Sep172026
Nada no Sakagura Tanbou 2026 (Nada sake-brewery puzzle trail)
Autumn-winter campaign across Japan's largest sake-producing district, Nada Gogo, linking 14 brewery museums and shops in four walking courses during the new-sake season.
The national calendar
What's on in Japan.
348 events across all 47 prefectures, every one checked against the organiser or an official tourism source. Confirmed dates and expected windows are labelled as what they are.
September 2026
1 eventsOctober 2026
23 eventsOct32026
Nikko Autumn Leaves Season
Colour descends by altitude over six weeks, from Okunikko's lakes to the Toshogu shrine woods.
Oct92026
Tokinosumika Hikari no Sumika
Gotemba's Tokinosumika resort lights about 5,500,000 LEDs for the 25th Hikari no Sumika, themed 'DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY'.
Oct102026
Beppu Art Month 2026 (17th)
Beppu's open-platform cultural festival run by BEPPU PROJECT in which citizens and artists stage exhibitions, performances and workshops across the hot-spring city each autumn.
Oct172026
Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination: Flower Fantasy
More than five million bulbs light the 100,000 square metre Ashikaga Flower Park, including a light recreation of its famous great wisteria.
Oct172026
Nabana no Sato Illumination
One of Japan's largest illumination events, with a tunnel of light and a themed LED landscape at a flower park in Nagashima Resort.
Oct232026
Kobe Illuminage
Kobe Illuminage, in its 17th year, lights the Fruit and Flower Park Osawa on the theme 'Starlight Dream'.
Oct232026
Okinawa Nangoku Illumination at Southeast Botanical Gardens
Southeast Botanical Gardens' tropical illumination, an Illumination Award winner, is expected to run from late October 2026 to late May 2027.
Oct242026
Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival
A seven-week autumn festival on Tokyo's favourite mountain, with weekend performances at the cable car base.
Oct242026
SMBC Japan Series 2026
NPB's best-of-seven championship series between the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Oct242026
Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2026-2027
Tobu Zoo opens after dark on 65 winter days, with animal light objects, a 50 metre tunnel of light and a music-synced illumination tree.
Oct262026
Tokyo International Film Festival 2026 (39th TIFF)
Japan's largest international film festival screens 204 films over 10 days in central Tokyo.
Oct282026
Shojo Manga Infinity: Moto Hagio x Ryoko Yamagishi x Waki Yamato (National Art Center Tokyo)
Landmark three-artist exhibition of shojo manga legends Hagio, Yamagishi and Yamato, part of the Art Week Tokyo 2026 institutional programme.
Oct292026
Showa Kinen Park Autumn Leaves Festival and Night Walk
Golden ginkgo avenues and a lit Japanese garden, with evening opening for the autumn night walk.
Oct292026
Yomiuriland Jewellumination 2026: Growing Light
Yomiuriland's jewel-coloured Jewellumination, designed by Motoko Ishii, runs from late October to early April on the theme 'Growing Light'.
Oct302026
DESIGNART TOKYO 2026
Tokyo's design and art festival fills around 70 venues across the city for 10 days.
Oct302026
Oita Hikari no Fantasy 2026
Central Oita lights about 550,000 bulbs along Chuo-dori and Funai Aqua Park for Hikari no Fantasy, subtitled 'Ashita ni Kakeru Hoshi'.
Oct302026
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
International hot air balloon competition on the Kase Riverbank in Saga City, with 123 balloons entered for 2026.
Oct302026
Tokyo Ramen Festa
One of Japan's largest ramen events, with 12 ramen shops from across the country serving at Komazawa Olympic Park.
Oct312026
Festa Luce in Wakayama Marina City
Festa Luce recreates a European Christmas town inside Porto Europa at Wakayama Marina City, in its 10th anniversary year.
Oct312026
Hirakata Park Hikari no Yuenchi: Flowering Illumination
Hirakata Park turns into a 'park of light' on winter weekends, with 17 illuminated areas and a new 17 metre floral castle.
Oct312026
Mariko Mori: All That Shines (Mori Art Museum)
Major retrospective of Mariko Mori, including the walk-in Wave UFO, at the Mori Art Museum ahead of its temporary closure from 2027-09-24 for renovation.
Oct312026
Roppongi Art Night 2026
Tokyo's all-night art festival returns, running from 5pm on 31 October to 6am on 1 November 2026.
Oct312026
Tokyo Mega Illumi 2026-2027
Oi Racecourse's Tokyo Mega Illumi runs its final season in 2026-2027, with the 100 metre Edo cherry blossom tunnel.
November 2026
57 eventsNov12026
Kabuki at Kabuki-za: November 2026 Programme
Kabuki-za's November programme runs 1 to 25 November 2026 with matinee and evening performances.
Nov12026
Korankei Momiji Matsuri
Some 4,000 maples colour the Korankei gorge in Asuke, with Mt Iimori lit every evening of November.
Nov12026
Naoshima New Museum of Art and Benesse Art Site Naoshima (ongoing programme)
The tenth Tadao Ando building on Naoshima and the first focused on Asian contemporary art (Murakami, Cai Guo-Qiang, Do Ho Suh), anchoring the Benesse Art Site islands between Triennale years.
Nov12026
Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon 2026
A hilly, scenic marathon along the Kanmon Strait and the Sea of Japan coast of Shimonoseki, with a 'kaikyo' (strait) fun run; about 10,000 runners.
Nov22026
Kagoshima Ohara Matsuri
Mass dance festival in Tenmonkan, Kagoshima City, with more than 20,000 dancers performing to the Ohara-bushi folk song.
Nov22026
Karatsu Kunchi
Autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine in which 14 hikiyama floats are pulled through Karatsu City.
Nov22026
Ohara Matsuri (75th)
Southern Kyushu's largest festival: some 20,000 dancers in yukata perform the Ohara-bushi and Hanya-bushi along the tram tracks of Tenmonkan.
Nov32026
Hikari no Machi Hakata 2026
JR Hakata Station plaza becomes the 'City of Light Hakata' for its 15th year, with the new 160,000-bulb 'Hakatarium' symbol.
Nov32026
Hikone Castle Festival Parade
A period-costume parade of nearly 1,000 people through the castle town of Hikone, held every 3 November.
Nov32026
Midosuji Illumination 2026
Osaka's Midosuji boulevard lights about 4 kilometres of ginkgo trees as a core programme of the Festival of the Lights in Osaka.
Nov32026
Yamanashi Nouveau Festival 2026 (Tokyo)
Release-day festival for Yamanashi Nouveau (Koshu and Muscat Bailey A new wine), with dozens of Yamanashi wineries pouring in Hibiya Park on the Culture Day holiday.
Nov42026
Art Week Tokyo 2026
Art Basel-partnered citywide week linking 42 galleries and 13 institutional shows via free shuttle buses, with ten AWT Focus curator-led spaces. Tokyo's key annual contemporary-art moment.
Nov52026
Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illumination
Roppongi Hills lights its Keyakizaka zelkova avenue with about 970,000 LEDs in the 2026 'SNOW & BLUE' colour scheme.
Nov52026
Tokyo Skytree Town Dream Christmas 2026
Tokyo Skytree Town lights about 400,000 bulbs for its Dream Christmas, in 2026 themed 'STAR LIGHT GOLD'.
Nov62026
Echizen Crab Season
The fixed annual season for Echizen-gani snow crab, Fukui's winter delicacy, from 6 November to 20 March.
