| January |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 3rd |
Tamaseseri (Ball-Catching Festival)(搶球節) |
Fukuoka Hakozaki Shrine（福岡筥崎宮） |
Free |
Fukuoka |
| 6th |
Dezome-shiki(出初式)(New Year's Parade of Firemen新年首次消防演习会) |
TOKYO BIG SIGHT (東京ビッグサイト)-Tokyo International Exhibition Center |
Free |
Tokyo |
| 7th |
Usokae(鶯替)(Bullfinch Exchange更換木製鶯活動) |
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (大宰府天満宮) |
Free Entrance(Main Hall)
Carved wooden uso: ¥1,000 donation |
Dazaifu (大宰府), Fukuoka |
Osaka：9th~11th
Kyoto：8th~12th
|
Toka Ebisu(十日戎)(财神节) |
Osaka: Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (今宮戎神社)
Kyoto: Ebisu Shrine
|
Free
|
Osaka & Kyoto
|
| Fourth Saturday
|
Yamayaki(燒山節)(Grass Burning on Mt. Wakakusayama)
|
Mt. Wakakusayama(若草山)
Nara Park
|
JPY150
|
Nara
|
| The Sunday closest to January 15th
|
Toh-shiya (Archery Contest三十三間堂遠射)
|
Sanjusangen-do Temple (三十三間堂）
|
Free
|
Kyoto
|
| 17th
|
Bonden-sai (Bonden Festival梵天祭)
|
Taiheizan Miyoshi Jinja Shrine（太平山三吉神社）
|
|
Akita(秋田市)
|
| February |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| For 7 days, starting in the second week
|
Sapporo Snow Festival(札幌雪節)
|
the Odori Park(Odori Site), Susukino Site and Tsu Dome Site.
|
Free
|
Sapporo
|
| 3rd
|
Setsubun Mantoro (Lantern Festival)(節分萬燈籠)
|
Kasuga Taisha Shrine(春日大社)
|
Free(outer area), JPY500(inner area)
|
Nara
|
| 6th
|
Oto Matsuri(Oto Fire Festival)(御灯祭)
|
Kamikura Shrine(神倉神社)
|
Free
|
Shingu City, Wayatama Prefecture(和歌山県新宮市)
|
| 15th & 16th
|
Yokote Kamakura Festival(横手の雪祭り)
|
Extends east of Yokote Station to Yokote Castle
|
Free
|
Yokote City(横手市), Akita Prefecture
|
| Third Saturday
|
Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri(西大寺會陽裸身節)
|
Saidai-ji Temple(西大寺觀音院)
|
Men only
Participants must apply either online or by phone
|
Saidaiji-naka, Okayama Prefecture(冈山県岡山市東区)
|
| 17th~20th
|
Hachinohe Enburi(八戶豐收節)
|
Shinra Jinja Shrine(新羅神社), Hachinohe Public Hall, the stage in front of the City Office, in Hachinohe City.
|
Kojokaku (Fee / Reservation required): 2500-3000 yen
|
Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture(青森県八戸市)
|
| March |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 1st~14th
|
Omizutori (Water-Drawing Festival)(汲水節)
|
Todai-ji Temple(東大寺)
|
JPY 1000
|
Nara
|
| Second Sunday of March
|
Fire-walking Festival (Hiwatari-sai)(高尾山火渡祭)
|
Head Temple Takao-san Yakuo-in(高尾山藥王院)
|
Free
|
Takao-san, Tokyo
|
| Third weekend in March
|
Sagicho Matsuri Festival(左義長まつり)
|
Himure Hachimangu Shrine(日牟禮八幡宮)
|
Free
|
Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture(滋賀県近江八幡市)
|
| Weekend in mid-March
|
Dai Himonjiyaki at Aso Fire Festival(阿蘇火節-大火文字燒)
|
Ojo-dake & Aso Shrine(青井阿蘇神社)
|
Free
|
Minami-Aso Village & Nishihara Village at Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture(九州熊本県阿蘇市)
|
| May |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 3rd & 4th
|
Hakata Dontaku Festival( 福岡市民の祭り 博多どんたく港まつり)
|
Many stages in Fukuoka City
|
Free
|
Fukuoka
|
| 3rd~5th
|
Takoage-Gassen (Kite-Fighting Contest)放風箏比賽
|
Nakatajima Sand Dunes (中田島砂丘)
|
|
Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture(静岡県滨松市)
|
| Third Friday & Saturday in May
|
Takigi O-Noh (Bonfire Noh performance)薪御能
|
Kofukuji Temple(興福寺)
|
Same-day tickets available for 5500 yen/person
|
Nara
|
| 11th ~ October 15th
|
Ukai (Cormorant Fishing)鸕鶿捕魚
|
Nagaragawa River(長良川)
|
Ukai Cruise (not including dinner): 3100-3400 yen
|
Minato-machi, Gifu Prefecture 岐阜縣長良川
|
| The Saturday and Sunday closest
to May 15th
|
Kanda Matsuri(神田祭)
|
Kanda Myojin Shrine(神田明神)
|
Free
|
Tokyo東京都千代田區外神田
|
| 15th
|
Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival)葵祭
|
Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shimogamo Shrine下鴨神社, Kamigamo Shrine上賀茂神社
|
Paid seats line the parade route cost 1000-4300 yen
|
Kyoto
|
| 17th & 18th
|
Shunki Reitaisai (Grand Festival of Spring)日光春季例大祭
|
Nikko Toshogu Shrine(東照宮)
|
JPY1300
|
Nikko
|
| Third Sunday and preceding Friday and Saturday
|
Asakusa Sanja Matsuri(淺草三社祭)
|
Asakusa Shrine(淺草寺)
|
Free
|
Tokyo
|
| Third Sunday
|
Mifune Matsuri(三船祭)
|
Oigawa River(大堰川)
|
Free
|
Asahi-cho, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City
|
| June |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 1st & 2nd
|
Takigi Noh (Bonfire Noh performance 平安神宮の薪能)
|
Heian Jingu Shrine(平安神社), 6:00 p.m.-about 8:30 p.m.
|
JPY2500-3300 for Performance/pax
|
Kyoto |
| 6th-10th
|
Yosakoi Soran Festival(YOSAKOIソーラン祭り)
|
Odori Park,Susukino and Special stages built in various areas in the city
|
Free
|
Sapporo
|
| 14th
|
Otaue Rice Planting Festival(御田植神事)
|
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine(住吉大社)
|
Free
|
Osaka
|
| 9th
|
Chagu Chagu Umako Horse Festival(チャグチャグ馬コ)
|
Onikoshi Sozen Shrine(鬼越蒼前神社)
Hachiman Shrine (盛岡八幡宮)
|
|
Ukai, Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture岩手縣滝沢市
|
| 7th-17th every even-numbered year
|
Sanno Matsuri(山王祭)
|
Hie-jinja Shrine(日枝神社)
|
|
Tokyo
|
| July |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 1st~15th
|
Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival(博多祇園山笠祭)
|
Hakata area and Kushida-jinja Shrine(櫛田神社)
|
Free
|
Hakata, Fukuoka福岡縣博多市
|
| 14th
|
Nachi-no-Hi-Matsuri(那智の火祭り)
|
Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine(熊野那智大社)
|
Free (JPY300 for treasure house)
|
Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture和歌山縣那智勝浦町那智山
|
| 1st~31st
|
Gion Matsuri(祇園祭)
|
central Kyoto, main celebrationscentered around Shijo, Kawaramachi, and Oike streets
|
Free
|
Kyoto
|
| 22nd~24th
|
Warei Taisai Uwajima Ushioni Festival (和霊大祭・うわじま牛鬼まつり)
|
Warei-jinja Shrine(和靈神社)
|
Free
|
Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture愛媛縣宇和島市
|
| on the last weekend in July
|
Soma-Nomaoi (Wild Horse Racing相馬野馬追)
|
This event takes place at Soma District; the Buddhist departure ceremony, Shutsujin, takes place concurrently at: 太田神社、小高神社(福島縣南相馬市)、中村神社(福島縣相馬市)
|
|
Soma City& Minami-Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture福島縣相馬市、南相馬市
|
| 24th & 25th
|
Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭)
|
The festival is centered around Osaka Tenmangu Shrine(大阪天滿宮) and the Okawa River.
