USJ's anime-and-game mega-event marks its 10th anniversary with five blockbuster Japanese titles, including the park debut of 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' running into January 2027.
2026/05/29 23:30 OsakaRequires a Studio Pass (1-day from around 8,600 yen); some Cool Japan attractions need a separate Express Pass.
© Daniel L · GoogleUSJ celebrates 25 years with a year-long 'Discover U!!!' festival — a new anniversary parade, classic film cars on display and special entertainment running from spring 2026 into March 2027.
2026/06/21 23:30 OsakaIncluded with a Studio Pass (1-day from around 8,600 yen); no separate ticket for the anniversary entertainment.
© Daniel L · GoogleHello Kitty's indoor theme park celebrates 35 years with ribbon-themed decor and 'The Quest of Wonders' — its first all-new main parade in a decade — running all the way through the end of 2026.
2026/06/22 TokyoPassport tickets from around 3,300-4,000 yen (varies by date); cheaper online and on weekdays.
© مروان (سيف) · GoogleThe world's only ocean-themed Disney park turns 25 with a year-long 'Sparkling Jubilee' — a new harbor show, the 'Dance the Globe!' production and 'Jubilee Blue' decor across all eight ports.
2026/06/22 TokyoRequires a Tokyo DisneySea park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, price varies by date).
© Michael Farnham · Google
Official进行中Known as 'Osaka's Kitchen,' this 580-metre covered arcade packs around 150 stalls of fresh seafood, grilled crab, sea urchin, wagyu skewers and street snacks.
2026/06/30 23:00 Osaka免费
© Choi2451 · 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.
2026/07/03 01:00 Across Japan免费
© KUNIYOSHI · GoogleStep into the worlds of Studio Ghibli in Aichi, with life-size sets from Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Castle and more.
2026/07/07 01:00 NagoyaTimed tickets required; book online well in advance
© Wu Wu Wu · GoogleWorld-touring taiko troupe DRUM TAO performs a 45-minute show at its own open-air theatre, perched at 1,036m in the grasslands of Aso-Kuju National Park. Thunderous drumming, athletic choreography and sweeping highland views.
2026/07/07 05:00 Across JapanAdults (junior-high+) ¥4,500; children (4+) ¥2,500; under 3 free. Spring/autumn shows at 14:00.
© 野外劇場 TAOの丘／Open-air Theater TAO-no-Oka · GoogleInside Ocean Expo Park, the giant Kuroshio tank holds whale sharks and manta rays behind one of the world's largest acrylic panels.
2026/07/07 23:30 OkinawaAdmission charged (see official fee page)
© 簡郁中（Jimmy） · GoogleHakata's oldest 400 m covered arcade with 130+ shops, eateries and the famous Kawabata zenzai red-bean sweet.
2026/07/09 02:00 Fukuoka免费
© David Kuei · GoogleRolling purple lavender fields perfume the Hokkaido hills at Japan's most iconic flower farm, framed by distant snow-capped peaks.
2026/07/09 23:30 Sapporo免费
© t yamasita · GoogleKansai's flagship Pokemon store atop Daimaru Shinsaibashi, with an adjoining cafe where Pikachu-shaped dishes arrive tableside.
2026/07/10 01:00 Osaka免费
© Never White · GoogleJapan's largest handmade-craft festival, where about 3,000 creators sell jewelry, ceramics, leather, art and food over one weekend.
2026/07/11 02:00 Tokyo¥1,300 advance / ¥1,500 door (1-day); ¥2,000 advance / ¥2,500 door (2-day); elementary schoolers and younger free.
© HIROSE HIROHIDE · GoogleKyushu's only official Pokemon store, two minutes from Hakata Station, stocking 2,500+ items including Fukuoka-themed exclusives.
2026/07/12 01:00 Fukuoka免费
© Kim Loon Chee · GoogleA free, all-ages pickleball gathering near Odo Station bringing students, staff and locals together to play and connect across generations.
2026/07/12 01:00 Kyoto免费
© Xin · GoogleA 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 06:30 Tokyo免费
© Base Camp Tokyo 江戸川橋 · GoogleOver 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 09:00 Tokyo免费
© N K · GoogleKyoto's grandest festival fills July with towering wooden floats, lantern-lit evening parties, and 1,100 years of tradition.