Nov62026
Huis Ten Bosch 'The Starlight Million' illumination and European Holy Christmas
Japan's largest illumination by bulb count (13 million+), fully refreshed for the first time in 16 years in 2026 with a 'walk among the stars' concept, plus a European Christmas market and giant trees.
Nov62026
Huis Ten Bosch Kingdom of Lights (The Starlight Million)
Winter illumination at Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo, renewed for 2026-27 as The Starlight Million.
Nov62026
Izu Kogen Gran Illumi (Granillumi)
Gran Illumi, the walk-through illumination at Izu Granpal Park, opens its 12th season and runs into the following summer.
Nov62026
Whisky Festival 2026 in Tokyo
Japan's largest whisky tasting fair, 121 exhibitors including Japanese craft distilleries, run by critic Mamoru Tsuchiya's Whisky Culture Institute. Prime chance to taste rare Japanese whisky.
Nov72026
Art Collaboration Kyoto 2026
Japan's leading collaborative contemporary art fair, pairing Japanese galleries with international partners (Hauser & Wirth, Jeffrey Deitch and others in 2026) inside Otani Sachio's brutalist conference hall, backed by Kyoto Prefecture.
Nov72026
Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival
Maples line the Maple Corridor on Lake Kawaguchi's north shore, lit until 21:00 with Mt Fuji across the water.
Nov72026
Ishigaki Matsuri
The 62nd Ishigaki Island Festival, Ishigaki's largest civic festival, held at Shin'ei Park.
Nov72026
Tsuchiura All-Japan Fireworks Competition
One of Japan's three great fireworks competitions, where makers demonstrate new shells over the Sakura River in Tsuchiura.
Nov72026
Usuki Takeyoi Bamboo Lantern Festival
Some 20,000 bamboo lanterns light the samurai streets of Usuki for the legend of Princess Hannyahime.
Nov82026
Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri
Heian-style boats perform court music and dance on the Oi River under the autumn maples of Arashiyama.
Nov82026
Atami Marine Fireworks Festival
Fireworks over Atami Bay held more than ten times a year, each 20-minute display ending with the Dai-Kuchu Niagara finale across the bay.
Nov82026
Fukuoka Marathon 2026
Point-to-point city marathon for 13,000 runners from central Fukuoka to a coastal finish in Itoshima.
Nov82026
Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament 2026
The November grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Nov112026
Eikando Autumn Exhibition and Maple Illumination
Kyoto's most famous maple temple: about 3,000 maples, a treasure exhibition and night illumination.
Nov112026
Shinjuku Minamillumi 2026-2027
About 275,000 LEDs light six venues around Shinjuku Station's south side, including Southern Terrace and the Suica Penguin plaza.
Nov122026
Dai Nagoya Building Winter Illumination
The Dai Nagoya Building's rooftop Sky Garden, three minutes from Nagoya Station, is expected to hold its winter illumination again in 2026.
Nov122026
HIBIYA Magic Time Illumination 2026
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya lights Hibiya Step Square, its Park View Garden and Hibiya Naka-dori from mid November to the end of February.
Nov122026
Marunouchi Illumination
Winter illumination of champagne-gold lights on the street trees of Marunouchi Naka-dori in Tokyo.
Nov142026
Baccarat Eternal Lights at Ebisu Garden Place
Ebisu Garden Place hangs its Baccarat crystal chandelier for the 27th edition of its winter illumination.
Nov142026
Design Festa vol.64
Asia's largest freestyle art event: about 6,500 booths of independent artists, illustrators, craft makers and performers over one weekend, held each May and November.
Nov142026
Echizen Crab Festival 2026
Opening-of-season crab market for Echizen gani, Fukui's prized snow crab, with boiled-crab stalls, live auctions and seafood barbecues on the coast. Held over two weekends only.
Nov142026
Fushimi Sake Festival in Otesuji 2026 (10th)
Fifteen Fushimi breweries (Gekkeikan, Kizakura, Tamanohikari etc.) pour their sake along the covered Otesuji arcade in one of Japan's great sake towns.
Nov142026
Minoo Maple Festival (Meiji no Mori Minoh Quasi-National Park)
Osaka's maple festival: the 2.7 km path to Minoo Falls lit nightly, with music points along the river.
Nov142026
Sagamiko Illumillion
Sagamiko Illumillion lights the hillside Sagamiko MORI MORI resort with about 6,000,000 bulbs, the largest scale in the Kanto region.
Nov152026
Hagi Jidai Matsuri
Autumn festival recreating the Hagi Daimyo Procession, with costumed warriors parading through the castle town to Kanaya Shrine.
Nov152026
Kobe Marathon 2026
Marathon for about 20,000 runners from central Kobe along the coast towards Akashi and back.
Nov152026
Sakamoto Ryoma Festival
Kochi celebrates Sakamoto Ryoma's birthday at Katsurahama on the Sunday closest to 15 November.
Nov152026
Takachiho Yokagura Night Kagura Season
All-night sacred kagura dances performed in Takachiho's villages from mid-November to early February.
Nov182026
Izumo Taisha Kamiari-sai (gathering of the gods)
The week in which Japan's eight million kami are said to gather at Izumo Taisha; begins with a torch-lit welcoming rite on Inasa Beach and includes en-musubi (matchmaking) rites.
Nov192026
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination: TOKYO SNOW DOME CITY
Tokyo Dome City's 2026 winter illumination, 'TOKYO SNOW DOME CITY', uses over a million lights and a Cinnamoroll collaboration.
Nov202026
Himeji Otemae-dori and Himeji Castle Illumination 'Atarayo'
Himeji lights 2.5 kilometres of Otemae-dori and the castle with 510,000 full-colour LEDs in 'Atarayo', directed by Motoko Ishii.
Nov202026
Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo
Sapporo's sister-city Christmas market modelled on Munich's, with German food, Glühwein and craft stalls under the Odori Park illuminations.
Nov202026
NIIGATA Hikari no Pageant
Niigata's winter pageant wraps about 200 zelkova trees south of Niigata Station in 160,000 lights.
Nov202026
Osaka Castle Illuminage
Osaka Castle's Nishinomaru Garden hosts an Illuminage of Sengoku-era light art themed on the unification of Japan.
Nov202026
Ritsurin Garden Autumn Light-up 2026
Kagawa's Edo-period daimyo stroll garden lit up for ten autumn nights, with the maples around Kikugetsu-tei teahouse and Mt Shiun reflected in the ponds.
Nov202026
Sapporo White Illumination
Winter illuminations in central Sapporo, centred on Odori Park, first held in 1981.
Nov212026
Keyaki Light Parade by FeStA LuCe
Wakayama's Keyaki Odori lights 3.5 kilometres and about 500 street trees with over 1,500,000 LEDs for 100 days.
Nov222026
Takachiho Yokagura Festival (Shinwa no Takachiho Yokagura Matsuri)
Opening showcase of Takachiho's yokagura season: all 33 dances of the UNESCO-inscribed (2024) Takachiho night kagura, including Tajikarao hauling open the rock cave, performed over two days at the shrine.
Nov232026
Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks
Late-autumn fireworks over the Sai River in Nagano City on 23 November, the finale of the Ebisuko season.
Nov262026
Tokyo Midtown Midwinter Lights (MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS 2026)
Tokyo Midtown's Midtown Garden becomes 'Midwinter Lights', a snowy forest and aurora scene with floating bubbles, for MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS 2026.