|
Free
|
Osaka
|
| Late July ~
Early August (June 17th according to the lunar calendar)
|
Miyajima Kangensai Festival(宮島管絃祭)
|
Itsukushima Shrine(嚴島神社)
|
JPY300 (JPY500 for combined entry with Treasure Hall)
|
Miyajima, Hiroshima
|
| Jul 28 (may be postponed if the weather is bad)
|
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival(隅田川花火大會)
|
Venue No.1: from downstream of Sakurabashi Bridge to upstream of Kototoibashi Bridge
Venue No.2: from downstream of Komagatabashi Bridge to upstream of Umayabashi Bridge
|
Free
|
Tokyo
|
| August |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| [Aomori Nebuta Matsuri] : 2nd~7th
[Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri] : 1st~7th
|
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri(青森大燈籠節／弘前大燈籠節)
|
Throughout the city
|
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
Free (sidewalk seating)
3000 yen (reserved seating in the paid area)
|
Aomori
|
| Mid-July ~ Early September
|
Gujo Odori Dance Festival (郡上おどり)
|
Gujo Hachiman Town
|
Free
|
Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture岐阜縣郡上市
|
| 3rd ~ 6th
|
Akita Kanto Matsuri(秋田竿燈まつり)
|
Kanto O-dori(between the Sanno Jujiro Crossroads and Nichomebashi Bridge)
|
Free
|
Akita City, Akita Prefecture秋田縣秋田市
|
| 6th
|
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony (平和記念式典)
|
The Peace Memorial Park(平和記念公園)
People gather in front of the Memorial Cenotaph of the park
|
JPY200 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
|
Hiroshima
|
| 5th ~ 7th
|
Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri(山形花笠まつり)
|
From Tokamachi Corner to the front of Bunshokan Hall
|
Free
|
Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture山形縣山形市
|
| 6th~8th
|
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival仙台七夕節)
|
downtown Sendai, mainly Chuo Dori, Higashi Ichibancho Dori and around Shimin Hiroba.
|
Free
|
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture宮城縣仙台市
|
| 12th~15th
|
Awa-Odori Folk Dance Festival in Tokushima(徳島市阿波おどり)
|
downtown area of Tokushima
|
Free
|
Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture德島縣德島市
|
| 15th & 16th
|
Yamaga Toro Matsuri (Yamaga Lantern Festival山鹿燈籠祭)
|
Center of Yamaga City
|
Free
|
Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture熊本縣山鹿市
|
| 16th
|
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (Daimonji Bonfire 京都五山送り火)
|
Daimonji Yama and large mountains surrounding the city on the north, east, and west sides
|
Free
|
Kyoto
|
| 26th & 27th
|
Dai-Chochin Matsuri (Giant Lantern Festival三好大提灯まつり)
|
Suwa Shrine(諏訪神社)
|
|
Miyoshi, Aichi
|
| October |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 7th~9th
|
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival長崎九日(宮日)節 長崎くんち
|
Suwa Shrine(諏訪神社)
|
|
Nagasaki
|
| For three days in early October
|
Marimo Matsuri(球藻節 まりも祭り)
|
Akanko Onsen Street
|
Free
|
Kushiro City, Hokkaido Prefecture北海道釧路市
|
| 9th & 10th
|
Takayama Matsuri Autumn Festival(高山祭秋季慶典)
|
Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine(櫻山八幡宮)
|
Free
|
Takayama
|
| 11th~13th
|
Ikegami Honmonji O-Eshiki(池上本門寺御會式=日蓮上人忌日法會)
|
Ikegami Honmon Temple(池上本門寺)
|
|
Tokyo
|
| 14th~15th
|
Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fighting Festival灘之吵鬧節)
|
Matsubara Hachiman Shrine(松原八幡神社)
|
|
Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture兵庫縣姫路市
|
| 16th~17th
|
Nikko Toshogu Shrine Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival(日光東照宮祭秋季大祭)
|
Nikko Toshogu Shrine(東照宮)
|
JPY1300 (admission to the shrine)
JPY 1000 museum
JPY 2100 Shrine+Museum
|
Nikko
|
| 22nd (postponed in case of rain)
|
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages時代祭)
|
Heian Jingu Shrine(平安神宮)
Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所)
|
Heian Jingu Shrine-Free (JPY600 for inner Garden)
Kyoto Imperial Palace-Free
|
Kyoto
|
| 22nd (postponed in case of rain)
|
Kurama no Hi-Matsuri (Kurama Fire Festival鞍馬火祭)
|
Yuki-jinja Shrine(由岐神社) and the town of Kurama
|
Free
|
Kyoto
|
| December |
Date |
Festival |
Attraction | Ticket | Destination |
| 2nd & 3rd
|
Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu Night Festival秩父夜祭)
|
Chichibu Shrine(秩父神社)
|
|
Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture埼玉縣秩父市
|
| 14th
|
Gishi-sai(義士祭)
|
Sengakuji Temple(泉岳寺)
|
|
Tokyo
|
| 17th~19th
|
Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair羽子板市)
|
Senso-ji Temple(淺草寺)
|
Free
|
Tokyo
|
| 15th~18th
|
Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri(春日若宮節)
|
Wakamiya-jinja Shrine (in the precincts of the Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine)若宮神社
|
|
Nara
|
| 31st
|
Oga no Namahage (Oga Namahage Festival男鹿生剝鬼節)
|
Throughout the Oga Peninsula
|
|
Oga City, Akita Prefecture秋田縣男鹿市
|
| 31st
|
Okera-Mairi Festival(蒼術廟會)
|
Yasaka-jinja Shrine(八阪神社)
|
Free
|
Kyoto
|