2026/07/17 Kyoto免费
© Salvador Fernández · GoogleThree 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 01:00 Tokyo免费
© カメレオンマン · GoogleA summer seaside festival at Yamashita Park with parades, a lit-up boat procession and fireworks over Yokohama Bay.
2026/07/18 07:00 Yokohama免费
© Kuro Manabu · GoogleJR Central's railway museum displays 39 real trains — from steam locomotives to record-setting maglev — plus Japan's largest model railway diorama.
2026/07/20 01:00 NagoyaAdults ~¥1,000 (check site)
© Ng Carsica · GoogleOtaru's biggest summer festival fills the port with the mass 'Shio Nerikomi' dance and a closing fireworks display.
2026/07/24 02:00 Sapporo免费
© ALFRED PHOTO FOUNDATION · GoogleAround 600,000 sunflowers blaze across the Yatsugatake foothills, lit up after dark for a glowing field beneath the night sky.
2026/07/25 Across Japan免费
© 北杜市明野サンフラワーフェス メイン会場 · GoogleThe home of bunraku, Japan's UNESCO-listed puppet theatre, where master puppeteers, tayu chanters and shamisen bring epic dramas to life.
2026/07/25 02:00 OsakaTickets vary by program; English audio guide available
© 坂元菊子 · GoogleOne of Japan's three great river festivals — lantern-laden 'makiwara' boats glide across the Tenno River by night.
2026/07/25 09:00 Nagoya免费
© おおゆき · GoogleBy night, daytime banner floats transform into 'lantern pyramids' — 12 tiers of 309 glowing lanterns swaying as bearers race them through Kitakyushu.
2026/07/25 09:30 Fukuoka免费
© 酒吞童子WALKER · GoogleTokyo's most storied summer fireworks show launches 20,000 shells over the Sumida River with Tokyo Skytree glowing behind.
2026/07/25 10:00 Tokyo免费
© Mark Williams · GoogleTokyo's most famous fireworks: 20,000 shells light up the sky over the Sumida River with Skytree as the backdrop.
2026/07/25 10:00 Tokyo免费
© Mark Williams · GoogleHokkoku Fireworks Kanazawa 2026 (Jul 25): 12,000+ shells over the Saigawa River in central Kanazawa, free viewing — date, venue and access.
2026/07/25 10:30 Kanazawa免费
© haya · GoogleOne of the Seto Inland Sea's largest displays — about 10,000 shells, including wide 10-go bursts, choreographed to music over Hiroshima Port.
2026/07/25 11:00 Hiroshima免费
© 전정옥 (Withok) · GoogleUSJ's 25th-anniversary ONE PIECE event runs July 30–Nov 19, 2026. Premier Show ¥3,000–6,000, Sanji's Pirate Restaurant ¥7,000 (lottery) — full ticket guide.
2026/07/29 23:30 OsakaStudio Pass required; the Premier Show and Sanji's Pirate Restaurant need separate paid/lottery tickets.
© Daniel L · GoogleKanazawa'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 Kanazawa免费
© YH Hsiao · GoogleNara'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 01:00 Nara免费
© 陳長懋 · GoogleNagoya's quirky downtown district throws a lively summer festival with cosplay, world dance and a wet 'kara-okuri' parade.
2026/08/01 01:00 Nagoya免费
© YICHENG LIN (Joe) · GoogleThe 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 02:00 YokohamaAdmission: adults ¥450, children ¥100, under 6 free (ramen extra)
© Massa S. · GoogleKitakyushu's biggest summer festival sends massive 'Wasshoi' dance parades and mikoshi through Kokura, capped by fireworks.
2026/08/01 06:00 Fukuoka免费
© 戴永聯 · GoogleA Guinness-record wall of taiko drums thunders through Morioka as thousands of dancers chant 'Sakkora choiwayasse!'
2026/08/01 09:00 Across Japan免费
© 郭琨山 · GoogleA 700-metre 'Grand Niagara' cascade and Tokyo's largest shells light up the Arakawa, fired in tandem with Toda City across the water.
2026/08/01 10:00 Tokyo免费
© I Y · GoogleA 1,000-shell opening burst in five seconds sets the tone for one of Tokyo's biggest riverside fireworks shows over the Edogawa.
