What's On in Chubu | Japan What's On

Oct92026

Tokinosumika Hikari no Sumika

Gotemba, Shizuoka · Illuminations · Fri 09 Oct 2026 to Sun 07 Mar 2027

Gotemba's Tokinosumika resort lights about 5,500,000 LEDs for the 25th Hikari no Sumika, themed 'DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY'.

Confirmed dates

Nov12026

Korankei Momiji Matsuri

Toyota, Aichi · Seasons and nature · Sun 01 to Mon 30 Nov 2026

Some 4,000 maples colour the Korankei gorge in Asuke, with Mt Iimori lit every evening of November.

Confirmed dates

Nov62026

Echizen Crab Season

Sakai, Fukui · Food · Fri 06 Nov 2026 to Sat 20 Mar 2027

The fixed annual season for Echizen-gani snow crab, Fukui's winter delicacy, from 6 November to 20 March.

Confirmed dates

Nov62026

Izu Kogen Gran Illumi (Granillumi)

Ito, Shizuoka · Illuminations · Fri 06 Nov 2026 to Tue 31 Aug 2027

Gran Illumi, the walk-through illumination at Izu Granpal Park, opens its 12th season and runs into the following summer.

Confirmed dates

Nov72026

Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival

Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi · Seasons and nature · Sat 07 to Sun 29 Nov 2026

Maples line the Maple Corridor on Lake Kawaguchi's north shore, lit until 21:00 with Mt Fuji across the water.

Confirmed dates

Nov82026

Atami Marine Fireworks Festival

Atami, Shizuoka · Fireworks · Sun 08 Nov 2026 to Sun 21 Feb 2027

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.

Confirmed dates

Nov122026

Dai Nagoya Building Winter Illumination

Nagoya, Aichi · Illuminations · Thu 12 Nov to Fri 25 Dec 2026

The Dai Nagoya Building's rooftop Sky Garden, three minutes from Nagoya Station, is expected to hold its winter illumination again in 2026.

Expected window

Nov142026

Echizen Crab Festival 2026

Echizen Town, Fukui · Food · Sat 14 to Sun 22 Nov 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.

Confirmed dates

Nov202026

NIIGATA Hikari no Pageant

Niigata, Niigata · Illuminations · Fri 20 Nov 2026 to Sun 14 Feb 2027

Niigata's winter pageant wraps about 200 zelkova trees south of Niigata Station in 160,000 lights.

Confirmed dates

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

Nov282026

Echigo Hillside Park Xmas Illumination

Nagaoka, Niigata · Illuminations · Sat 28 Nov to Sun 27 Dec 2026

Echigo Hillside Park's Christmas illumination centres on its great zelkova symbol tree, on selected December days.

Expected window

Jan12027

Yuzawa Winter Fireworks

Yuzawa, Niigata · Fireworks · Fri 01 Jan to Sat 20 Mar 2027

A season-long series of short fireworks displays fired over the snow at Yuzawa's ski resorts on winter nights.

Expected window

Jan92027

Atami Plum Garden Festival

Atami, Shizuoka · Seasons and nature · Sat 09 Jan to Sun 07 Mar 2027

One of Japan's earliest plum festivals, in a historic garden with 469 plum trees of about 60 varieties.

Expected window

Jan112027

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up

Shirakawa, Gifu · Illuminations · Mon 11 to Sun 31 Jan 2027

The gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Ogimachi are lit on four January nights, entry by advance reservation only.

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

Jan232027

Lake Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks

Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi · Fireworks · Sat 23 Jan to Tue 23 Feb 2027

Winter fireworks over Lake Kawaguchi with Mt Fuji behind, launched from Oike Park and two other lakeside sites on weekend nights.

Expected window

Feb62027

Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (37th)

Kawazu, Shizuoka · Seasons and nature · Sat 06 Feb to Sun 07 Mar 2027

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.

Expected window

Feb62027

Kenrokuen Winter Illuminations

Kanazawa, Ishikawa · Illuminations · Sat 06 to Sat 27 Feb 2027

Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle are lit on eight February nights, with the yukitsuri snow ropes on the pines.

Confirmed dates

Feb192027

Tokamachi Snow Festival

Tokamachi, Niigata · Snow and winter · Fri 19 to Sun 21 Feb 2027

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.

Confirmed dates

Feb202027

Katsuyama Sagicho Festival

Katsuyama, Fukui · Festivals · Sat 20 to Sun 21 Feb 2027

A 300-year-old late-winter fire festival of tower stages, comic drumming and a mass bonfire on the Kuzuryu River.

Expected window

Mar132027

Niigata Sake no Jin

Niigata, Niigata · Food · Sat 13 to Sun 14 Mar 2027

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.

Expected window

Mar132027

Tsunan Snow Festival

Tsunan, Niigata · Snow and winter · Sat 13 Mar 2027

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.

