24 events start this month

What's on in Japan in April 2027.

Festivals, fireworks, illuminations and seasonal events starting in April 2027, checked against official sources.

Apr12027

Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival

Beppu, Oita · Festivals · Thu 01 to Sun 04 Apr 2027

Beppu's spring festival of thanks to the hot springs, with the Ogiyama fire burning and the Yu-bukkake water parade.

Expected window

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

Apr22027

Ogawara Sakura Festival (Hitome Senbonzakura)

Ogawara / Shibata, Miyagi · Seasons and nature · Fri 02 to Thu 15 Apr 2027

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.

Expected window

Apr22027

Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Joetsu, Niigata · Seasons and nature · Fri 02 to Sun 18 Apr 2027

One of Japan's three great night cherry blossom festivals, with about 4,000 trees lit around the castle moat.

Expected window

Apr32027

Inuyama Matsuri

Inuyama, Aichi · Festivals · Sat 03 to Sun 04 Apr 2027

Thirteen three-tiered floats with mechanical puppets parade the castle town under the cherry 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

Apr92027

Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2027

Suzuka, Mie · Sport · Fri 09 to Sun 11 Apr 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.

Confirmed dates

Apr102027

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi · Seasons and nature · Sat 10 Apr to Sun 23 May 2027

About 500,000 moss phlox bloom in patterned fields at Fuji Motosuko Resort, with Mt Fuji behind.

Expected window

Apr102027

KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival 2027

Kyoto, Kyoto · Arts and stage · Sat 10 Apr to Sun 09 May 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.

Expected window

Apr102027

Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival

Ginowan, Okinawa · Fireworks · Sat 10 Apr 2027

A one-day fireworks illusion of 10,000 fireworks synchronised to music, billed as Japan's earliest summer fireworks.

Expected window

Apr112027

Kamakura Festival

Kamakura, Kanagawa · Festivals · Sun 11 to Sun 18 Apr 2027

Kamakura's spring festival at the great Hachimangu shrine, opening with the Shizuka dance and closing with galloping yabusame archers on the shrine approach.

Expected window

Apr132027

Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri (children's kabuki floats)

Nagahama, Shiga · Festivals · Tue 13 to Fri 16 Apr 2027

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.

Expected window

Apr142027

Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri)

Takayama, Gifu · Festivals · Wed 14 to Thu 15 Apr 2027

Twelve ornate yatai floats, some with mechanical puppets, parade Takayama's old town for the Hie Shrine festival.

Confirmed dates

Apr152027

Hitachi Seaside Park Nemophila Season

Hitachinaka, Ibaraki · Seasons and nature · Thu 15 Apr to Wed 05 May 2027

Season when Miharashi Hill at Hitachi Seaside Park is covered in blue nemophila flowers.

Expected window

Apr152027

Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival

Semboku (Kakunodate), Akita · Seasons and nature · Thu 15 Apr to Wed 05 May 2027

Weeping cherries over black-fenced samurai houses and a 2 km tunnel of somei yoshino along the Hinokinai River.

Expected window

Apr152027

Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall Festival (Yuki-no-Otani)

Tateyama, Toyama · Seasons and nature · Thu 15 Apr to Fri 25 Jun 2027

A corridor ploughed through snow up to 20 metres deep at Murodo, on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.

Expected window

Apr162027

Craft Sake Week at Roppongi Hills

Tokyo, Tokyo · Food · Fri 16 to Wed 28 Apr 2027

Thirteen days of sake tasting from around 130 breweries at Roppongi Hills Arena.

Expected window

Apr172027

Hana Haru Festa

Tokushima, Tokushima · Festivals · Sat 17 to Sun 18 Apr 2027

Tokushima's spring festival of Awa Odori performances, local food and crafts at Aibahama Park.

Expected window

Apr172027

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

Hirosaki, Aomori · Seasons and nature · Sat 17 Apr to Wed 05 May 2027

Cherry blossom festival at Hirosaki Park, where about 2,600 trees of 52 varieties bloom around Hirosaki Castle and its moats.

Expected window

Apr182027

Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden Season

Kitakyushu, Fukuoka · Seasons and nature · Sun 18 Apr to Thu 06 May 2027

A private wisteria garden with two tunnels up to 110 metres, open only in season and by advance ticket at peak.

Expected window

Apr232027

9th Yokohama Triennale

Yokohama, Kanagawa · Arts and stage · Fri 23 Apr to Sun 12 Sep 2027

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.

Confirmed dates

Apr242027

ARABAKI ROCK FEST.27

Kawasaki (Shibata District), Miyagi · Arts and stage · Sat 24 to Sun 25 Apr 2027

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.

Expected window

Apr252027

M3 (Music Media-mix Market) Spring

Tokyo, Tokyo · Expo and pop culture · Sun 25 Apr 2027

Japan's leading doujin music fair, a one-day market for independent music at Tokyo Ryutsu Center.

Expected window

Apr282027

World of Coffee Tokyo 2027 and World Barista Championship

Koto, Tokyo · Food · Wed 28 Apr to Sat 01 May 2027

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.

Confirmed dates