Nov282026
Echigo Hillside Park Xmas Illumination
Echigo Hillside Park's Christmas illumination centres on its great zelkova symbol tree, on selected December days.
Nov292026
Japan Cup 2026 (G1 horse race)
Japan's premier international invitational turf race over 2,400 m at Tokyo Racecourse, with a purse among the richest in the world and overseas challengers invited each year.
December 2026
23 eventsDec12026
Enoshima Shonan no Hoseki 2026-2027
Enoshima's 'Jewel of Shonan' lights the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle, and was certified one of Japan's three great illuminations in 2025.
Dec12026
Hakodate Christmas Fantasy
A giant Christmas tree from Hakodate's sister city Halifax floats in the harbour before the red brick warehouses, lit nightly with fireworks and a soup bar of local restaurants.
Dec12026
Omotesando Illumination 2026
Omotesando's zelkova avenue is expected to light about 900,000 champagne-gold bulbs along 1.1 kilometres for Christmas 2026.
Dec22026
Chichibu Night Festival
Annual festival of Chichibu Shrine with six decorated floats paraded through central Chichibu and winter fireworks on the main day.
Dec22026
Kabuki at Kabuki-za: December Grand Kabuki 2026
The December Grand Kabuki runs 2 to 25 December 2026 in three parts a day.
Dec42026
Hiroshima Dreamination
Hiroshima Dreamination fills Peace Boulevard with fairy-tale light objects; in 2026 it starts in December for the first time.
Dec42026
Meguro River Minna no Illumination
The Meguro River's 'winter cherry blossoms' are expected to light about 390,000 pink LEDs along 2.2 kilometres between Gotanda and Osaki.
Dec42026
Sendai Pageant of Starlight
Winter illumination lighting the zelkova trees along Jozenji-dori Avenue in central Sendai.
Dec42026
Yorunoyo
Illumination event across Yokohama's waterfront, with a five-minute city-wide light and music show.
Dec62026
NAHA Marathon (40th)
Japan's largest full marathon by field (c. 30,000) run through southern Okinawa with island-wide roadside support; 6h15 cut-off makes it a popular first marathon.
Dec112026
Ao no Dokutsu SHIBUYA 2026
Shibuya's 'blue cave' turns 900 metres from Shibuya Koen-dori to the Yoyogi Park zelkova avenue deep blue for just over two weeks.
Dec112026
OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance 2026
Nakanoshima's OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance fills the City Hall facade and park with light art for 15 days over Christmas.
Dec122026
Takarazuka Revue: Tenku no Artemis and Belle Epoque (Moon Troupe)
The Moon Troupe's musical Tenku no Artemis and revue Belle Epoque run at Takarazuka Grand Theatre from 12 December 2026 to 24 January 2027.
Dec132026
Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon 2026
Miyazaki's flat, palm-lined December marathon ('Aotai') along the Pacific to Aoshima island, with 10 km and 3 km races; one of Kyushu's best-loved winter road races.
Dec132026
Tottori Sand Dunes Illusion 2026
A compact mid-December illumination at the edge of the Tottori Sand Dunes, with light tunnels and projections against the darkened dunes, run by Tottori City.
Dec192026
Jump Festa 2027
Shueisha's Jump manga festival at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, with stages, exhibitions and merchandise.
Dec202026
Furano Kan Kan Mura
A snow and ice village beside the Ningle Terrace cabins, with an ice bar, snow domes, tube slides and around 70,000 lights.
Dec202026
Tomamu Ice Village
A night-time village of ice domes at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, with an ice chapel, ice bar, ice slide and an ice hotel room.
Dec262026
Countdown Japan 26/27
Japan's year-end indoor rock festival at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, closing with the New Year countdown.
Dec262026
Zao Juhyo (Tree Ice) Season and Light-Up
Season for viewing juhyo, fir trees coated in ice and snow above Zao Onsen, with night light-ups on selected dates.
Dec272026
Arima Kinen 2026 (Grand Prix, G1)
The fan-voted year-end Grand Prix over 2,500 m, the highest-turnover horse race on earth and Japan's traditional last big sporting event of the year.
Dec292026
Comic Market 109 (Winter Comiket)
Winter edition of Comic Market (Comiket), the world's largest doujinshi fair, at Tokyo Big Sight.
Dec312026
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Chinkasai
New Year's Eve fire-prevention rite at Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, with around 1,000 pine torches carried to Mikasahama Beach.
January 2027
28 eventsJan12027
Emperor's Cup JFA 106th All-Japan Football Championship Final
Japan's oldest football competition ends with the traditional New Year's Day final at the National Stadium, a fixture of the Tokyo oshogatsu sports calendar alongside Hakone Ekiden.
Jan12027
Takasaki Daruma Market
New Year market in front of Takasaki Station selling the city's famous red daruma wishing dolls (Takasaki makes 80% of Japan's daruma), with food stalls, stage events and a daruma burning ceremony.
Jan12027
Yuzawa Winter Fireworks
A season-long series of short fireworks displays fired over the snow at Yuzawa's ski resorts on winter nights.
Jan22027
Hakone Ekiden 2027 (103rd)
Japan's biggest university relay: 21 teams race Tokyo to Hakone and back over two days, 217.1 km in all.
Jan22027
Kabuki at Kabuki-za: January 2027 New Year Programme
Kabuki-za's January New Year programme is expected to open on 2 January 2027; the programme was not yet announced at verification.
Jan92027
Atami Plum Garden Festival
One of Japan's earliest plum festivals, in a historic garden with 469 plum trees of about 60 varieties.
Jan92027
Maebashi Hatsuichi Festival
Maebashi's first market of the year, a daruma doll fair held every 9 January since the 1600s.
Jan102027
Hatsu Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The New Year grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Jan112027
Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up
The gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Ogimachi are lit on four January nights, entry by advance reservation only.
Jan142027
Dontosai Festival (Osaki Hachimangu)
New Year decorations are burned in a giant sacred bonfire while groups of 'hadaka-mairi' pilgrims in loincloths walk silently through the winter night to the shrine; unique to Miyagi.
Jan152027
Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Fire Festival
Villagers attack a seven-metre wooden shrine with burning torches in one of Japan's three great fire festivals.
Jan162027
Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival
One of Japan's earliest cherry blossom festivals, held among about 7,000 Taiwan cherry trees on Mount Yaedake in Motobu.
Jan162027
Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027)
Sapporo's international art festival takes over the snow-covered city from 16 January to 21 February 2027.
Jan192027
Special Exhibition: The Tale of Genji, Splendour of the Heian Court (Tokyo National Museum)
Major winter special exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum devoted to the Tale of Genji and Heian court culture, with national-treasure scrolls and screens.
Jan202027
Jozankei Yukitouro 2027
Jozankei Onsen's winter light event at Jozankei Shrine, relaunched for 2027 with new lighting concepts in place of the snow candles.
Jan212027
Tokyo Art Book Fair 2026 (16th edition)
The 16th Tokyo Art Book Fair runs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo over two blocks in January 2027.
Jan222027
Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival
Ice sculptors carve through the night in Matsumoto Castle Park, with the finished works lit against the castle keep.
Jan232027
Lake Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks
Winter fireworks over Lake Kawaguchi with Mt Fuji behind, launched from Oike Park and two other lakeside sites on weekend nights.
