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日本旅行 · Trip prep

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🏮About Japanese festivals (matsuri)
Matsuri began as rites asking local deities for good harvests and wellbeing. People parade portable shrines (mikoshi) or giant floats through the streets, and yatai food stalls line the roads. Each season has its own character, making festivals a good guide for when to travel.
Winter · SpringSnow and ice sculptures, and picnics under the cherry blossoms, are the highlights.
SummerTwo of Japan's three great festivals (Gion and Tenjin) are held in July, followed by fireworks and dance festivals.
Autumn · WinterHistorical processions, autumn leaves and illuminations fill the cities.
💡Handy tips
  1. During major festivals, lodging fills up months in advance. Book as soon as your dates are set.
  2. Many people wear yukata (light kimono) at summer festivals. It's fun to rent one and try it on.
  3. Traffic is restricted along procession routes and it gets very crowded. Use a station one or two stops away instead of the nearest one.
  4. Many yatai accept cash only, so carry coins and ¥1,000 bills.
Choose an area below to go to its Festivals info.
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Festivals · Seasonal events

Pick your travel month to see events across Japan.

Jan · The coldest month. Hokkaido is busy preparing for the snow festival.
Late Jan – Early February (about ten days) · Kobe

Kobe Luminarie

A festival of light begun in memory of the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, with huge illuminated arcades.

Jan Around 6 · Tokyo

Tokyo Fire Department New Year Parade (Dezomeshiki)

A New Year event where firefighters perform acrobatics atop tall ladders.

Jan 9–11 · Osaka

Toka Ebisu

Osaka's New Year festival to pray for business prosperity, with crowds buying lucky bamboo branches.

Fourth Saturday of January · Nara

Wakakusa Yamayaki

A winter fire festival where the whole grassy slope of Mt. Wakakusa is set ablaze, along with fireworks.

Late Jan – Early February · North (Motobu

Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival

A festival for Japan's earliest-blooming cherry blossoms, the deep pink kanhizakura.

Selected days in Jan–Feb (reservation required) · Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go light-up

A winter event that lights up the snow-covered gassho-zukuri houses for a fairy-tale scene.