's main road — Okinawa's most thunderous autumn spectacle.
2026/10/11 14:30 OkinawaFree
© Yuet Man Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingThree portable shrines are violently crashed together as seven ornate floats clash in Japan's most famous 'fighting festival.'
2026/10/14 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingFifty-four golden, 5.5-metre taiko-dai floats are hoisted by 150-strong crews in one of Shikoku's three great festivals.
2026/10/16 08:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingWalk ancient moss-covered pilgrimage paths through the forested Kii Mountains to sacred Kumano shrines, a UNESCO World Heritage route.
2026/10/17 08:00 Across JapanFree
© Subramaniam K V · CC BY 3.0
OfficialUpcomingIn Tokyo's 'Little Edo', towering tiered floats with revolving dolls roll past kurazukuri warehouses and clash in 'Hikkawase' flute-and-drum face-offs.
2026/10/17 10:00 TokyoFree
© 三塚 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest analog-game fair, where thousands of indie board, card and tabletop creators sell and demo their games over one weekend.
2026/10/17 11:00 TokyoAround ¥1,500 advance / ¥2,000 same-day (2026 reference; autumn fees TBA); elementary schoolers and younger free.
© Lance Cpl. David Hersey · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingOver 5 million LEDs transform the park into a glowing garden — a luminous wisteria tunnel, a great wisteria of light and reflective ponds rank it among Japan's top three illuminations.
2026/10/17 15:30 TokyoEvening admission around ¥1,400 (varies by light stage).
© Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingA 2-km parade of 2,000 people in meticulously accurate costumes marches through 1,000 years of Kyoto history, from Heian nobles to Meiji revolutionaries.
2026/10/22 12:00 KyotoFree
© Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingMen in loincloths haul flaming 80-kg torches through a mountain village after dark in one of Kyoto's wildest, most primal night festivals.
2026/10/22 18:00 KyotoFree
© ja:User:Si-take. · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingHakata Okunchi 2026 (Oct 23–24) is Kushida Shrine's free autumn festival in Fukuoka — a 1,200-year harvest rite, famous for the Oct 24 ox-cart procession. Dates, schedule, access.
2026/10/23 10:00 FukuokaFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great 'fighting' festivals, where teams ram a giant drum-float and mikoshi together to a thundering 'ton-ten-ton' beat.
2026/10/24 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingAn all-night art festival turns Roppongi into an open-air gallery, with installations, performances and museums glowing from dusk till dawn.
2026/10/31 10:00 TokyoFree
© Nicolas1981 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingNo official 2026 Halloween announcement from Shibuya City yet (as of July 2026) — details usually land in early October. Confirmed now: a year-round street-drinking ban (6PM–5AM) has covered Shibuya Station since Oct 2024, and 2023–2025 saw escalating crowd-control measures.
2026/10/31 18:00 TokyoFree
© Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThree costumed demons roam the streets of hillside Onomichi, tapping children with sticks to bring them good health.
2026/11/01 09:00 HiroshimaFree
© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThe Yaeyama Islands' biggest festival fills central Ishigaki with a citizens' parade, island music and a closing fireworks display over the harbour town.
2026/11/01 11:00 OkinawaFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's only autumn geisha dance, staged by the geiko and maiko of the Gion Higashi district. Ten days of elegant kyomai dance under lanterns, accompanied by live shamisen and song — a refined seasonal highlight of Kyoto.
2026/11/01 13:30 Kyoto¥6,000 (viewing only); ¥7,000 with a tea ceremony. Two shows daily at 13:30 and 16:00.
© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingThe original Kagoshima Ohara Matsuri (Nov 2–3, 2026) fills Tenmonkan with 16,500+ dancers — not to be confused with Tokyo's May Shibuya version.
2026/11/02 18:50 Across JapanFree
© Sanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingFourteen colossal lacquered floats — golden lions, samurai helmets and dragons up to 7 m tall — are dragged through town and onto a beach where they sink in sand.
2026/11/02 19:30 FukuokaFree
© Pekachu · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAt Tokyo's National Noh Theatre, watch the 650-year-old art of noh and its comic counterpart kyogen, including a piece performed by celebrated kyogen master Nomura Mansai. English subtitles appear on screens built into the seatbacks.
2026/11/06 18:30 TokyoFront-stage ¥5,800 / Side-stage ¥4,000 (students ¥2,800) / Middle-stage ¥3,500 (students ¥2,500).
© Yoshiyuki Ito · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOn November's rooster days, Asakusa's Otori Shrine fills with stalls selling glittering 'kumade' rakes meant to scoop up luck and fortune for the year ahead.
2026/11/07 10:00 TokyoFree
© Fuchu · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThe year's final grand sumo tournament fills Fukuoka Kokusai Center for 15 days of ring-entering ceremonies, salt-throwing and thunderous bouts of giants.
2026/11/08 08:30 FukuokaFrom ~¥3,800 (arena seats) to box seats
© davidgsteadman · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingJapan's biggest Spanish festival brings giant paella pans, flamenco, sevillanas contests and Iberian wine to Yoyogi Park for two passionate autumn days.
2026/11/14 10:00 TokyoFree
© Ruben Ortega · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingOver 6 million LEDs blanket a mountainside amusement park — ride a panoramic chairlift through a sea of light with the Ferris wheel and rides glowing under the stars.
2026/11/14 16:00 TokyoAdmission with illumination around ¥1,000–2,300 (varies; combo tickets available).
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's most celebrated maple temple glows after dark in autumn, its crimson leaves mirrored in a tranquil pond.
2026/11/14 17:30 KyotoEvening light-up admission around 600-700 yen
© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's Arashiyama bursts into crimson and gold each November, with mountain temples, a scenic train and bamboo groves.
2026/11/15 08:00 KyotoFree
© Takeshi Kuboki · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingEvery god in Japan is said to gather at Izumo Taisha for Kamiari-zuki (Nov 9-Dec 8, 2026) -- the one shrine where the 'godless month' becomes the 'month with gods'.