Jan232027
Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan
A village built entirely of lake ice and snow on the frozen surface of Lake Shikaribetsu, with an ice bar, an ice chapel, ice lodges and an open-air bath on the ice.
Jan232027
Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival
Ice structures built in the cold of Sounkyo Gorge at Sounkyo Onsen, lit in colour at night.
Jan232027
Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka
A nightly light and music show played across the snow-covered fields of Tokachigaoka Park at Tokachigawa Onsen, named for the swans that winter on the river.
Jan232027
Wakakusa Yamayaki
The dry grass of Mt Wakakusa above Nara Park is burned in a single line of fire, preceded by fireworks.
Jan232027
Wakakusa Yamayaki (Mount Wakakusa burning)
The whole 33 ha grass hillside above Nara Park is set alight after 600 fireworks, a tradition said to settle a boundary dispute between Todaiji and Kofukuji. Nara's signature winter night.
Jan292027
Kobe Luminarie
Italian-designed light sculptures fill central Kobe for ten nights in memory of the 1995 earthquake.
Jan292027
Lake Towada Winter Story
A lakeside winter festival at Yasumiya on Lake Towada with winter fireworks on every open night, a snow park and food stalls from both sides of the prefectural border.
Jan292027
Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival
Hundreds of candle-lit miniature kamakura along the Sawaguchi riverbed in the hot spring town of Yunishigawa, a designated Japan Night View Heritage site.
Jan302027
Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
Ice sculptures made from Lake Shikotsu water at Lake Shikotsu Onsen, blue by day and lit at night.
Jan302027
Nago Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry blossom festival held on the last Saturday and Sunday of January around Nago Castle Park, with over 20,000 cherry trees in the area.
February 2027
32 eventsFeb12027
Lake Akan Ice Festival
A festival on the frozen surface of Lake Akan with on-ice activities by day and fireworks over the ice at night.
Feb42027
Sapporo Snow Festival
Large snow and ice sculptures at the Odori and Susukino sites in Sapporo.
Feb52027
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Winter lantern festival in central Nagasaki City, begun as a Chinese New Year celebration, with over 15,000 lanterns.
Feb52027
Shiretoko Fantasia
A nightly 20-minute show of laser light, music and straw-fire smoke above the drift ice at Utoro, recreating an aurora that appeared over Shiretoko in 1958.
Feb62027
Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival
Abashiri's two-day drift ice festival of citizen-built snow statues, ice sculpture and stage events at the commercial port wharf.
Feb62027
Asahikawa Winter Festival
Winter festival in Asahikawa with a large snow sculpture stage and ice sculptures in the city centre.
Feb62027
Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival
Around 150 snow lanterns and some 300 candle-lit mini kamakura set around the keep and snow-covered grounds of Hirosaki Castle.
Feb62027
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (37th)
Japan's most famous early-blooming cherry, 8,000 deep-pink Kawazu-zakura trees along the river and rape-blossom fields on the Izu coast, drawing around two million visitors.
Feb62027
Kenrokuen Winter Illuminations
Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle are lit on eight February nights, with the yukitsuri snow ropes on the pines.
Feb62027
Otaru Snow Light Path
Snow candles and lanterns along the Otaru Canal and the former Temiya railway line.
Feb62027
Oto Matsuri Fire Festival
A 1,400-year-old fire festival in which white-clad men race down Kamikura Shrine's 538 stone steps carrying burning torches.
Feb62027
Rikubetsu Shibare Festival
A two-day festival in the town that records Japan's coldest temperatures, turning extreme cold into the attraction with an overnight endurance sleep-out in ice domes.
Feb72027
Ehime Marathon (64th)
Shikoku's largest marathon (10,000 runners) looping from Matsuyama city centre to the Seto Inland Sea coast with a reputation for warm roadside support.
Feb82027
Yushima Tenjin Plum Festival
Tokyo's classic plum festival, around 300 plum trees at the shrine of the god of learning.
Feb112027
Mito Plum Festival
Plum blossom festival at Kairakuen Garden and Kodokan in Mito, with about 3,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties at Kairakuen.
Feb112027
Monbetsu Drift Ice Festival
Monbetsu's drift ice festival, running since 1963, with large ice sculptures carved from natural ice at the marine park.
Feb122027
Aizu Painted Candle Festival
Around 10,000 hand-painted Aizu candles lit in the snow around Tsuruga Castle and the Oyakuen garden for two nights.
Feb122027
Namahage Sedo Festival
Namahage demons descend by torchlight from the snowy mountain to Shinzan Shrine for sacred dances and drumming, one of the Michinoku 'five great snow festivals'.
Feb122027
Yokote Kamakura Festival
About 100 kamakura snow huts are built across central Yokote for a New Year custom with a history of about 450 years.
Feb132027
Jojima Sake Brewery Opening 2027 (33rd)
Kyushu's biggest kurabiraki: the breweries of the Jojima sake district near Kurume open together for one weekend with new-sake tasting, drawing around 100,000 visitors.
Feb132027
Miyajima Oyster Festival 2027
Hiroshima's famous oyster island serves grilled, steamed and hotpot oysters at bargain prices beside the ferry pier at peak season, with 10:00-15:00 stalls both days.
Feb132027
Ouchi-juku Snow Festival
The thatched-roof post town of Ouchi-juku under deep snow, with snow lanterns lining the street, traditional performing arts and fireworks.
Feb132027
Tadami Furusato Snow Festival
A snow festival in one of Japan's heaviest snowfall towns, built around a giant illuminated snow stage sculpture in front of Tadami Station.
Feb172027
Hachinohe Enburi
A 800-year-old rice-planting prayer dance where groups in horse-head headdresses sweep the ground to wake the earth; some 30 troupes parade on the first morning and perform across the city for four days.
Feb192027
Tokamachi Snow Festival
One of Japan's oldest snow festivals, founded in 1950 in one of the country's heaviest snowfall cities, with snow sculptures built by the community across Tokamachi.
Feb202027
Katsuyama Sagicho Festival
A 300-year-old late-winter fire festival of tower stages, comic drumming and a mass bonfire on the Kuzuryu River.
Feb202027
Saidaiji Eyo (Okayama Naked Festival)
One of Japan's three great naked festivals: around 10,000 men in loincloths scramble for two sacred shingi sticks thrown into the crowd at 22:00 on a February night at Saidaiji temple.
Feb212027
Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2027
A 13,000-runner city marathon that finishes beneath Kumamoto Castle's keep, held in late February alongside a 30 km race and fun run.
Feb212027
Kyoto Marathon 2027
City marathon through Kyoto's streets, from Nishikyogoku athletic park to a finish in front of Heian-jingu Shrine.
Feb212027
Okinawa Marathon
Central Okinawa's winter marathon with a 10 km option, famous for the section inside Kadena Air Base and for roadside support in Uruma and Okinawa City.
Feb252027
Kitano Tenmangu Baikasai (Plum Blossom Festival)
Kyoto's plum festival on 25 February, with an outdoor tea ceremony served by geiko and maiko.
Feb282027
Osaka Marathon 2027
One of Japan's largest city marathons, finishing inside Osaka Castle Park.
March 2027
20 eventsMar12027
Todai-ji Omizutori (Shunie)
Two weeks of repentance rites at Todai-ji's Nigatsu-do, famous for giant torches swung from the hall's balcony each night.