2026/08/01 10:15 Tokyo免费
© 迎豊子 · GoogleHakodate 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 10:45 Sapporo免费
© Kwan Lee · Google
Official即将举行Aomori 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 10:00 Across JapanReserved viewing seat ¥4,000 (Aug 7 daytime + fireworks set ¥9,500); handling fee added
© Fisherman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Official即将举行How 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 10:00Paid grandstand seats from ¥1,000 (varies by festival and tier)
© MIKI Yoshihito · CC BY 2.0Official即将举行Giant illuminated warrior floats are paraded through Aomori nightly as chanting dancers leap alongside in a blaze of color.
2026/08/02 10:00 Across Japan免费
© Fisherman · 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.
2026/08/02 10:20 Across Japan免费
© ひろと · GooglePerformers balance towering bamboo poles strung with dozens of glowing lanterns on their palms, foreheads and shoulders.
2026/08/03 09:50 Across Japan免费
© 川井ぼん · GoogleSome 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 09:00 Across Japan免费
© Majin · GoogleOn summer nights, 20,000 candles flicker across Nara Park's historic grounds in a serene sea of gentle light.
2026/08/05 10:00 Nara免费
© Ionut Bucur · Google
Official即将举行Sendai 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 01:00 Across Japan免费
© 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0Japan's grandest star festival drapes Sendai's arcades in thousands of giant, handmade paper streamers.
2026/08/06 01:00 Across Japan免费
© Alean CHANG · GoogleAround 12,000 fireworks reflect off Japan's largest lake near Otsu in a 40th-anniversary show fused with drones and lasers.
2026/08/06 10:30 Kyoto免费
© ミシガンクルーズのりば（琵琶湖汽船） · GoogleAsagaya Tanabata 2026 (Aug 7–11): Tokyo's free arcade tanabata, famous for giant handmade papier-mâché figures of the year's characters. Rain-or-shine. Dates, highlights, access.
2026/08/07 01:00 Tokyo免费
© K K · Google
Official即将举行Awa 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 09:00 Across JapanReserved grandstand ¥1,000 (C) – ¥3,000 (S); Minami-uchimachi SS ¥6,000 / Special ¥15,000
© Kounosu · CC BY-SA 3.0Three 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 10:00 NaraSmall fee to enter the inner lantern corridors
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleNaha's vibrant 'kitchen': vivid Okinawan reef fish, pork and produce downstairs, then a 'mochiagari' service cooks your picks at the upstairs eateries.
2026/08/14 23:00 Okinawa免费
© Fra nci · GoogleA Kisho Kurokawa building tucked into Shirakawa Park, strong on the Ecole de Paris, the Mexican Renaissance and local modern art.
2026/08/15 00:30 NagoyaCollection ~¥300; special exhibitions vary
© skylarking · GoogleA lakeside museum in Ohori Park by architect Kunio Maekawa, mixing Dali and Warhol with Buddhist treasures across 16,000+ works.
2026/08/15 00:30 FukuokaCollection ~¥200; special exhibitions vary
© Dirk Hebecker · GoogleAround 40,000 fireworks erupt over Lake Suwa, their booms echoing off the surrounding mountains in one of central Japan's most spectacular summer displays.
2026/08/15 10:00 Across Japan免费
© 松尾まさひろ · GoogleOne 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.
2026/08/15 22:30 Tokyo免费
© 千上 · GoogleThousands 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 10:00 Kyoto免费
© M L Wong · GoogleA thousand women dance through summer night with golden paper lanterns glowing on their heads — Kumamoto's most ethereal festival.
2026/08/16 11:00 Across Japan免费
© Ookami Nanaya · GoogleOne of Japan's biggest tropical-fish and aquatic-life markets fills an Asakusa hall with around 200 specialist booths.
2026/08/23 01:00 TokyoPaid admission (check the official site for the current ticket price).
© Orient Ltdexp · GoogleOkinawa'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 OkinawaAdults ¥2,000; children (4-14) ¥1,000
© おきなわワールド · GoogleOkinawa's biggest eisa festival, where drum troupes from across the islands perform thunderous traditional dance under summer skies.
2026/08/28 06:00 Okinawa免费
© MOTOJI YAMAMOTO · GoogleNara's energetic summer counterpoint — vivid street-dance teams parade past Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha and Sanjo-dori.
2026/08/29 02:00 Nara免费
© Zach Holloway · GoogleJapan's only major summer full marathon starts and finishes at Odori Park, using stretches of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic route.