Confirmed dates

Mar142027

Nagoya Women's Marathon 2027

Nagoya, Aichi · Sport · Sun 14 Mar 2027

The world's largest women-only marathon, with about 22,000 runners starting and finishing at Vantelin Dome Nagoya.

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

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

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

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

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

May32027

Hamamatsu Matsuri

Hamamatsu, Shizuoka · Festivals · Mon 03 to Wed 05 May 2027

Giant kites battle over the Nakatajima dunes by day and palace floats parade the city centre by night.

Confirmed dates

May192027

Mikuni Festival

Sakai, Fukui · Festivals · Wed 19 to Fri 21 May 2027

One of the Hokuriku region's three great festivals, with 6.5-metre warrior floats paraded through the port town of Mikuni.

Confirmed dates

May212027

Shimoda Black Ship Festival

Shimoda, Shizuoka · Festivals · Fri 21 to Sun 23 May 2027

Shimoda's festival of Japan-US friendship, marking Perry's arrival with naval parades, memorial rites and fireworks.

Expected window

Jun42027

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Matsuri

Kanazawa, Ishikawa · Festivals · Fri 04 to Sun 06 Jun 2027

Kanazawa's biggest festival, commemorating Lord Maeda Toshiie's entry into the castle with a samurai parade.

Expected window

Jul12027

Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2027

Tokamachi and Tsunan, Niigata · Arts and stage · Thu 01 Jul to Tue 30 Nov 2027

The 10th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is expected across the Niigata countryside from July to November 2027.

Expected window

Jul102027

Gujo Odori

Gujo, Gifu · Festivals · Sat 10 Jul to Sat 04 Sep 2027

Thirty-plus nights of participatory Bon dancing in the streets of Gujo Hachiman, with four all-night sessions at Obon.

Expected window

Jul102027

Gujo Odori (incl. Tetsuya all-night dances)

Gujo (Hachiman), Gifu · Arts and stage · Sat 10 Jul to Sat 04 Sep 2027

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.

Expected window

Jul112027

Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament 2027

Nagoya, Aichi · Sport · Sun 11 to Sun 25 Jul 2027

The July grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the IG Arena in Nagoya.

Confirmed dates

Jul232027

Fuji Rock Festival

Yuzawa, Niigata · Arts and stage · Fri 23 to Sun 25 Jul 2027

Three-day outdoor rock festival at Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, Niigata, organised by SMASH Corporation.

Expected window

Jul252027

Toyota Oiden Festival Fireworks

Toyota, Aichi · Fireworks · Sun 25 Jul 2027

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.

Expected window

Jul302027

Fukui Phoenix Festival

Fukui, Fukui · Festivals · Fri 30 Jul to Sun 01 Aug 2027

Fukui City's main summer festival, founded in 1954 to celebrate the city's recovery from war, earthquake and flood.

Expected window

Jul302027

World Cosplay Summit

Nagoya, Aichi · Arts and stage · Fri 30 Jul to Sun 01 Aug 2027

International cosplay festival across central Nagoya, centred on Oasis 21 and the Aichi Arts Center.

Expected window

Aug22027

Nagaoka Fireworks

Nagaoka, Niigata · Fireworks · Mon 02 to Tue 03 Aug 2027

Two nights of fireworks over the Shinano River, the centrepiece of the Nagaoka Festival, famous for the Phoenix recovery shell and the giant Shosanshakudama.

Expected window

Aug72027

Shinmei Fireworks

Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi · Fireworks · Sat 07 Aug 2027

About 20,000 fireworks over the Fuefuki River in Ichikawamisato, the largest fireworks display in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Expected window

Aug112027

Mikuni Fireworks Festival

Sakai, Fukui · Fireworks · Wed 11 Aug 2027

Fukui's biggest fireworks display, launched over the sea at Mikuni Sunset Beach each 11 August.

Expected window

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

Aug272027

Sweet Love Shower

Yamanakako, Yamanashi · Arts and stage · Fri 27 to Sun 29 Aug 2027

Three-day outdoor festival by Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi, organised by Space Shower TV.

Expected window

Sep12027

Owara Kaze no Bon

Toyama, Toyama · Festivals · Wed 01 to Fri 03 Sep 2027

Dancers in straw hats move through Yatsuo's lantern-lit streets to kokyu and shamisen in Toyama's elegant Bon dance.

Confirmed dates

Sep102027

Katakai Festival Fireworks

Ojiya, Niigata · Fireworks · Fri 10 to Sat 11 Sep 2027

Dedication fireworks for Asahara Shrine in Katakai, Ojiya, famous for the giant yonshakudama shells launched on both nights.

Expected window

Oct92027

Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri)

Takayama, Gifu · Festivals · Sat 09 to Sun 10 Oct 2027

Eleven festival floats and a portable shrine parade the northern old town for Sakurayama Hachimangu's harvest festival.

Confirmed dates

Oct162027

Nagoya Matsuri

Nagoya, Aichi · Festivals · Sat 16 to Sun 17 Oct 2027

Nagoya's main festival, built around a parade of the three unifiers, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu.

Expected window

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