Mar12027
Todaiji Shuni-e (Omizutori / Otaimatsu torch ceremonies)
The 1,270-year-old Shuni-e penance rite whose nightly otaimatsu, giant pine torches swung from the Nigatsudo balcony, shower sparks over the crowd.
Mar72027
Kagoshima Marathon 2027
Kagoshima's bayside marathon with Sakurajima smoking across the water, 10,000 runners plus a fun run; the 2027 edition is branded for the Saigo Takamori anniversaries.
Mar72027
Tokyo Marathon
Marathon through central Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to Tokyo Station.
Mar112027
Art Fair Tokyo 2027 (21st edition)
Japan's largest art fair holds its 21st edition at Tokyo International Forum, 11 to 14 March 2027.
Mar132027
Niigata Sake no Jin
Japan's largest single-prefecture sake fair: all 80-odd Niigata breweries pour unlimited tastings of around 500 sakes over two days. Launched 2004 by the Niigata Sake Brewers Association.
Mar132027
Omihachiman Sagicho Matsuri
Nationally designated folk festival from Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi: huge sagicho torches decorated with sculptures made of dried foods are paraded, crashed together in 'kenka' bouts and burned at 20:00 on the second day.
Mar132027
Tsunan Snow Festival
A one-day snow festival in Tsunan, one of the snowiest towns in Japan, ending with the release of around 2,000 sky lanterns over the snow.
Mar142027
Haru Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The March grand sumo tournament: 15 days at EDION Arena Osaka.
Mar142027
Nagoya Women's Marathon 2027
The world's largest women-only marathon, with about 22,000 runners starting and finishing at Vantelin Dome Nagoya.
Mar142027
Tottori Marathon 2027
A JAAF-certified point-to-point marathon starting at the Tottori Sand Dunes and running along the San'in coast and the Inaba Manyo countryside to Tottori city.
Mar192027
99th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien / Senbatsu)
The spring invitational of 32 top high school teams at the sacred Koshien ground, opening the Japanese baseball year with brass bands and cheering squads.
Mar192027
Dogo Onsen Festival
Spring festival at Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama heralding the arrival of spring and giving thanks for the hot spring.
Mar242027
DIVA (National Art Center Tokyo x V&A)
The V&A's blockbuster DIVA exhibition comes to Tokyo, tracing 100 singers and performers from opera to pop, co-organised with Sony Music Entertainment in NACT's 20th-anniversary year.
Mar252027
Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossom Illumination (Chiyoda Sakura Festival)
About 230 cherry trees over the Imperial Palace moat, lit at night, with rowing boats under the blossom.
Mar262027
Mount Yoshino Cherry Blossom Season
Some 30,000 cherry trees climb Mount Yoshino in four waves, Japan's most famous blossom mountain.
Mar272027
AnimeJapan
One of the world's largest anime events, held at Tokyo Big Sight with two public days.
Mar272027
Kashima Sakagura Tourism and Hizen Hamashuku Flower & Sake Festival
A spring weekend when Saga's Kashima breweries, including Fukuchiyo (maker of cult sake Nabeshima), open their kura along the Edo-era Hizen Hamashuku street, with 100,000 visitors tasting and buying.
Mar272027
Naka-Meguro Cherry Blossom Festival (Meguro River)
A weekend festival under about 800 cherry trees arching over the Meguro River canal in Nakameguro.
Mar272027
Tsuyama Cherry Blossom Festival
About 1,000 cherry trees over the tiered stone walls of Tsuyama Castle, western Japan's leading blossom site.
April 2027
24 eventsApr12027
Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival
Beppu's spring festival of thanks to the hot springs, with the Ogiyama fire burning and the Yu-bukkake water parade.
Apr12027
Takato Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Around 1,500 Takato kohigan cherry trees, a variety found only here, often called Japan's finest blossom.
Apr22027
Ogawara Sakura Festival (Hitome Senbonzakura)
An 8 km tunnel of 1,200 cherry trees along the Shiroishi River with snow-capped Mt Zao behind, voted Miyagi's finest blossom spot and lit up at night.
Apr22027
Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Festival
One of Japan's three great night cherry blossom festivals, with about 4,000 trees lit around the castle moat.
Apr32027
Inuyama Matsuri
Thirteen three-tiered floats with mechanical puppets parade the castle town under the cherry blossom.
Apr42027
Zenkoji Gokaicho 2027 (once-in-seven-years unveiling)
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.
Apr92027
Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2027
Round four of the 2027 Formula 1 season at Suzuka Circuit, run as a sprint weekend with the grand prix on Sunday 11 April.
Apr102027
Fuji Shibazakura Festival
About 500,000 moss phlox bloom in patterned fields at Fuji Motosuko Resort, with Mt Fuji behind.
Apr102027
KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival 2027
Kyoto's spring photography festival since 2013, staging international exhibitions in historic buildings normally closed to the public, with the KG+ open-call programme spread over 100+ small venues.
Apr102027
Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival
A one-day fireworks illusion of 10,000 fireworks synchronised to music, billed as Japan's earliest summer fireworks.
Apr112027
Kamakura Festival
Kamakura's spring festival at the great Hachimangu shrine, opening with the Shizuka dance and closing with galloping yabusame archers on the shrine approach.
Apr132027
Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri (children's kabuki floats)
UNESCO-listed festival where boys aged 5-12 perform kabuki on 400-year-old gilded floats; traced to Hideyoshi's gift celebrating the birth of his son. Coincides with Nagahama's cherry blossom.
Apr142027
Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri)
Twelve ornate yatai floats, some with mechanical puppets, parade Takayama's old town for the Hie Shrine festival.
Apr152027
Hitachi Seaside Park Nemophila Season
Season when Miharashi Hill at Hitachi Seaside Park is covered in blue nemophila flowers.
Apr152027
Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival
Weeping cherries over black-fenced samurai houses and a 2 km tunnel of somei yoshino along the Hinokinai River.
Apr152027
Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall Festival (Yuki-no-Otani)
A corridor ploughed through snow up to 20 metres deep at Murodo, on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Apr162027
Craft Sake Week at Roppongi Hills
Thirteen days of sake tasting from around 130 breweries at Roppongi Hills Arena.
Apr172027
Hana Haru Festa
Tokushima's spring festival of Awa Odori performances, local food and crafts at Aibahama Park.
Apr172027
Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry blossom festival at Hirosaki Park, where about 2,600 trees of 52 varieties bloom around Hirosaki Castle and its moats.
Apr182027
Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden Season
A private wisteria garden with two tunnels up to 110 metres, open only in season and by advance ticket at peak.
Apr232027
9th Yokohama Triennale
Japan's longest-running international contemporary art triennale, 124 days under artistic directors Cosmin Costinaș and Inti Guerrero, centred on the Yokohama Museum of Art.
Apr242027
ARABAKI ROCK FEST.27
Tohoku's largest rock festival, around 50,000 fans over two days in a national park setting at the foot of Mt Zao, mixing major Japanese rock acts with regional artists.
Apr252027
M3 (Music Media-mix Market) Spring
Japan's leading doujin music fair, a one-day market for independent music at Tokyo Ryutsu Center.
Apr282027
World of Coffee Tokyo 2027 and World Barista Championship
The Specialty Coffee Association's trade and consumer expo comes to Japan for the first time, hosting the 2027 World Barista Championship at Tokyo Big Sight over Golden Week.