2026/11/18 19:00 Across JapanFree
© senngokujidai4434 · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's largest German-style Christmas market: a glittering tree, wooden hutte stalls, mulled wine and bay-side lights by the historic red brick warehouses.
2026/11/21 11:00 YokohamaPaid timed entry (around ¥500–1,000 — check official site).
© Kakidai · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingFrom nightly hour-long showings at Takachiho Shrine to the free two-day, all-33-dance Yokagura Matsuri and month-long hamlet sessions each winter, Takachiho Yokagura is one of Kyushu's most accessible sacred night rituals -- a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property since 1978.
2026/11/22 18:00 Across JapanFree
© David Stanley · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingAt one of Japan's top hot-spring towns, kimono-clad locals cool the scalding spring water with long wooden paddles in time to folk songs — a centuries-old daily ritual at Netsunoyu.
2026/12/01 09:30 Across JapanAdults ¥700, elementary children ¥350
© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingChichibu Night Festival 2026 runs Dec 2 (Wed)–3 (Thu); the main night is Dec 3, when lantern-lit UNESCO floats are hauled up Dangozaka and winter fireworks fill the sky for about two hours. Free to attend; about 80 minutes from Ikebukuro — dates, venue and access below.
2026/12/02 14:00 TokyoFree
© Katorisi · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSix lantern-lit floats are hauled up steep Dango-zaka as winter fireworks burst overhead — one of Japan's three great float festivals and a UNESCO heritage event.
2026/12/03 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Wikimedia Commons · Public domainOfficialUpcomingA 890-year-old festival whose daytime parade marches costumes from the Heian through Edo eras through central Nara.
2026/12/15 09:00 NaraFree
© Degueulasse · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingWinter Comiket returns to Tokyo Big Sight for a rare 3-day run, Dec 29-31, 2026 — the first 3-day winter edition since C95 in December 2018.
2026/12/29 10:00 TokyoPaid wristband entry required for general visitors each day (exact price not yet announced). Circle (doujin seller) participation is by application, expected to open around August 2026.
© Taichi · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo's official free countdown lights up the Metropolitan Government Building with giant projection mapping, live acts and a midnight cheer in Shinjuku.
2026/12/31 22:00 TokyoFree
© Markus Leupold-Löwenthal · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSome two million Osakans cross the arched Sorihashi bridge to greet the year at 'Sumiyossan,' head shrine of Japan's 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines.
2026/12/31 22:00 OsakaFree
© Saigen Jiro · CC0
OfficialUpcomingSeventeen monks heave on ropes to toll Chion-in's 70-ton bell 108 times on New Year's Eve, each deep strike clearing a worldly desire.
2026/12/31 22:30 KyotoPaid viewing — advance reservation required (from 2025)
© Marianne North · Public domain
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's head Inari shrine welcomes some 2.5 million New Year worshippers who pray for prosperity beneath endless tunnels of vermilion torii.
2026/12/31 23:00 KyotoFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly three million people stream through the towering torii to pray at Tokyo's grandest shrine in the first three days of the year.
2026/12/31 23:00 TokyoFree
© Nightcrafter · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAround a million people pack Osaka's Imamiya Ebisu Shrine over January 9-11 to pray to 'Ebessan', the god of business prosperity - collecting a lucky fukuzasa bamboo branch from kimono-clad 'fuku-musume' maidens to the chant 'come with your bamboo for a thriving business'.
2027/01/09 09:00 OsakaFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingFamous as Japan's earliest-blooming plum grove, Atami Bairin opens its winter ume from early January with taiko, geisha dances and hot-spring charm.
2027/01/09 09:00 Across JapanModest garden admission during the festival (recent years a few hundred yen).
© Ogata Kōrin · Public domain
OfficialUpcoming**The Grand Sumo Hatsu Basho 2027 runs January 10–24, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo** — the New Year tournament that opens the sumo calendar. It runs 15 straight days (Sun→Sun); **tickets are required** (buy via the official English site). Arrive by ~14:00–15:00 for the top-division bouts, which always finish by ~18:00.
2027/01/10 08:00 TokyoTickets required (no free entry). Prices vary by day and seat tier; 2027 prices are released with the tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp. As a rough guide (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki ~¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes ~¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair seats from ~¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ~¥11,000+ (SS). On-sale is typically 5–8 weeks before — check the official site for the exact 2027 date.
© Creazilla · CC0OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great fire festivals: villagers defend a giant wooden shrine with blazing torches as attackers try to set it alight in a wild snowbound battle.
2027/01/15 19:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingIn a Daisetsuzan gorge, ice domes and towers fill a riverside field, lit nightly in shifting colors with weekend fireworks over the snow.
2027/01/23 13:00 Across JapanCooperation fee around ¥500 (junior-high+); free for younger children.
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcoming**Kobe Luminarie 2027 runs Jan 29 (Fri) – Feb 7 (Sun), 2027** — the 32nd edition. You can see the light arches **free from the surrounding streets**; the special **paid zones at Meriken Park** need a ticket (advance ¥500 weekday / ¥750 weekend, as of July 2026). All three venues are walkable from Sannomiya Station.
2027/01/29 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Yoyogimura · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingSculptors spray the clear blue waters of Lake Shikotsu onto frames to build towering turquoise ice domes and tunnels, glowing in jewel tones after dark.
2027/01/30 10:00 SapporoDonation around ¥500 (high-school age+); free for younger children.
© Inlet Masu · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKyoto's most famous Setsubun rite, where a masked exorcist drives off blue, red and yellow demons in an ancient court ceremony, ringed by 800 food stalls.
2027/02/02 18:00 KyotoFree
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0OfficialUpcomingSumo wrestlers and celebrity 'lucky men' hurl tonnes of beans from Naritasan's great hall, where the chant is only 'fortune in' — no demons to expel.