2026/08/29 23:30 SapporoSpectating free; runner entry opens in late March 2026.
© Brandon Hung · GoogleA 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 01:00 Tokyo免费
© 百目鬼賢吾 · GoogleA three-week harvest food festival in Odori Park celebrating Hokkaido's bounty — fresh seafood, ramen, sweets, wine and local produce.
2026/09/11 01:00 Sapporo免费
© Brandon Hung · GoogleVietnam 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 01:00 Yokohama免费
© 菊池俊介 · GoogleFor 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 01:00 Fukuoka免费
© 筑前國一之宮 筥崎宮 · GoogleDisney Halloween 2026 runs Sept 16–Oct 31 at Tokyo Disney Resort. Full costumes allowed only Sept 15–30 & Oct 16–31 — dates, rules, and ticket tips.
2026/09/16 TokyoRequires a park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, varies by date); all Halloween entertainment is included.
© Michael Farnham · GoogleSome 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 01:00 Across Japan免费
© 黄少龙 · GoogleJapan's biggest reptile and exotic-animal expo packs Tokyo Big Sight with geckos, snakes, frogs and the breeders who love them.
2026/09/20 01:00 TokyoAdults ¥1,400 advance / ¥1,600 door; elementary ¥700 advance / ¥800 door; preschoolers free.
© 王士榮 · GooglePet 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 01:00 OsakaAdults (junior-high+) ¥1,300 advance / ¥1,500 door; children (age 4-elementary) ¥700 advance / ¥800 door.
© S.T · GoogleJapan'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 01:00 Tokyo免费
© T TMBC · GoogleAround 100 fishing boats escort three deities' mikoshi across the sea at this World Heritage shrine's grand autumn festival.
2026/10/01 Fukuoka免费
© 村田誠一 · GoogleThe Ueno Park edition of the free Caribbean-Latin street fair — Latin food, mojitos, salsa and reggae beside the fountain plaza in one of Tokyo's most famous parks.
2026/10/03 01:00 Tokyo免费
© jared lee · GoogleSeven 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 09:00 Across Japan免费
© Yuichi Otake · GoogleA 380-year-old shrine festival blending Japanese, Chinese and Dutch flair — spinning dragon dances, whirling umbrella floats and roaring 'Motte-koi' chants.
2026/10/06 22:00 Fukuoka免费
© M's Factory · GoogleEleven 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 Nagoya免费
© kari one · GoogleSome 33,000 round kochia bushes turn Miharashi Hill a blazing crimson each October, a fluffy red carpet rolling toward the Pacific Ocean.
2026/10/10 00:30 Across JapanAdults (high-school+) from ¥450; price rises during peak kochia season
© 塚原哲 · GoogleNagoya'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 01:00 Nagoya免费
© SPCA663 Little B · GoogleIn 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 03:00 NaraAround ¥1,000 (adults)
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleJoin thousands pulling the world's largest straw rope through Naha in this Guinness-record Okinawan autumn festival.
2026/10/11 02:00 Okinawa免费
© JCHuang · Google
Official即将举行Tens 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 05:30 Okinawa免费
© Yuet Man Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0In Tokyo's 'Little Edo', towering tiered floats with revolving dolls roll past kurazukuri warehouses and clash in 'Hikkawase' flute-and-drum face-offs.
2026/10/17 01:00 Tokyo免费
© Dwi Apriany · GoogleJapan'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 02:00 TokyoAround ¥1,500 advance / ¥2,000 same-day (2026 reference; autumn fees TBA); elementary schoolers and younger free.
© YAMAZAKI HIROYUKI · GoogleOver 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 06:30 TokyoEvening admission around ¥1,400 (varies by light stage).
© 吉澤広幸 · GoogleJapan's largest ramen festival gathers 36 famous shops from Hokkaido to Kyushu under one open-air roof in Komazawa Park — one steaming bowl at a time.
2026/10/22 01:00 Tokyo免费
© 池田邦人（musicjpn） · GoogleA 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 03:00 Kyoto免费
© H ! O · GoogleHakata 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 01:00 Fukuoka免费
© Nattarat Juntien · GoogleA laid-back eco-minded community fair in Yoyogi Park — organic food, world music, crafts and a mellow forest atmosphere that draws Tokyo's international and creative crowd.