May 2027
20 eventsMay22027
Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival
Golden Week festival of Genpei history on the Kanmon Straits, with the Senteisai rite for Emperor Antoku at Akama Shrine.
May32027
Hakata Dontaku Port Festival
Golden Week port festival in Fukuoka City, with parades along Meiji-dori and performances on stages across the city.
May32027
Hamamatsu Matsuri
Giant kites battle over the Nakatajima dunes by day and palace floats parade the city centre by night.
May32027
Hiroshima Flower Festival
Hiroshima's largest street festival, with a flower parade, stages and booths along Peace Boulevard and in Peace Memorial Park.
May32027
Marugame Castle Festival
Marugame City's largest festival, held every 3 and 4 May around its original castle keep and great stone walls.
May32027
Naha Haari
Traditional dragon boat races held over three days of Golden Week at Naha New Port Wharf.
May32027
Naha Hari (53rd) dragon-boat festival
Okinawa's largest harii dragon-boat festival: 130+ teams race traditional sabani-style boats in Naha harbour over Golden Week, with ceremonial Ugan Bari races on the final day.
May92027
Natsu Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The May grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
May132027
Kanda Matsuri (main festival year)
One of Japan's three great festivals, held in full only in odd-numbered years: a 30 km day-long procession of priests on horseback, floats and mikoshi through the business districts of central Tokyo, followed by 100 neighbourhood mikoshi entering the shrine.
May142027
Sanja Matsuri
Tokyo's wildest festival: around 100 neighbourhood mikoshi and the three great shrine mikoshi are carried through Asakusa by tens of thousands of bearers, drawing nearly two million spectators over three days.
May152027
Aoi Matsuri
Imperial procession in Heian-period court dress from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines, held on 15 May.
May152027
Sendai Aoba Festival
Sendai's spring festival honouring Date Masamune, with sparrow dancing on the Saturday and a samurai procession and yamaboko floats on the Sunday.
May152027
Yokohama Triathlon 2027 (T50 World Championship Tour)
Elite triathlon around Yamashita Park, Yokohama's round of the new T50 World Championship Tour.
May172027
Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival (1,000 Samurai Procession)
Re-enactment of the 1617 transfer of Tokugawa Ieyasu's remains: 1,200 men in samurai armour escort three mikoshi down the cedar-lined avenue, preceded the day before by yabusame horseback archery.
May192027
Keyaki Hiroba Spring Beer Festival 2027
Japan's largest craft beer festival, held every spring and autumn under the zelkova trees at Saitama Shintoshin with 50-60 breweries and 300-400 beers; the autumn 2027 edition should follow in mid-September.
May192027
Mikuni Festival
One of the Hokuriku region's three great festivals, with 6.5-metre warrior floats paraded through the port town of Mikuni.
May192027
Sapporo Lilac Festival
Sapporo's start-of-summer festival among 400 blooming lilacs in Odori Park, with a Hokkaido wine garden, outdoor tea ceremonies and live music.
May212027
Shimoda Black Ship Festival
Shimoda's festival of Japan-US friendship, marking Perry's arrival with naval parades, memorial rites and fireworks.
May292027
Kamakura Hasedera Hydrangea Season
About 2,500 hydrangeas of 40 varieties on a hillside path above the sea at Kamakura's Hasedera.
May292027
Soma Nomaoi
A thousand-year-old cavalry festival of armoured horsemen racing and scrambling for sacred flags in the Soma plain.
June 2027
6 eventsJun42027
Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Matsuri
Kanazawa's biggest festival, commemorating Lord Maeda Toshiie's entry into the castle with a samurai parade.
Jun92027
Yosakoi Soran Festival
Team dance festival in Sapporo combining yosakoi dancing with the Soran Bushi folk song.
Jun122027
Chagu Chagu Umakko
About 60 farm horses in brilliant dress and hundreds of bells parade 14km from Takizawa to Morioka.
Jun122027
Hakone Hydrangea Season and Night Hydrangea Train
Hydrangeas line the climbing mountain railway; a reserved night train runs through illuminated flowers.
Jun142027
Hokkaido Shrine Festival (Sapporo Matsuri)
Sapporo's oldest festival, with a 1,000-person procession of portable shrines and Edo-style floats on the final day and hundreds of food stalls in Nakajima Park.
Jun182027
Japan Sake Fair 2027 / Annual Japan Sake Awards public tasting
The Japan Sake Brewers Association's national fair with about 1,200 brands from 45 prefectures, plus the once-a-year public tasting of around 400 gold-medal sakes from the Annual Japan Sake Awards.
July 2027
25 eventsJul12027
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2027
The 10th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is expected across the Niigata countryside from July to November 2027.
Jul12027
Gion Matsuri
Kyoto's month-long Yasaka Shrine festival, famous for its two Yamaboko float processions on 17 and 24 July.
Jul12027
Gion Matsuri (Yamaboko Junko processions)
Japan's most famous festival, a month-long series of Yasaka Shrine rites whose highlights are the two float processions of 34 yamaboko on 17 and 24 July.
Jul12027
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Summer festival centred on Kushida Shrine, in which seven districts race one-ton kakiyama floats through Hakata.
Jul22027
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
One of Kanto's three great Tanabata festivals, with about 500 bamboo decorations up to 10 m tall, celebrity-themed displays and a parade through the station-front arcades over three days.
Jul102027
Gujo Odori
Thirty-plus nights of participatory Bon dancing in the streets of Gujo Hachiman, with four all-night sessions at Obon.
Jul102027
Gujo Odori (incl. Tetsuya all-night dances)
UNESCO-listed (Furyu-odori) bon dance season of some 30 nights, culminating in four all-night dances from 20:00 to 05:00 over Obon when 250,000 visitors dance in geta through the water-town streets.
Jul112027
Furano Lavender Peak Season
Peak lavender flowering in the Furano and Nakafurano fields, centred on Farm Tomita.
Jul112027
Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The July grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the IG Arena in Nagoya.
Jul142027
Nachi Fire Festival (Nachi no Ogi Matsuri)
One of Japan's three great fire festivals: twelve 50kg torches purify the path of fan-shaped portable shrines to Nachi Falls.
Jul172027
Ise Jingu Dedicated National Fireworks Competition
One of Japan's three great fireworks competitions, where pyrotechnicians selected from across the country dedicate competitive displays over the Miya River at Ise.
Jul192027
Hokuryu Sunflower Festival
Two million sunflowers over 23 hectares at Japan's largest sunflower village, with flower mazes.
Jul202027
Itsukushima Kangen-sai
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine's largest annual rite, a night boat procession with kangen court music on the 17th day of the 6th lunar month.
Jul232027
Fuji Rock Festival
Three-day outdoor rock festival at Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, Niigata, organised by SMASH Corporation.
Jul242027
Kurashiki Tenryo Summer Festival
Kurashiki's biggest festival, with some 3,500 dancers in the evening Daikan Bayashi-Odori along Chuo Street.
Jul242027
Tanabe Festival
Tanabe's Gion festival of Kasahoko floats, held every 24 and 25 July around Tokei Shrine.
Jul242027
Tenjin Matsuri
Osaka's great summer festival at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, with a river procession and fireworks on the evening of 25 July.
Jul252027
Toyota Oiden Festival Fireworks
The fireworks finale of the Toyota Oiden Matsuri, with melody fireworks, wide star mines and a Niagara 30 metres high and 550 metres wide over the Yahagi River.