2027/02/03 11:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingSapporo Snow Festival 2027: confirmed Feb 4–11 dates, the three free sites (Odori, Susukino, Tsudome), and how to get there from New Chitose Airport.
2027/02/04 10:00 SapporoFree
© Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore (U.S. Navy) · Public domainOfficialUpcomingNagasaki Lantern Festival 2027's official dates: Feb 5–21 (17 days), free to view. ~15,000 red Chinese lanterns and giant zodiac lantern objects light central Nagasaki nightly from 17:00–22:00, with a daily dragon dance and parades.
2027/02/05 17:00 Across JapanFree
© Cobalt Fox · Public Domain
OfficialUpcomingJapan's earliest cherry blossoms: about 850 vivid pink Kawazu-zakura line a 4km stretch of the Kawazu River in Izu, blooming a month before Tokyo's sakura.
2027/02/06 09:00 Across JapanFree
© Kirin7739 · CC0
OfficialUpcomingWestern Japan's biggest international cooperation festival: NGO booths, world food stalls and global music fill the Umeda Sky Building, free to all.
2027/02/06 10:00 OsakaFree
© Satdeep Gill · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOtaru's historic canal and old rail line glow with thousands of hand-lit snow lanterns and floating candles for eight winter nights.
2027/02/06 17:00 SapporoFree
© 欅 (Keyaki) · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingDemon-masked 'namahage' brandishing torches stampede down a snowy mountainside at Shinzan Shrine in a fierce, firelit Oga winter spectacle.
2027/02/12 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingRoughly 3,000 plum trees in over 60 varieties scent one of Japan's Three Great Gardens, drawing crowds for taiko, tea ceremony and geisha dances.
2027/02/13 08:00 Across JapanInner garden ~¥300 for non-residents; festival grounds largely free.
© Etwas Neues · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingHundreds of candlelit snow igloos glow across Yokote while children inside invite passersby in for sweet sake — plus 4,000 mini-kamakura lighting the riverbed.
2027/02/15 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Rarisan · CC0
OfficialUpcomingEvery February 17-20, dozens of Enburi troupes dance through Hachinohe in tall black eboshi hats to summon an early spring and good harvest - a roughly 800-year-old rite tracing to the Kamakura era, now a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
2027/02/17 07:00 Across JapanFree
© Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingThousands of loincloth-clad men pack a freezing temple hall at midnight, surging to seize two sacred shingi sticks flung into the throng — one of Japan's wildest rites.
2027/02/20 22:00 Across JapanFree
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainOfficialUpcomingKyoto Marathon 2027 runs Feb 21, sending 16,000 runners past Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji and five more UNESCO sites before finishing at Heian-jingu Shrine.
2027/02/21 09:00 KyotoMarathon entry ¥18,500 (Kyoto residents) / ¥19,500 (other domestic) / ¥35,000 (overseas); pair-ekiden ¥34,000/pair; wheelchair race ¥3,000. Spectating is free.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOsaka Marathon 2027 is set for Sunday, 28 February 2027. Entry is confirmed and open: the general field runs 28 July - 28 August 2026 (lottery, cap 28,420). Here's what's confirmed, how the lottery works, the ¥16,000 fee and the Osaka Castle finish.
2027/02/28 09:00 OsakaPaid, lottery entry; the full-marathon fee is around ¥16,000 (spectating is free).
© Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOn March 3 across Japan, families display tiered hina dolls of the Heian court to wish for girls' health, amid peach blossoms and sweet hishi-mochi.
2027/03/03 Across JapanFree
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingTokyo Marathon 2027 runs March 7: entry fee, the Aug 14–28 lottery window, the course, and how overseas runners enter via lottery, charity, or tour packages.
2027/03/07 09:10 TokyoFree
© nakashi from Chofu, Tokyo, JAPAN · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingJapan's leading art fair, spanning antiques to cutting-edge contemporary across 150-plus galleries in the heart of Marunouchi.
2027/03/12 11:00 TokyoPaid admission ticket (around ¥3,000 in recent editions); the day before public opening is an invitation-only preview.
© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcoming**The 2027 Grand Sumo Haru Basho (Spring Tournament) runs March 14–28, 2027 at EDION Arena Osaka (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium), about a 5-minute walk from Namba.** It is the only one of the six annual tournaments held in Osaka — 15 straight days of top-division sumo, Sunday to Sunday.
2027/03/14 08:30 OsakaApproximate 2026 prices; 2027 prices are released with each tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp (as of July 2026). Rough per-person ranges: ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000; masu-seki tatami boxes around ¥9,000–15,000 by tier and day; Western chair seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (SS). A limited number of same-day chair seats (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the box office each morning, first-come, if seats remain.
© No machine-readable author provided. Peter 111 assumed (based on copyright claim · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOver 1,000 cherry trees frame the brilliant white 'White Heron' castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in one of Japan's most picture-perfect hanami scenes.
2027/03/27 OsakaFree
© Seattleite7 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAround 30,000 cherry trees in 200 varieties blanket a sacred mountainside, blooming in waves up four zones from Shimo to Oku Senbon.
2027/03/27 NaraFree
© Tawashi2006 · CC BY 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcomingThe world's largest anime expo leaves Tokyo for the first time and brings its public days to Intex Osaka.
2027/03/27 10:00 OsakaPaid admission; ticket prices for the 2027 Osaka edition to be announced on the official site.
© Jack145945 · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialUpcomingJapan's hot-spring capital throws its biggest party of the year — a fire festival on Mount Ogi, free baths across the city and a mikoshi parade thanking the springs.
2027/04/01 11:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingKofu's streets fill with roughly 1,500 armour-clad marchers and around 30 horses re-enacting the Koshu army's departure for battle - a Guinness World Record 'largest gathering of people dressed as samurai,' held on the first weekend of April.