2026/10/24 01:00 Tokyo免费
© T TMBC · GoogleHiroshima's biggest autumn food fair fills the grounds of Hiroshima Castle with okonomiyaki, oysters, lemons and gourmet stalls from every corner of the prefecture.
2026/10/24 01:00 Hiroshima免费
© Ian Burry · GoogleYokohama's flagship full marathon starts at Landmark Tower and is the only domestic race that runs on the Bay Expressway.
2026/10/24 23:30 YokohamaFull marathon entry from around ¥18,500; spectating is free.
© Ferhat Safran · GoogleAsia's largest hot-air-balloon meet floods the autumn sky over the Kase River with 100+ balloons, dawn mass ascensions and glowing nighttime 'La Montgolfier Nocturne'.
2026/10/29 21:30 Fukuoka免费
© Ataru 1 · GoogleOne of the Kanto region's largest illuminations blankets a hillside German-themed park in millions of lights, best seen from its observation wheel.
2026/10/31 07:00 Across JapanPaid: adults ¥1,500, children (age 4–elementary) ¥800; parking from ¥1,000.
© 東京ドイツ村 · GoogleThree costumed demons roam the streets of hillside Onomichi, tapping children with sticks to bring them good health.
2026/11/01 Hiroshima免费
© ドンキードンキー · GoogleOver 4,000 maples of 11 varieties set Aichi's Korankei gorge ablaze in crimson, with evening light-ups reflecting on the Tomoe River until 9 p.m.
2026/11/01 Nagoya免费
© Peerasak Khatippatee · GoogleThe 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 02:00 Okinawa免费
© Ryu S. · GoogleJapan's largest illumination floods a European-style canal town with millions of lights every night of the year across this Nagasaki resort.
2026/11/01 08:00 Across JapanPark admission ticket required (varies by plan)
© Kazu T · GoogleFourteen 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 10:30 Fukuoka免费
© unison · GoogleOne of Japan's three great fireworks competitions, where rival pyrotechnicians fire 20,000 shells over the Sakuragawa river to be crowned the nation's best.
2026/11/07 08:30 Across Japan免费
© Takanori Isoyama · GoogleTokyo Disneyland and DisneySea transform into glittering winter wonderlands for Disney Christmas — festive parades, nighttime sparkle and holiday-exclusive shows, food and merchandise at both parks.
2026/11/11 TokyoRequires a park ticket (1-day from around 7,900 yen, varies by date); all Christmas entertainment is included.
© Michael Farnham · GoogleOver 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 07:00 TokyoAdmission with illumination around ¥1,000–2,300 (varies; combo tickets available).
© Pero Higashi · GoogleKyoto's Arashiyama bursts into crimson and gold each November, with mountain temples, a scenic train and bamboo groves.
2026/11/14 23:00 Kyoto免费
© Richard Parry · GoogleFrom late autumn, Tokyo's avenues glow: Roppongi's blue keyaki-zaka and Marunouchi's golden champagne lights dazzle nightly.
2026/11/15 08:00 Tokyo免费
© 六本木ヒルズ · GoogleJapan'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 02:00 YokohamaPaid timed entry (around ¥500–1,000 — check official site).
© Kei_ TYO23 · GoogleSapporo White Illumination 2026 (from Nov 21): Japan's first city illumination across Odori Park and downtown, free — dates, sites and lighting hours.
2026/11/21 07:30 Sapporo免费
© Brandon Hung · GoogleRamen Expo 2026 at Expo '70 Park, Osaka — Western Japan's biggest ramen festival, ~60 shops over rotating acts (~¥900/bowl). What's confirmed, the late-Nov–Dec pattern, and how to do it.
2026/11/22 01:00 OsakaPark admission plus ramen tickets (typically around ¥900 per bowl).
© Nozomi Ishimatsu · GoogleWild Japanese macaques bathe in a steaming mountain hot spring as snow falls around them — the world-famous 'snow monkeys' of Nagano, most iconic in winter.
2026/11/30 23:30 Across JapanPark admission around ¥800; the 'Snow Monkey Pass' (~¥3,500) bundles transport and entry.
© Hagen G · GoogleAt 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 00:30 Across JapanAdults ¥700, elementary children ¥350
© J.M. · GoogleSix 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 09:00 Across Japan免费
© 鈴木隆一 · GoogleA giant live fir tree and German cuisine light up Hisaya-odori Park in central Sakae for Nagoya's signature European winter market.