Jul302027
Doshin UHB Fireworks Festival
About 4,000 fireworks over the Toyohira River in central Sapporo, a summer tradition easily reached from the city centre.
Jul302027
Fukui Phoenix Festival
Fukui City's main summer festival, founded in 1954 to celebrate the city's recovery from war, earthquake and flood.
Jul302027
TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL
Three-day idol music festival across stages in Tokyo's Odaiba and Aomi waterfront area.
Jul302027
World Cosplay Summit
International cosplay festival across central Nagoya, centred on Oasis 21 and the Aichi Arts Center.
Jul312027
Hita Gion Festival
Hita's 300-year-old Gion festival of towering Yamahoko floats, part of the UNESCO-listed Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals.
Jul312027
Sumida River Fireworks Festival
Fireworks display launched from two sites along the Sumida River in Tokyo, in the Asakusa area.
Jul312027
Tsuyama Gongo Festival
A summer festival for the kappa water sprite Gongo, with dances on Yakko-dori and one of Okayama's largest fireworks displays.
August 2027
51 eventsAug12027
Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri
Summer festival in Hirosaki with about 80 fan-shaped illuminated neputa floats paraded through the castle town.
Aug12027
Kusatsu Onsen Thanksgiving Festival
Three days of thanks to the hot springs at Kusatsu's Yubatake, with a ritual drawing of the spring water.
Aug12027
Morioka Sansa Odori
Dance parade in Morioka with large groups of dancers, flute players and taiko drummers on Chuo-dori.
Aug22027
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
Summer festival in Aomori City with large illuminated nebuta floats paraded through the streets with haneto dancers.
Aug22027
Minato Mirai Festival in Support of GREEN×EXPO 2027
Yokohama's major summer fireworks festival over Yokohama Port in Minato Mirai, the renamed successor to the Minato Mirai Smart Festival, with music and street performances.
Aug22027
Nagaoka Fireworks
Two nights of fireworks over the Shinano River, the centrepiece of the Nagaoka Festival, famous for the Phoenix recovery shell and the giant Shosanshakudama.
Aug32027
Akita Kanto Matsuri
Summer festival in Akita City where performers balance tall bamboo poles hung with paper lanterns on their palms, foreheads, shoulders and hips.
Aug32027
Numata Festival
Numata's great summer float festival, held over three days in early August in the castle town centre.
Aug52027
109th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien)
The summer national championship for 49 prefectural champions, Japan's most emotional sporting tradition, played in August heat with morning and evening sessions.
Aug52027
Chikugo River Fireworks Festival
One of Kyushu's largest fireworks displays, launched simultaneously at Kyomachi and Sasayama on the Chikugo River in Kurume.
Aug52027
Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri
Evening dance parade in Yamagata City with dancers holding hats decorated with safflowers.
Aug62027
Fukushima Waraji Festival
Fukushima's summer festival, where Japan's largest straw sandal, 12 metres long and weighing two tons, is paraded and danced through the city centre.
Aug62027
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
The annual 6 August ceremony marking the atomic bombing, with a minute's silence at 08:15, the Peace Declaration and the Peace Bell; attended by the UN Secretary-General and national leaders.
Aug62027
Oita Tanabata Festival
One of Oita's largest festivals, with the Funai Pacchin illuminated float parade through the city centre.
Aug62027
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri
Tanabata festival in central Sendai with large handmade paper and bamboo decorations hung in the shopping arcades.
Aug62027
Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival
Some 100,000 red paper lanterns strung on bamboo form glowing tunnels through Yamaguchi's arcades, a 600-year-old Obon tradition from the Ouchi clan era; one of Japan's three great fire festivals.
Aug72027
Edogawa Fireworks Festival
Fireworks display over the Edogawa River in Edogawa, held jointly with Ichikawa City across the river in Chiba.
Aug72027
Itabashi Fireworks Festival
Fireworks display over the Arakawa River in Itabashi, held at the same time as the Todabashi display across the river.
Aug72027
Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Festival
Two evenings of fireworks and a drone show over Lake Shinji, one of Japan's leading lake fireworks displays.
Aug72027
Shinmei Fireworks
About 20,000 fireworks over the Fuefuki River in Ichikawamisato, the largest fireworks display in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Aug72027
Yonago Gaina Festival
Yonago's main summer festival of towering lantern poles, taiko and fireworks over Lake Nakaumi.
Aug82027
Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival
Around 10,000 fireworks launched over Lake Biwa from barges off Otsu Port, Kansai's biggest summer display.
Aug92027
Kochi Yosakoi Festival
Kochi's energetic summer dance festival, with teams dancing through the city holding naruko wooden clappers.
Aug92027
Yosakoi Matsuri (74th)
Birthplace festival of yosakoi: ~18,000 dancers in 200 teams with naruko clappers parade through Kochi behind sound trucks in choreographed, costume-heavy routines.
Aug102027
Shirahama Fireworks Festival
The main Shirahama summer fireworks display of about 3,500 shells over Shirarahama Beach, held every 10 August.
Aug112027
Mikuni Fireworks Festival
Fukui's biggest fireworks display, launched over the sea at Mikuni Sunset Beach each 11 August.
Aug122027
Awa Odori
Japan's most famous Bon dance festival, filling central Tokushima with dancing ren troupes every August.
Aug122027
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival
One of Shikoku's four major festivals, a three day mid-August festival in Takamatsu with a fireworks display over Takamatsu Port.
Aug122027
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival and Fireworks (Don-Don Takamatsu)
Takamatsu's three-day Obon festival: a 6,000-shell fireworks show over the port on 13 August and a mass street dance down Chuo-dori on the final night.
Aug132027
Kachimai Fireworks Festival
Fireworks display on the Tokachi River riverbank in Obihiro, launched from a special venue downstream of Tokachi Ohashi Bridge.
Aug132027
Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival
Fireworks launched from both banks of the Kanmon Straits, between Moji in Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki.
Aug132027
Rising Sun Rock Festival in EZO
Hokkaido's outdoor rock festival, held on a special stage at Ishikari Bay New Port near Sapporo.
Aug132027
Summer Sonic Osaka
Osaka edition of Summer Sonic, held at the Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka.
Aug132027
Summer Sonic Tokyo
Tokyo edition of Creativeman's Summer Sonic festival, at ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.
Aug132027
Tottori Shan-Shan Matsuri
Tottori's largest festival, centred on the Issei Kasa Odori mass umbrella dance by about 4,000 dancers with bell-hung paper umbrellas.
Aug142027
Comic Market 110 (Summer Comiket)
Summer edition of Comic Market (Comiket), the world's largest doujinshi fair, at Tokyo Big Sight.
Aug142027
Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival
Ticketed fireworks and live music festival at Meiji Jingu Gaien in Tokyo, with about 10,000 fireworks.
Aug152027
Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival
About 40,000 shells over Lake Suwa in one of Japan's largest single-night fireworks displays.
Aug152027
Yamaga Toro Lantern Festival
A thousand women dance with gold paper lanterns on their heads through Yamaga on 15 and 16 August.
Aug162027
Gozan no Okuribi
Five giant bonfires in the shape of characters and symbols are lit on the mountains around Kyoto on the night of 16 August.
Aug162027
Kyoto Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji bonfires)
Five giant characters and shapes are burned on the hills at five-minute intervals from 20:00 to send off the ancestral spirits at the end of Obon, the quiet, solemn close of Kyoto's summer.