2027/04/02 12:00 Across JapanFree
© 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingThirteen three-tiered floats with karakuri puppets parade below Inuyama Castle, glowing with lanterns under the cherry blossoms.
2027/04/03 09:00 NagoyaFree
© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialUpcomingTwelve ornate Edo-era yatai floats with karakuri puppets parade through old Takayama, glowing with around 100 lanterns each at the night festival.
2027/04/14 09:00 NagoyaFree
© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0OfficialUpcomingKYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 (Apr 17–May 16): Kyoto's international photography festival shows world-class work in temples and machiya across the city. Confirmed dates, venues, Passport tickets.
2027/04/17 10:00 KyotoPer-venue tickets or an all-venue Passport; some programs are free.
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOn the night of April 19, hundreds of near-naked men carry a giant drum on a tall wooden tower through Hida-Furukawa while rival neighborhood teams charge in to plant their small drums against it - the wild Okoshi-daiko, heart of a UNESCO-listed festival that also parades nine ornate floats on the 20th.
2027/04/19 09:00 Across JapanFree
© teru · Public domainOfficialUpcomingThree 12-metre, 20-ton wooden floats — among Japan's largest — are hauled through Nanao's narrow streets.
2027/05/03 09:00 KanazawaFree
© Jovandavid · Public DomainOfficialUpcomingGiant kites duel over the Nakatajima dunes by day; by night, illuminated palace-style floats and brass bands fill downtown Hamamatsu.
2027/05/03 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's biggest festivals: around 2 million people watch 750-plus troupes parade with shamoji clappers, flower floats and stage shows over May 3–4.
2027/05/03 10:00 FukuokaFree
© フェレス · CC BY-SA 2.1 jp
OfficialUpcoming**The Grand Sumo Natsu Basho (Summer Tournament) runs May 9–23, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo** — a 15-day honbasho, Sunday to Sunday, and one of only three Tokyo tournaments each year. Tickets sell via the official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket; arrive around 14:00–15:00 for the top division (the day ends by ~18:00).
2027/05/09 08:30 TokyoTickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase via the official Japan Sumo Association ticket site.
© Gregg Tavares · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Japan's three great festivals returns in full force: mikoshi processions fill Kanda, Nihonbashi and Akihabara in this 2027 honmatsuri year.
2027/05/15 08:00 TokyoFree
© Jose Fernando from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcomingA 1,400-year-old imperial procession of 500 people in Heian-era robes winds 8km through Kyoto, oxen and ox-carts adorned with hollyhock leaves.
2027/05/15 10:30 KyotoFree
© Marie-Sophie Mejan · CC BY 4.0
OfficialUpcomingNikko Toshogu's Spring Grand Festival returns May 17-18, 2027: yabusame archery and a 1,200-person samurai procession reenacting Ieyasu's journey to Nikko.
2027/05/17 09:00 TokyoFree
© Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingOne of Hokuriku's three great festivals: six towering 6-metre warrior floats crowned with giant musha-ningyo figures are hauled through old port-town streets.
2027/05/19 08:00 KanazawaFree
© Jonathan Mercieca · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingAsakusa's wildest weekend returns in 2027: roughly 100 mikoshi and two million visitors expected to pack the streets around Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine.
2027/05/21 11:00 TokyoFree
© Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingHundreds of riders in full samurai armour thunder across Fukushima's coast for armoured horse races and a wild scramble to catch sacred flags shot into the sky.
2027/05/29 09:00 Across JapanThe main-day grounds (Hibarigahara) are ticketed for grandstand seating; street processions are free to watch. Exact 2027 dates (last weekend of May) confirmed in advance.
© Hajime NAKANO · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingKanazawa's grandest festival reenacts feudal lord Maeda Toshiie's triumphant entry into the castle, with a costumed warrior procession, tea ceremonies and lantern-lit dances.
2027/06/04 09:00 KanazawaFree
© Z3144228 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingOsaka's Aizen Matsuri (fixed every Jun 30–Jul 2) just wrapped its 2026 run — here's what happened, and the reliable placeholder for 2027.
2027/06/30 10:00 OsakaFree
© Ogiyoshisan · Public domain
OfficialUpcoming**The 2027 Grand Sumo Nagoya Basho runs July 11–25, 2027 at IG Arena (IGアリーナ), Nagoya's new arena that opened in July 2025.** It's a 15-day tournament; the top-division bouts run each afternoon and always finish by about 6:00pm. Tickets go on sale roughly 5–8 weeks ahead via the official English site.
2027/07/11 08:00 NagoyaPaid, ticketed. Prices are set per tournament; 2027 figures are released with the Nagoya basho. For scale (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000 per person; masu-seki tatami boxes about ¥9,000–15,000 per person by tier and day; chair (isu-seki) seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (SS). Confirm the exact 2027 prices on sumo.or.jp.
© elmimmo · CC BY 2.0
OfficialUpcomingFor five days every July 31-August 4, 27 towering, gold-leafed floats and three shrines' mikoshi processions fill Hachinohe's streets - a 300-year-old harvest-thanksgiving festival and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that draws over a million visitors.
2027/07/31 18:00 Across JapanFree
© 8-Forest · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcoming**The 2027 Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament (Aki Basho) runs Sep 12–26, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo** — 15 straight days of top-division bouts. It's a 2-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station. Tickets go on sale roughly 5–8 weeks ahead via the official English site; arrive by ~15:00 for the makuuchi stars.
2027/09/12 08:00 TokyoPaid, ticketed. Rough guide (approximate 2026 prices — the 2027 fares are released with each tournament, so confirm on sumo.or.jp; as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes about ¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair (isu-seki) seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (tier SS). A limited number of same-day chair tickets (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the box office each morning, first-come.
© Mila Lai · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialUpcoming**Grand Sumo's Kyushu Basho 2027 runs Nov 14–28, 2027 at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center**, the year's sixth and final honbasho. Fifteen days of top-division sumo close the season; the top bouts run roughly 15:45–18:00 daily. Buy via the official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket.