2026/12/04 07:00 Nagoya免费
© T N · Google
Official即将举行The 40th NAHA Marathon runs Dec 6, 2026: 30,000 runners cross 5 southern Okinawa towns on the Peace Memorial Park course to a finish in Naha.
2026/12/06 OkinawaEntry ¥11,000 (general) / ¥9,000 (ages 65+ and under 18); spectating along the course is free.
© 663highland · CC BY 2.5A 890-year-old festival whose daytime parade marches costumes from the Heian through Edo eras through central Nara.
2026/12/15 Nara免费
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleShueisha's free mega anime-and-manga festival packs Makuhari Messe with Shonen Jump stages, exclusive reveals, voice-actor events and rare merch.
2026/12/19 Tokyo免费
© 幕張メッセ · GoogleWind, snow and ice encase the alpine firs into surreal white 'snow monsters'; ride the ropeway up and see them glow under colored floodlights at night.
2026/12/26 08:00 Across JapanFree outdoors; Zao Ropeway round-trip fare (several thousand yen) to reach the summit juhyo.
© panda Chen · GoogleTokyo'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 13:00 Tokyo免费
© K KIM · GoogleSome 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 13:00 Osaka免费
© 佳央大北 · GoogleSeventeen 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 13:30 KyotoPaid viewing — advance reservation required (from 2025)
© Traeix · GoogleKyoto'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 14:00 Kyoto免费
© bobby Newcomb · GoogleRoughly 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 14:00 Tokyo免费
© Lawrence · GoogleFamous 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 Across JapanModest garden admission during the festival (recent years a few hundred yen).
© Ishitsuka Naoyuki · GoogleGrand Sumo January Tournament 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo (Jan 10–24): dates, venue, and how tickets work — from ~¥3,800.
2027/01/09 23:00 TokyoBox (masu) and chair seats from ~¥3,800; sales typically open early December.
© Michael Hollander · GoogleIn 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 04:00 Across JapanCooperation fee around ¥500 (junior-high+); free for younger children.
© 藤川一志 · Google
Official即将举行Kobe Luminarie returns Jan 29-Feb 7, 2027: cathedral-like arches of light across Meriken Park, Higashi Yuenchi and the old foreign settlement, free to view.
2027/01/29 09:00 Across Japan免费
© Yoyogimura · CC BY-SA 4.0Sculptors 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 01:00 SapporoDonation around ¥500 (high-school age+); free for younger children.
© namsuk Kim · GoogleSumo 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 02:00 Across Japan免费
© Yuki Nishijima · Google
Official即将举行Sapporo 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 01:00 Sapporo免费
© Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore (U.S. Navy) · Public domainHokkaido's second-biggest snow fest pairs colossal stage-sized snow sculptures by the Ishikari River with an international ice-carving championship.
2027/02/05 Sapporo免费
© carl hong · Google
Official即将举行Japan'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 Across Japan免费
© Kirin7739 · CC0Roughly 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.
2027/02/12 23:00 Across JapanInner garden ~¥300 for non-residents; festival grounds largely free.
© Zia Kao · GoogleHundreds 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 09:00 Across Japan免费
© リディア · GoogleOn 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.
2027/03/02 15:00 Across Japan免费
© kvunby · GoogleOver 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.
2027/03/26 15:00 Osaka免费
© Allen Z. · GoogleJapan'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 02:00 Across Japan免费
© Yoko Horita · GoogleThirteen three-tiered floats with karakuri puppets parade below Inuyama Castle, glowing with lanterns under the cherry blossoms.
2027/04/03 Nagoya免费
© 白蓮 · GoogleTwelve 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 Nagoya免费
© 日枝神社 · GoogleAround 2,600 cherry trees encircle Hirosaki Castle's moats, famous for petal-carpeted 'flower rafts' and dazzling nighttime illuminations.
2027/04/23 Across Japan免费
© Gino Wang · GoogleThree 12-metre, 20-ton wooden floats — among Japan's largest — are hauled through Nanao's narrow streets.
2027/05/03 Kanazawa免费
© I& Nakamura · GoogleGiant kites duel over the Nakatajima dunes by day; by night, illuminated palace-style floats and brass bands fill downtown Hamamatsu.
