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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.

Oct · Autumn colors begin in Hokkaido. Kyoto and Tokyo peak from mid-November.
Oct 22 · Kyoto

Jidai Matsuri

A procession of over 2 km in costumes spanning the Meiji era back to the Heian period.

October (weekend around Sports Day) · Okinawa

Naha Great Tug-of-War

A festival where huge crowds pull together on a giant rope over 200 m long.

Oct 23–24 · Fukuoka

Hakata Okunchi

Kushida Shrine's autumn festival, with a procession in old costume through the streets of Hakata.

Mid-October weekend · Nagoya

Nagoya Festival

The 'Three Great Unifiers' parade, with Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, marches through the city.

Oct 9–10 · Takayama

Autumn Takayama Festival

Sakurayama Hachimangu's autumn festival; at night, lantern-lit floats circle the old town.

Oct 5–7 · Shikoku

Dogo Autumn Festival

Dogo Onsen's autumn festival, famous for portable shrines clashing into each other in the 'hachiawase'.

Oct 9–11 · Kotohira

Konpira Grand Festival

Konpira's grand festival, when a long procession in Heian-era costume descends the stone steps at night.