Aug172027
Kumano Grand Fireworks Festival
Some 10,000 shells over Shichirimihama Beach, with shells detonated on the sea surface and echoing off the Onigajo cliffs.
Aug202027
WILD BUNCH FEST. 2027
The Chugoku region's biggest outdoor rock festival, a three-day beach-park event with Japan's top rock and pop acts and a closing fireworks each night.
Aug212027
Akagawa Fireworks Festival
A design fireworks competition on the Akagawa riverbed in Tsuruoka, where pyrotechnicians from across Japan compete.
Aug222027
Okayama Momotaro Festival (Uraja)
Okayama's great summer dance festival, where teams in demon Ura make-up perform the Uraja dance across the city.
Aug272027
Animelo Summer Live
The world's largest anime song festival, expected to return to Saitama Super Arena in 2027.
Aug272027
Sweet Love Shower
Three-day outdoor festival by Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi, organised by Space Shower TV.
Aug282027
Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Fireworks Festival
About 15,000 fireworks over Kinko Bay at Kagoshima Port, with Sakurajima as the backdrop.
Aug282027
Omagari Fireworks (National Fireworks Competition)
Japan's national fireworks competition, where pyrotechnic companies from across the country compete on the Omono River at Omagari.
Aug282027
Usuki Stone Buddha Fire Festival
Torchlight festival at the National Treasure Usuki Stone Buddhas, held on the last Saturday of August.
Aug292027
Hokkaido Marathon
Japan's major summer marathon, run through central Sapporo partly on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon course, with around 20,000 runners.
September 2027
19 eventsSep12027
Owara Kaze no Bon
Dancers in straw hats move through Yatsuo's lantern-lit streets to kokyu and shamisen in Toyama's elegant Bon dance.
Sep32027
Kurodake and Daisetsuzan Autumn Leaves Season
Japan's earliest autumn colour, starting at the Kurodake summit in September and descending to Sounkyo Gorge.
Sep32027
Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri
Okinawa's largest Eisa festival, bringing selected youth association teams from across the island to Okinawa City.
Sep102027
Hanamaki Festival
A 430-year-old autumn festival with gas-lit Furyu floats and a world-record parade of over 100 portable shrines.
Sep102027
Katakai Festival Fireworks
Dedication fireworks for Asahara Shrine in Katakai, Ojiya, famous for the giant yonshakudama shells launched on both nights.
Sep102027
Sapporo Autumn Fest
Hokkaido's biggest food festival, filling about a kilometre of Odori Park with stalls from towns and producers across the island.
Sep112027
Jozenji Streetjazz Festival
Some 700 amateur and professional bands play free on dozens of open-air stages under the zelkova trees of central Sendai over one September weekend.
Sep112027
Rock in Japan Festival
Large outdoor rock festival at Soga Sports Park in Chiba City, organised by rockin'on.
Sep112027
Showa Kinen Park Cosmos Festival
Over four million cosmos across four flower fields in Tokyo's largest national park.
Sep122027
Aki Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The September grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Sep162027
Tokyo Game Show
Video game trade show at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, organised by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA).
Sep182027
Aizu Festival
Aizu's biggest festival, with a 500-strong procession of Aizu domain lords and samurai from Tsurugajo Castle.
Sep182027
Ikaho Festival
Three-day autumn festival in the Ikaho Onsen hot spring town, centred on the Ikaho Shrine grand festival on 19 September.
Sep182027
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Teams haul four-tonne wooden danjiri floats at speed through Kishiwada's streets, swinging them around corners.
Sep182027
Ultra Japan
Japanese edition of the Ultra Music Festival electronic dance music event, at Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park in Koto City, Tokyo.
Sep192027
Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine Autumn Festival
Autumn grand festival of Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine in Kumamoto City, centred on a Shinko procession with decorated horses.
Sep202027
Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival
Around five million red spider lilies carpet the woodland floor of a river-loop park near Tokyo.
Sep252027
Matsue Suitoro Water Lantern Festival
Handmade lanterns light Matsue Castle and its moat streets on autumn weekend evenings.
Sep292027
Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships 2027 (ATP 500)
Asia's oldest ATP tournament, an ATP 500 at Ariake drawing top-10 players in the week before the Shanghai Masters.
October 2027
19 eventsOct22027
Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks Festival
Autumn fireworks display over the Tama River at Futako-Tamagawa in Setagaya, held simultaneously with Kawasaki's display across the river.
Oct72027
Nagasaki Kunchi
Autumn festival of Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki City, with dance performances by rotating districts, including dragon dances.
Oct72027
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2027 (YIDFF)
Asia's leading documentary film festival returns to Yamagata City from 7 to 14 October 2027.
Oct82027
Sawara Grand Festival, Autumn (Suwa Shrine)
Fourteen huge floats topped with 4-metre figures are pulled through the canal-side merchant town of Sawara to Sawara-bayashi music, a 300-year-old UNESCO-listed festival held in July and October.
Oct92027
Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival
Three-day festival centred on the giant rope tug-of-war on Route 58, preceded by the Hatagashira flag procession on Kokusai-dori.
Oct92027
Saijo Sake Matsuri
Japan's biggest sake festival in the brewing town of Saijo: seven breweries open their doors and a Sake Hiroba offers tastings of around 1,000 labels from every prefecture, drawing 200,000+ visitors.
Oct92027
Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri)
Eleven festival floats and a portable shrine parade the northern old town for Sakurayama Hachimangu's harvest festival.
Oct112027
Hitachi Seaside Park Kochia Season
Season when the kochia bushes on Miharashi Hill at Hitachi Seaside Park turn red.
Oct152027
MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix 2027
Round 18 of the 2027 MotoGP world championship at Mobility Resort Motegi, race day Sunday 17 October.
Oct162027
Kawagoe Matsuri
Festival in Kawagoe's warehouse district with ornate floats and hikkawase musical face-offs between floats.
Oct162027
Nagoya Matsuri
Nagoya's main festival, built around a parade of the three unifiers, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu.
Oct162027
Niihama Taiko Festival
Ehime's great autumn harvest festival, where teams of about 150 men carry ornate taiko drum floats through Niihama.
Oct162027
Nikko Toshogu Autumn Festival (Shuki Taisai)
Autumn grand festival at Nikko Toshogu Shrine with yabusame horseback archery and a procession of about 1,200 participants.
Oct222027
Jidai Matsuri
A procession of 2,000 Kyoto citizens in costumes from every era of the city's history, held on 22 October.
Oct222027
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
A 2,000-person, 2 km procession in meticulously researched costumes from the Meiji era back to the Heian court, departing the Imperial Palace at noon, founded in 1895 for Heian Shrine.
Oct222027
Okinawa Industry Festival (51st) - awamori and local products fair
Okinawa's biggest trade-and-consumer fair, 470+ exhibitors over three days at Onoyama Park, best known for its awamori pavilion with every distillery in the prefecture pouring limited releases.
Oct252027
Tokyo International Film Festival 2027 (40th TIFF)
The 40th, anniversary edition of TIFF is expected in late October 2027; dates not yet announced.
Oct302027
Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival (Jimmu-sama)
Miyazaki's largest festival, a grand procession re-enacting Emperor Jimmu's eastern expedition from Miyazaki Shrine.
Oct302027
Roppongi Art Night 2027
The 2027 edition of Tokyo's all-night art festival is expected on the last weekend of October 2027.