2027/05/03 01:00 Across Japan免费
© 里奈 · GoogleOne 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 01:00 Fukuoka免费
© 약간tv · GoogleA 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 01:30 Kyoto免费
© SK Y · GoogleOne 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.
2027/05/18 23:00 Kanazawa免费
© 吉岡宣幸 · GoogleSome 400 lilac trees burst into bloom in Odori Park, with a lilac wine garden and outdoor music marking the start of the northern spring.
2027/05/19 01:00 Sapporo免费
© ゆきしずり · GoogleKanazawa'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 Kanazawa免费
© 山田真太郎 · GoogleJapan's largest illumination: millions of LEDs transform a flower park near Nagoya into glowing tunnels and light shows.
2026/01/15 08:00 Across JapanAdmission around 2,500 yen (includes a park voucher)
© 文文 · GoogleGlowing arches of hundreds of thousands of lights fill Kobe each winter, a moving memorial turned beloved festival.
2026/01/23 09:00 Across Japan免费
© chia-hao HUANG (Bruce HUANG) · GoogleHokkaido's winter wonderland: giant snow and ice sculptures fill Odori Park, drawing over two million visitors each February.
2026/02/04 01:00 Sapporo免费
© Brandon Hung · GoogleOtaru's historic canal and old streets glow with thousands of candles in snow lanterns, a quiet, romantic counterpoint to Sapporo's snow festival.
2026/02/13 08:00 Sapporo免费
© carl hong · GoogleA UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, nestled in a mountain valley that turns magical under snow.
2026/02/15 Across Japan免费
© 黃翊彰 · GoogleJapan's biggest anime expo: trailers, stage events, voice actors and exclusive goods from every major studio.
2026/03/21 01:00 TokyoTickets around 2,500 yen; some stage events require extra entry
© 王士榮 · GoogleOne of Tokyo's most famous hanami spots: 1,000 cherry trees line Ueno Park's central path in a pink canopy each spring.
2026/03/25 Tokyo免费
© jared lee · GoogleOkinawa's Golden Week dragon-boat festival packs Naha's port with thundering paddle races, music stages and fireworks over the harbor.
2026/05/03 Okinawa免费
© くどかず · GoogleA vibrant Golden Week celebration along Peace Boulevard, with flower parades, yosakoi dancing, music stages and a giant flower tower.
2026/05/03 00:30 Hiroshima免费
© Alessandro Fossati · GoogleA grand samurai procession reenacts a feudal lord's entry into Kanazawa, complete with armor, geisha and lantern-lit floats.
2026/06/05 05:00 Kanazawa免费
© MIYATA Tadaaki (AndeshM) · GoogleWade barefoot through water and light in this immersive digital-art museum where you become part of the artwork.
2026/06/24 01:00 TokyoAdmission around 3,800 yen; book timed tickets online in advance
© Phan Tom · GoogleThe flagship Pokemon store in Ikebukuro, packed with exclusive plush, seasonal merch and a giant Pikachu welcoming fans.
2026/06/25 01:00 Tokyo免费
© Atsushi Ehara · GoogleteamLab Borderless Azabudai Hills: the immersive digital-art museum — adult tickets ~¥3,800, timed online booking, access from Kamiyacho, and what to see.
2026/06/25 01:00 TokyoAdmission around 3,800 yen; timed tickets online recommended
© Javier Martinez · GoogleWander Japan's largest Chinatown for steaming nikuman, xiaolongbao and panda sweets among ornate gates and red lanterns.
2026/06/25 02:00 Yokohama免费
© ともやん · GoogleYokohama's glittering bayfront at night — ride the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and stroll the illuminated waterfront promenade.
2026/06/25 08:00 Yokohama免费
© よこはまコスモワールド · GoogleExplore the crimson seat of the former Ryukyu Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage site now rising again from its 2019 fire.
2026/06/26 OkinawaPark areas free; paid zones include the reconstruction site view
© H W · GoogleTokyo's favorite escape: an easy, scenic mountain just an hour from Shinjuku, with temples, trails and a cable car.