2027/11/14 08:00 FukuokaPaid; buy via sumo.or.jp/EnTicket (international cards accepted), Ticket Pia / Lawson / Seven, or resellers (Klook, Viator, GetYourGuide, JTB) at higher prices with English support. Approximate 2026 prices — 2027 prices are released with the tournament, so confirm on the official site (as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000/person; masu box seats roughly ¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (tier SS). Advance sale typically opens 5–8 weeks before; check the official site for the exact 2027 on-sale date.
© Hirho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialUpcomingHeld in full only in even-numbered years, Hie Shrine's grand procession sends a 500-strong parade of courtly costumes and portable shrines on a ten-hour route past the Imperial Palace and Ginza.
2028/06/08 07:30 TokyoFree
© Vetalapancavimsatika · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventGlowing arches of hundreds of thousands of lights fill Kobe each winter, a moving memorial turned beloved festival.
2026/01/23 18:00 Across JapanFree
© kimubert · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventEach January, fireworks burst over Nara before the entire grass-covered Mt. Wakakusa is set ablaze in a spectacular winter ritual.
2026/01/24 17:30 NaraFree
© 名古屋太郎 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventOne of Japan's three great gardens glows after dark in seasonal light-up events, from snowy yukitsuri ropes to autumn-leaf reflections.
2026/02/06 17:30 KanazawaFree
© tab2_dawa · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventA UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, nestled in a mountain valley that turns magical under snow.
2026/02/15 09:00 Across JapanFree
© 雷太 · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventMonks brandish giant flaming torches along Todaiji's Nigatsudo balcony each March, showering sparks over the crowd in a 1,200-year-old rite.
2026/03/12 19:00 NaraFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventGion's geiko and maiko perform the elegant Miyako Odori every April, a dazzling spring dance of kimono, music and seasonal scenes.
2026/04/01 12:30 KyotoTickets from around 4,000 yen; tea-ceremony seats cost more
© Conveyor belt sushi · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventOkinawa's Golden Week dragon-boat festival packs Naha's port with thundering paddle races, music stages and fireworks over the harbor.
2026/05/03 09:00 OkinawaFree
© Banzai Hiroaki · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventOne of Tokyo's three great festivals: hundreds of portable shrines parade through Akihabara and the old Edo districts.
2026/05/09 08:00 TokyoFree
© Jose Fernando from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventAsakusa's wildest weekend: nearly 100 portable shrines and two million people flood the streets around Senso-ji Temple.
2026/05/15 11:00 TokyoFree
© Torsodog · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventA grand samurai procession reenacts a feudal lord's entry into Kanazawa, complete with armor, geisha and lantern-lit floats.
2026/06/05 14:00 KanazawaFree
© Danko Georgiev · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialPast eventHiroshima's beloved summer kickoff: locals don yukata and fill the downtown streets for three festive nights.
2026/06/05 16:00 HiroshimaFree
© Dariusz Jemielniak · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventSapporo erupts in color as thousands of dancers perform high-energy yosakoi routines through the streets each June.
2026/06/10 10:00 SapporoFree
© OKJaguar · CC BY-SA 4.0
LumaPast eventA reflective life-design workshop in Minato on the theme of self-love — journaling and honest conversation.
2026/06/21 15:00 Tokyo¥6,600
© LIFE DESIGN CLUB · via Luma
OfficialPast eventSome 20,000 hydrangeas in 50 varieties carpet a hillside temple garden in Uji — including the elusive star-shaped 'shichidanka' — with weekend evening light-ups.
2026/06/22 08:30 KyotoGarden admission approx. ¥1,000 (adults).
© BLM Nevada · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventExplore the crimson seat of the former Ryukyu Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage site now rising again from its 2019 fire.
2026/06/26 09:00 OkinawaPark areas free; paid zones include the reconstruction site view
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventPick from hundreds of kimono, get dressed by friendly staff, and stroll Senso-ji and the old streets of Asakusa in full traditional style — booking and support in English.
2026/06/26 10:00 TokyoWomen's standard from ¥2,500; with hair set ¥3,500; couple plan ¥6,500 (return by 5:00 pm)
© H.Hmoderato · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventLearn the graceful art of the Japanese tea ceremony in a traditional Kyoto machiya, hosted in English for visitors.
2026/06/26 11:00 KyotoSessions typically 2,500-6,000 yen; reservations required
© Atticus nguyen · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventOne of Japan's most sacred shrines, set in a tranquil ancient forest in Nagoya and home to the legendary Kusanagi sword.
2026/06/27 09:00 NagoyaFree
© Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0
LumaPast eventA free, easygoing gathering for book lovers to read together and swap summer recommendations.
2026/06/27 10:00 TokyoFree
© Isheba Cornwall · via Luma
OfficialPast eventAn English-speaking host walks you through a real matcha tea ceremony — whisking, etiquette and wagashi sweets — in a serene tatami tea room near Senso-ji, with optional kimono rental.
2026/06/27 11:00 TokyoFrom about ¥6,000 per person; kimono-included plans cost more
© KuboBella · CC BY-SA 4.0
LumaPast eventA relaxed photo-bingo walking tour of retro Shibamata — gentle, social and great for solo joiners.
2026/06/27 12:30 Tokyo¥2,000
© Introverts' Home · via Luma
OfficialPast eventSuit up in samurai armor, learn the basics of swordsmanship, and throw real ninja shuriken on a guided English tour through Japan's warrior history in Asakusa.
2026/06/27 13:00 TokyoBasic ticket from about ¥3,000 (adult); premium experiences cost more
© Savannah Rivka · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventDress in samurai armor, try sword training and throw shuriken on an English guided tour through Japan's warrior history in the heart of downtown Kyoto.
