Festivals in Japan
Festivals are part of Japan's culture. There are festivals all over Japan and all year round. The following are a listing of some of the major festivals in Japan that you may want to attend when in Japan. If you have any festivals that you have enjoyed, contact me.
Festival Calendar
January
Oshogatsu
New years celebration- all over Japan
First week in January
Dosojin Fire festival- Nozawa
January 15
February
Sapporo Yuki Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo_Snow_Festival
Huge Ice sculpture celebration- Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome, Sapporo
First week in February
March
Hina Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri
Also known as "Girls Day"- all over Japan
March 3
Omizutori-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omizutori
Buddhist Water Celebration with torch firing- Todaiji Temple- Nara
March 1-14
April
Cherry Blossom Festival
Observance of the cherry tree blossoms- all over Japan
Early April
Takayama Matsuri - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takayama_Festival
Huge ornate floats- Takayama, Gifu
April 14-15 and October 9-1
May
Childrens Day-
Youth Celebration- all over Japan
May 5
Sanja Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanja_Matsuri
Mikoshi festival- Asakusa, Tokyo
Third weekend in mid May
June
Soran Yosakoi festival- http://www.yosakoi-soran.jp (Japanese only)
Yosakoi dance festival- Sapporo,
Second week in June
July
Tanabata Festival- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
Yosakoi dance festival- Sendai,
July 7
Kyoto Gion Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri
The most famous festival in Japan- Gion, Kyoto
July 17
Sumida River Fireworks Display-
http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html
Fireworks over the Sumida River- Tokyo
End of July
August
Obon
Buddhist celebration of the dead- all over Japan
Aug 13,14,15,16
Nebuta Festival- http://www.nebuta.or.jp/english/index_e.htm
Giant paper lantern festival- Aomori
August 2-7
Awa Odori Festival-
Awa Odori dance festival- Tokushima, Tokushima ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Kochi Yosakoi Festival
Yosakoi dance festival- Kochi ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Kanto Matsuri
Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Aug 3-6
Kodo- One Earth Celebration-
Taiko Festival by Kodo-Sado Island
Mid Aug
Gujo Hachiman Obon festival
all night Obon odori dancing- Gujo Hachiman, Gifu ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Domatsuri Yosakoi festival
Yosakoi Dance Festival- Nagoya, Aichi ken
Last week in Aug or First week in Sept
Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi
Yosakoi dance festival- Harajuku Tokyo
Last week in Aug
Koenji Awa Odori Festival
Awa odori dance festival- Koenji, Tokyo
Last week in Aug
September
October
Nagasaki Kunchi
Fighting Floats- Nagasaki City, Nagasaki ken
October 7-9
Sasebo Yosakoi Festival-
Yosakoi dance festival- Sasebo, Nagasaki ken
Last week in October
Michinoku Yosakoi Festival
Yosakoi dance festival- Sendai, Miyagi ken
Mid October
Kurama-no-Hi Matsuri
Kurama Fire festival Kyoto, Japan
October 22nd
November
Hadakambo Festival
One of the most famous 'naked' festivals in Southern Japan.-
Hofu Tenman-guShrine, Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture
November 23
Taimatsu-akashi Festival
Third largest fire festival- Sukagawa City, Fukushima ken
The second Saturday in November
December
Chichibu Yomatsuri
Giant Floats and fireworks- Chichibu City, Saitama ken
Dec 2nd and 3rd
January
Oshogatsu
New years celebration- all over Japan
First week in January
Dosojin Fire festival- Nozawa
January 15
February
Sapporo Yuki Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo_Snow_Festival
Huge Ice sculpture celebration- Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome, Sapporo
First week in February
March
Hina Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri
Also known as "Girls Day"- all over Japan
March 3
Omizutori-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omizutori
Buddhist Water Celebration with torch firing- Todaiji Temple- Nara
March 1-14
April
Cherry Blossom Festival
Observance of the cherry tree blossoms- all over Japan
Early April
Takayama Matsuri - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takayama_Festival
Huge ornate floats- Takayama, Gifu
April 14-15 and October 9-1
May
Childrens Day-
Youth Celebration- all over Japan
May 5
Sanja Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanja_Matsuri
Mikoshi festival- Asakusa, Tokyo
Third weekend in mid May
June
Soran Yosakoi festival- http://www.yosakoi-soran.jp (Japanese only)
Yosakoi dance festival- Sapporo,
Second week in June
July
Tanabata Festival- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
Yosakoi dance festival- Sendai,
July 7
Kyoto Gion Matsuri- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri
The most famous festival in Japan- Gion, Kyoto
July 17
Sumida River Fireworks Display-
http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html
Fireworks over the Sumida River- Tokyo
End of July
August
Obon
Buddhist celebration of the dead- all over Japan
Aug 13,14,15,16
Nebuta Festival- http://www.nebuta.or.jp/english/index_e.htm
Giant paper lantern festival- Aomori
August 2-7
Awa Odori Festival-
Awa Odori dance festival- Tokushima, Tokushima ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Kochi Yosakoi Festival
Yosakoi dance festival- Kochi ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Kanto Matsuri
Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Aug 3-6
Kodo- One Earth Celebration-
Taiko Festival by Kodo-Sado Island
Mid Aug
Gujo Hachiman Obon festival
all night Obon odori dancing- Gujo Hachiman, Gifu ken
Aug 13,14,15,16
Domatsuri Yosakoi festival
Yosakoi Dance Festival- Nagoya, Aichi ken
Last week in Aug or First week in Sept
Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi
Yosakoi dance festival- Harajuku Tokyo
Last week in Aug
Koenji Awa Odori Festival
Awa odori dance festival- Koenji, Tokyo
Last week in Aug
September
October
Nagasaki Kunchi
Fighting Floats- Nagasaki City, Nagasaki ken
October 7-9
Sasebo Yosakoi Festival-
Yosakoi dance festival- Sasebo, Nagasaki ken
Last week in October
Michinoku Yosakoi Festival
Yosakoi dance festival- Sendai, Miyagi ken
Mid October
Kurama-no-Hi Matsuri
Kurama Fire festival Kyoto, Japan
October 22nd
November
Hadakambo Festival
One of the most famous 'naked' festivals in Southern Japan.-
Hofu Tenman-guShrine, Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture
November 23
Taimatsu-akashi Festival
Third largest fire festival- Sukagawa City, Fukushima ken
The second Saturday in November
December
Chichibu Yomatsuri
Giant Floats and fireworks- Chichibu City, Saitama ken
Dec 2nd and 3rd