Nagano · City guide

What's on in Hakuba.

The Hakuba Valley in the Northern Alps hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and remains Japan's best-known ski valley. Its calendar is seasonal: winter in the valley, and the fire festivals and mountain events of Nagano prefecture around it.

Things to do in Hakuba

Across Nagano

The calendar for the wider area, from the Nagano prefecture listings.

Nov232026

Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks

Nagano, Nagano · Fireworks · Mon 23 Nov 2026

Late-autumn fireworks over the Sai River in Nagano City on 23 November, the finale of the Ebisuko season.

Confirmed dates

Jan152027

Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Fire Festival

Nozawaonsen, Nagano · Festivals · Fri 15 Jan 2027

Villagers attack a seven-metre wooden shrine with burning torches in one of Japan's three great fire festivals.

Confirmed dates

Jan222027

Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival

Matsumoto, Nagano · Snow and winter · Fri 22 to Sun 24 Jan 2027

Ice sculptors carve through the night in Matsumoto Castle Park, with the finished works lit against the castle keep.

Confirmed dates

Apr12027

Takato Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Ina, Nagano · Seasons and nature · Thu 01 to Fri 30 Apr 2027

Around 1,500 Takato kohigan cherry trees, a variety found only here, often called Japan's finest blossom.

Expected window

Apr42027

Zenkoji Gokaicho 2027 (once-in-seven-years unveiling)

Nagano, Nagano · Religious · Sun 04 Apr to Sat 19 Jun 2027

The once-every-seven-years public display of Zenkoji's Maedachi Honzon, with a tall pillar linked by cord to the image so pilgrims can touch it. The 2022 edition drew 6.36 million visitors.

Confirmed dates

Aug152027

Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival

Suwa, Nagano · Fireworks · Sun 15 Aug 2027

About 40,000 shells over Lake Suwa in one of Japan's largest single-night fireworks displays.

Confirmed dates