2026/06/27 14:00 KyotoBasic ticket from about ¥3,000 (adult); longer experiences cost more
© Auckland Museum Collections from Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventTour a historic 1909 sake brewery in Kyoto's Fushimi district, see the old tools of the trade, taste the pure underground water, and finish with a sake tasting — all for ¥600.
2026/06/28 10:00 Kyoto¥600 admission (age 20+, includes sake tasting); ¥100 ages 13-19, free under 12
© Umio · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventRoll and shape your own nigiri and maki under a professional English-speaking instructor, then sit down and eat everything you made — a hands-on intro to sushi steps from Senso-ji.
2026/06/28 10:00 Tokyo¥13,000 per person (ingredients, equipment, instruction and the sushi you make all included)
© Nnaluci · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventLearn to hold the brush, control the ink and write kanji the traditional way in a 90-minute English-led shodo class — and take your finished artwork home as a keepsake.
2026/06/28 11:00 KyotoReserve via the official site for current pricing
© Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5
OfficialPast eventIn the heart of old-town Asakusa, this beloved yose performs 365 days a year — rakugo storytelling plus manzai, magic, acrobatics and impressions. Drop in any day for an authentic dose of downtown Tokyo entertainment.
2026/06/28 11:00 TokyoBox-office tickets, all unreserved. Day program from 11:40, evening from 16:40.
© DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventStroll Kyoto's historic Fushimi sake quarter, where soft spring water and centuries-old breweries make some of Japan's finest sake.
2026/06/28 11:00 KyotoTastings and museum entry from a few hundred yen
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5
LumaPast eventLie back and feel the resonance of Japanese taiko in an immersive sound-bath session.
2026/06/28 16:30 Tokyo¥7,000
© Nanako · via LumaOfficialPast eventPair Japan's celebrated Kenrokuen Garden with the restored Kanazawa Castle next door — landscaped ponds, teahouses and white turrets.
2026/06/29 09:00 KanazawaKenrokuen entry around 320 yen; castle park grounds mostly free
© tab2_dawa · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventJapan's oldest and largest museum in Ueno Park, home to samurai armor, Buddhist art and an unrivaled national treasure collection.
2026/06/29 09:00 TokyoRegular collection around 1,000 yen; special exhibits priced separately
© Carla Antonini · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventCook Osaka's soul food — okonomiyaki, takoyaki and ramen — with an English-speaking chef in 'Japan's kitchen', then sit down and feast on what you made.
2026/06/29 11:00 OsakaVaries by menu and group; reserve via the official site
© Lianguanlun · CC BY 4.0
OfficialPast eventTokyo's oldest yose (variety hall), founded in 1857, runs daily programs of rakugo comic storytelling alongside manzai, magic, paper-cutting and acrobatics. A relaxed, ever-changing slice of Edo-era popular entertainment.
2026/06/29 12:00 TokyoAround ¥3,500 adults / ¥2,500 students. Day program from ~12:30, evening from ~17:00.
© Wintermelonizm · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventTrain like a real ninja with a licensed Japanese master — sword, dagger, shuriken and blowgun techniques in a downtown tatami dojo, taught hands-on in English.
2026/06/29 13:00 Kyoto1-hour lesson ¥10,000; 2-hour lesson ¥15,000 per person (ninja costume included)
© M Disdero · CC BY-SA 2.5
OfficialPast eventSculpt your own seasonal nerikiri wagashi by hand, then enjoy it with freshly whisked matcha in a kimono — a gentle, English-guided sweets-and-tea workshop near Senso-ji.
2026/06/29 14:00 TokyoAbout ¥12,000 per person (kimono rental, ingredients and utensils included)
© Douglas Perkins · CC0
OfficialPast eventA short ferry from Hiroshima reaches Miyajima, where the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on the tide.
2026/06/30 09:00 HiroshimaFerry and shrine entry each a few hundred yen
© Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0
OfficialPast eventThrow your own bowl or cup on an electric potter's wheel with a third-generation Kyoto ceramicist near Sennyu-ji; your fired piece is shipped to you afterward.
2026/06/30 10:00 KyotoQuick course about ¥2,000 (20 min); standard course ¥5,000 (30-60 min), plus tax
© Tom Parker · Public domain
OfficialPast eventFeel the thunder of Japanese wadaiko drums in an English-led lesson — learn the rhythms and stances, then perform together wearing a happi coat, no experience needed.
2026/06/30 15:00 TokyoVaries by plan; reserve via the official site (taiko-reserve.com)
© Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialPast eventA 50-minute sampler of Kyoto's traditional performing arts in one sitting: maiko kyomai dance, bunraku puppet theatre, kyogen comedy, court bugaku dance, tea ceremony, ikebana and koto. The easiest, most tourist-friendly intro to Japanese arts.
2026/06/30 18:00 KyotoAdult from ¥5,500; premium seats ¥6,600. Daily shows at 18:00 and 19:00 (winter Dec–Mar: Tue–Fri only).
© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventSapporo'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.
2026/07/01 08:00 SapporoFree
© pelican from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventHiroshima's most visited site: a deeply moving record of the 1945 atomic bombing, with multilingual audio guides and free volunteer guides for overseas visitors.
2026/07/01 08:30 HiroshimaAdults ¥200; reservations advised at peak hours
© Michael Helmer · Public domain
OfficialPast eventSit zazen with the head monk inside a 400-year-old temple usually closed to the public, just minutes from Roppongi — a calm, English-guided introduction to Zen with tea and sweets.
2026/07/01 10:00 TokyoPrivate experience — contact the operator for pricing
© summonedbyfells · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventA whole building stacked with 23 okonomiyaki stalls: watch chefs layer cabbage, noodles and egg on sizzling teppan in Hiroshima's soul-food theme park.
2026/07/01 11:00 HiroshimaFree
© EllieBellie25 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventA rare surviving wooden yose from the early 20th century, Suehirotei keeps the intimate atmosphere of old Tokyo. Daily rakugo and variety acts in tatami-and-cushion seating, a one-minute walk from busy Shinjuku-Sanchome.