2026/06/27 Tokyo免费
© やまちゃん · GoogleSuit 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 04:00 TokyoBasic ticket from about ¥3,000 (adult); premium experiences cost more
© Samurai Ninja Museum Asakusa Tokyo · GoogleDress 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 05:00 KyotoBasic ticket from about ¥3,000 (adult); longer experiences cost more
© SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM Kyoto · GoogleIn 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 02:00 TokyoBox-office tickets, all unreserved. Day program from 11:40, evening from 16:40.
© Kazuhiko K · GoogleA historic waterfront landmark hosting seasonal events year-round — Christmas markets, an ice rink, beer festivals and bay views.
2026/06/28 02:00 Yokohama免费
© Kei_ TYO23 · GoogleKobe's waterfront glitters after dark — the red Port Tower, illuminated promenade and bay views make for a relaxed romantic evening.
2026/06/28 08:00 Across Japan免费
© ひにます · GoogleJapan's most famous baseball club under the dome — easy, all-weather pro baseball in the heart of Tokyo.
2026/06/28 09:00 TokyoReserved seats from about ¥2,200 to ¥7,000+
© 東京ドーム · GoogleJapan's oldest and largest museum in Ueno Park, home to samurai armor, Buddhist art and an unrivaled national treasure collection.
2026/06/29 TokyoRegular collection around 1,000 yen; special exhibits priced separately
© 山賀康弘 · GoogleCook 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 02:00 OsakaVaries by menu and group; reserve via the official site
© Tea Ceremony Osaka The Osaka(茶道体験The Osaka) Make matcha · GoogleTrain 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 04:00 Kyoto1-hour lesson ¥10,000; 2-hour lesson ¥15,000 per person (ninja costume included)
© NINJA DOJO and STORE KYOTO · GoogleSculpt 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 05:00 TokyoAbout ¥12,000 per person (kimono rental, ingredients and utensils included)
© Kimono Tea Ceremony MAIKOYA Asakusa · GoogleJapan's most passionate baseball crowd — join tens of thousands of Tigers fans for a jet-balloon night at historic Koshien.
2026/06/29 09:00 OsakaOutfield seats from about ¥2,000; infield reserved ¥6,000–¥9,000+
© 高博 · GoogleFeel 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 06:00 TokyoVaries by plan; reserve via the official site (taiko-reserve.com)
© Taiko-Lab青山 · GoogleA 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 09:00 KyotoAdult from ¥5,500; premium seats ¥6,600. Daily shows at 18:00 and 19:00 (winter Dec–Mar: Tue–Fri only).
© Andrew Wong · GoogleA 106-hectare green expanse around Osaka Castle, ringed by moats and stone walls — 300 cherry trees, 1,200 plums, lawns and concerts year-round.
2026/06/30 15:00 Osaka免费
© Mayelin Werner · Google660 hectares where ~1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and lawns, bowing for shika-senbei crackers — a National Natural Monument.
2026/06/30 15:00 Nara免费
© Ionut Bucur · GoogleSapporo'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.
2026/06/30 23:00 Sapporo免费
© 吳依瑩 · GoogleHiroshima's most visited site: a deeply moving record of the 1945 atomic bombing, with multilingual audio guides and free volunteer guides for overseas visitors.
2026/06/30 23:30 HiroshimaAdults ¥200; reservations advised at peak hours
© Junior dos Reis · GoogleA converted 1920s schoolhouse whose corridors are lined with 50,000 readable manga — pull any volume off the 200m 'Wall of Manga' and sprawl on the lawn.
2026/07/01 01:00 KyotoAdults ¥900 (check site for current fees)
© 岡本芳美 · Google
Official已结束Catch Japan's top-flight football — choreographed ultras, family-friendly stands and clubs in nearly every city.
2026/07/01 05:00 TokyoTickets typically ¥2,000–¥6,000
© Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY 4.0Tokyo's vast wholesale fish market with tuna auctions, viewing decks and fresh-sushi restaurants open to visitors.
2026/07/01 21:00 Tokyo免费
© 虎吃貨（吃貨虎） · GoogleNintendo's own museum in Uji traces 130+ years of play — from hanafuda cards to the Switch — with giant interactive exhibits in a former factory.
2026/07/02 01:00 KyotoLottery reservation required; admission via official ticket draw
© ニンテンドーミュージアム · GoogleA circular, glass-walled art museum famous for Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool — playful, interactive and free to wander outside.
2026/07/02 01:00 KanazawaFree public zones; ticketed exhibition galleries
© 酒吞童子WALKER · Google