2026/07/01 12:00 TokyoAbout ¥3,500 adults (students ¥3,000; discounted evening entry available). Day from 12:00, evening from 16:45.
© 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventTokyo's vast wholesale fish market with tuna auctions, viewing decks and fresh-sushi restaurants open to visitors.
2026/07/02 06:00 TokyoFree
© Angelo DeSantis from Berkeley, US · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventKabuki's flagship Ginza theatre stages its July all-star run, headlined by a spectacular 13-role quick-change tour de force and a 43-year revival packed with aerial stunts and a real-water finale. English captioning is available.
2026/07/02 11:00 TokyoFrom ¥5,000 (Upper Tier B) up to ¥20,000 (Special Seat). English/Chinese captioning service +¥1,500.
© Shakher59 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventYebisu beer's birthplace at Yebisu Garden Place, with a museum, guided tours and a tasting taproom.
2026/07/02 12:00 TokyoFree
© Wpcpey · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialPast eventOne of the Kanto region's largest Tanabata festivals, where central Hiratsuka disappears beneath giant, gaudy bamboo streamers up to ten metres tall.
2026/07/03 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Midori (Wikimedia user) · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventExplore Kanazawa's gold-leaf workshops, colorful Kutani porcelain and the preserved Higashi Chaya geisha district.
2026/07/03 10:00 KanazawaFree
© ajari · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventRetro Shitamachi shopping street near Ueno lined with food stalls, wagashi sweets, croquettes and old-Tokyo charm.
2026/07/03 11:00 TokyoFree
© Stephen Kelly from San Francisco, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
JmtyPast eventMingle with a roughly 50/50 mix of Japanese and Korean locals over a 2-hour all-you-can-drink dinner—perfect for K-pop, K-drama and Korean-food fans.
2026/07/03 19:50 TokyoMen ¥4,000 / Women ¥3,000
© ゆの (Yuno) · via jmty
JmtyPast eventA relaxed Korean-conversation meetup at a Kyoto café—practice speaking at any level with seats arranged by ability, then swap contacts over coffee.
2026/07/04 15:00 Kyoto¥1,000 (¥500 if no Korean attendees)
© Edge place（エッヂプレイス） · via jmty
OfficialPast eventHistoric sake museum in Kyoto's Fushimi brewing district with exhibits, brewery tours and a tasting corner.
2026/07/05 09:30 KyotoPaid admission including a tasting; open 9:30-16:30 (last entry 16:00). Cashless from July 2026.
© Makoragi · CC BY 4.0OfficialPast eventThe Kyoto International Community House hosts cultural exchange events, language cafes and workshops for visitors and residents.
2026/07/05 14:00 KyotoMany events free or low-cost; some workshops ticketed
© Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventUpscale Marunouchi live restaurant pairing dinner with intimate jazz, soul and world-music concerts.
2026/07/05 18:30 TokyoReserved seating with music charge plus food and drink; reservations recommended.
© Querar · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventFree sake museum in Kobe's Nada Gogo district inside a Taisho-era brewhouse, with life-size displays and tastings.
2026/07/06 09:30 OsakaFree
© Makoragi · CC BY 4.0
OfficialPast eventA daimyo stroll-garden on the Owari Tokugawa estate, with a central pond, Ozone Waterfall and seasonal peony and iris beds beside a samurai art museum.
2026/07/06 09:30 NagoyaAdmission charged (see official site)
© Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
JmtyPast eventA 90-minute introductory aroma hand-therapy workshop in Yokohama, finishing with a relaxed tea gathering—wellness for caregivers and busy minds.
2026/07/07 13:30 Yokohama¥1,000
© Jupiter（宮澤） · via jmty
OfficialPast eventRoppongi dinner-and-concert club in Tokyo Midtown hosting international and Japanese artists across genres.
2026/07/07 19:00 TokyoReserved seating with music charge; food and drink ordered on site.
© Johannes Stage (1889–1962), Norwegian photographer · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventUmeda dinner-and-concert club in the Herbis Plaza Ent, hosting jazz, soul and pop in an intimate room.
2026/07/08 19:00 OsakaReserved seating with music charge; food and drink ordered on site.
© FingerWiki · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventHakata's oldest 400 m covered arcade with 130+ shops, eateries and the famous Kawabata zenzai red-bean sweet.
2026/07/09 11:00 FukuokaFree
© BradBeattie · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventSumo's summer tournament moves into Nagoya's brand-new IG Arena for the first time — fifteen days of top-division bouts in a gleaming 17,000-seat venue.
2026/07/12 08:30 NagoyaTickets required. Arena chair seats start from about ¥3,500; ringside and box (masu) seats cost more. Buy via the official Japan Sumo Association ticket site.
© Simon Q · CC BY 2.0
JmtyPast eventA laid-back Japanese-chess afternoon in central Yokohama—beginners welcome, with coaching, free matches and original puzzle cards over a drink.
2026/07/12 13:00 Yokohama¥1,500 (includes one drink)
© 小野精一郎 (@yuru_shougi) · via jmty
JmtyPast eventA free, family-friendly Sunday gathering in Edogawa where kids and adults play, sing and connect across English and Japanese—no experience needed.
2026/07/12 15:30 TokyoFree
© こまつな／江戸川ベースnappa · via jmty
OfficialPast eventOver 30,000 golden lanterns light the approach to Yasukuni Shrine across four summer nights, with Aomori nebuta floats and bon-odori dancing.
2026/07/13 18:00 TokyoFree
© PattayaPatrol · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventTwelve 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.
2026/07/14 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions
OfficialPast eventFukuoka's adrenaline-fueled finale: teams race one-ton festival floats through the dawn streets of Hakata.
2026/07/15 04:59 FukuokaFree
© ちょちょじ · CC BY 3.0
OfficialPast eventKyoto's grandest festival fills July with towering wooden floats, lantern-lit evening parties, and 1,100 years of tradition.
2026/07/17 09:00 KyotoFree
© Corpse Reviver · CC BY 3.0
OfficialPast eventKokura 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.
2026/07/17 18:00 FukuokaFree
© Nissy-KITAQ · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventThree seaside days of Nepal in Tokyo's Odaiba — momo and dal bhat, Himalayan crafts, folk dance and music against the bay, free to all.
2026/07/18 10:00 TokyoFree
© Original: Mithun Kunwar Derivative work: Radomianin · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialPast eventTokyo'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.
2026/07/18 11:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventOn 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.
2026/07/21 08:00 KyotoFree
© Globetrotter19 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventOtaru's biggest summer festival fills the port with the mass 'Shio Nerikomi' dance and a closing fireworks display.
2026/07/24 11:00 SapporoFree
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventSado 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.
2026/07/25 10:00 Across JapanFree
© Hasui Kawase · Public domain
OfficialPast eventThe home of bunraku, Japan's UNESCO-listed puppet theatre, where master puppeteers, tayu chanters and shamisen bring epic dramas to life.
2026/07/25 11:00 OsakaTickets vary by program; English audio guide available
© Hiart · CC0OfficialPast eventThe 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.
2026/07/25 13:00 TokyoFree
© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventOsaka's thousand-year river festival ends with a flotilla of lantern-lit boats and fireworks reflected on the Okawa River.
2026/07/25 15:00 OsakaFree
© Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialPast eventOne of Japan's three great river festivals — lantern-laden 'makiwara' boats glide across the Tenno River by night.
2026/07/25 18:00 NagoyaFree
© Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventBy night, daytime banner floats transform into 'lantern pyramids' — 12 tiers of 309 glowing lanterns swaying as bearers race them through Kitakyushu.
2026/07/25 18:30 FukuokaFree
© Adbh266 · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventTokyo's most storied summer fireworks show launches 20,000 shells over the Sumida River with Tokyo Skytree glowing behind.
2026/07/25 19:00 TokyoFree
© 桜庭シェリー · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialPast eventA public live-house complex and the cultural heart of Koza, Okinawa City's storied music district, hosting local and touring acts.
2026/07/30 19:00 OkinawaTicket price varies by event.
© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialPast eventThe planet's biggest cosplay festival: teams from 40+ countries parade through Nagoya and battle for the World Cosplay Championship at Oasis 21.
2026/07/31 10:00 NagoyaFree
© VulcanSphere · CC BY 4.0
OfficialPast eventDubbed '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.
2026/08/01 08:00 FukuokaFree
© PattayaPatrol · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventKanazawa's 300-year-old kitchen: ~170 stalls of Sea of Japan crab, sweet shrimp and just-sliced sashimi rice bowls under one covered arcade.
2026/08/01 09:00 KanazawaFree
© AUSH baowHAO 260088 · CC0
OfficialPast eventAt the home of Kyoto's 1,200-year Nishijin weaving tradition, dress in one of 150+ komon kimono — footwear and underthings included — and stroll the old capital in style.
2026/08/01 10:00 KyotoKomon kimono ¥4,950 (outdoor) / ¥3,850 (indoor); reservation required
© Pitke · CC BY 3.0
OfficialPast eventIn a Naramachi machiya once home to a Kofukuji monk, taste five Harushika sakes and keep the souvenir glass — sake from the very birthplace of Japanese sake.
2026/08/01 10:00 NaraFive-sake tasting approx. ¥500 with souvenir glass
© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions
OfficialPast eventNara'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.
2026/08/01 10:00 NaraFree
© Ssemmanda will · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventThe shop that invented Kanazawa's gold-leaf soft serve, where a shimmering sheet of edible gold is laid on your cone and you can try gold-leaf crafts.
2026/08/01 10:00 KanazawaGold-leaf soft serve approx. ¥891; craft experiences vary
© Felix Riano · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventNagoya's quirky downtown district throws a lively summer festival with cosplay, world dance and a wet 'kara-okuri' parade.
2026/08/01 10:00 NagoyaFree
© Alan & Flora Botting · CC BY-SA 2.0
OfficialPast eventThe world's first ramen theme park: slurp regional ramen styles in a recreated 1958 Tokyo backstreet, with gluten-free and vegetarian bowls too.
2026/08/01 11:00 YokohamaAdmission: adults ¥450, children ¥100, under 6 free (ramen extra)
© Asturio Cantabrio · CC BY-SA 4.0OfficialPast eventKitakyushu's biggest summer festival sends massive 'Wasshoi' dance parades and mikoshi through Kokura, capped by fireworks.
2026/08/01 15:00 FukuokaFree
© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventA Guinness-record wall of taiko drums thunders through Morioka as thousands of dancers chant 'Sakkora choiwayasse!'
2026/08/01 18:00 Across JapanFree
© Marho · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventHakodate Port Festival 2026 (Aug 1–5): free Hokkaido summer festival with opening-night bay fireworks on Aug 1 and the famous Ika Odori squid dance Aug 2–3. Dates, times, access.
2026/08/01 19:45 Across JapanFree
© Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
OfficialPast eventBilled 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.
2026/08/02 18:30 NagoyaFree
© Kazehayashi · CC BY-SA 4.0
OfficialPast eventNagaoka's 2026 reserved seats sold out June 17 — the official resale opens July 6 (Japan residents only). Here's the resale route, the unauthorized-resale warning, and where you can still watch for free.
2026/08/02 19:20 Across JapanReserved seats sold out; official resale only (Japan residents), approx. ¥1,000-¥48,000 face value by tier
© Cp9asngf · CC BY-SA 3.0OfficialPast eventOne of Japan's three great fireworks festivals, famed for the colossal 'Phoenix' shells fired across the Shinano River as a prayer for peace.
2026/08/02 19:20 Across JapanFree
© Cp9asngf · CC BY-SA 3.0