Hokkaido

Port of Hakodate

• Shimin Sousaku (residents’production) Hakodate Yagaigeki (outdoor play) (early July through early August)

  

  This important event is an outdoor play, set in Goryoukaku fort, in which Hakodate citizens enact Hakodate’s unique history.

   

• Hakodate Port Festival (early August)

  

  Hakodate’s foremost event, marking the anniversary of the opening of Hakodate Port (August 1), and featuring fireworks in the Port, “Wasshoi” Hakodate parades and the famous Ika Odori (squid dance).

   

Port of Otaru

• Otaru Ushio Matsuri (festival) (late July)

  

  People go dancing through the streets from the city center to the main event location to the music of “Ushio Ondo”. The walk/dance is called Ushio Nerikomi. There is a special group named “Tobiiri DE Odoritai” (Dance on a whim). You can join as a group or jump in by yourself.

   

• Otaru Shukutsu Nishin Matsuri (herring festival) (late May)

  

  This is a festival highlighting the local history and culture of the Shukutsu region of Otaru, which once had a flourishing herring fishery.

   

Tohoku

Port of Aomori

• Aomori Nebuta Festival (mid-August)

  

  Gigantic “Nebuta”, colorful paper float lanterns in the shape of samurai warriors, birds or animals are pulled through the center of the city by people called “haneto” who dance around to festive music.

   

• Hirosaki Sakura (Cherry-Blossom) Festival (late April through early May)

  

  Hirosaki Castle including all ramparts, gates and moats are decorated with approx. 2,600 cherry trees in late April and early May. It is one of the best cherry-blossom viewing spots in Japan.

   

Kanto

Port of Tokyo

• Sanja Matsuri (three shrine festival) (early May)

  

  This regularly held Asakusa Shrine festival is one of Tokyo’s three great Shinto festivals, along with the Kanda and Sanno festivals. Watching participants bear the large Mikoshi (portable shrine) on their shoulders is the highlight.

   

• Tokyo Marathon (February)

  
  
  © TOKYO MARATHON

  This relatively new event features various categories of races, including the full marathon, the 10 km race, the wheelchair marathon, and the marathon for physically challenged people. Participants can run on major city roadways, making this a popular event.

   

Port of Yokohama

• Yokohama Kaiko Sai (opening of the port festival) (early June)

  

  This event in commemoration of the opening of the Yokohama Port on the 2nd of June, 1859 on the old calendar attracts large crowds every year.

   

• The Yokohama Parade (international fancy-dress parade) (early May)

  

  Enjoy various shows and events that are unique to Yokohama, including Yokohama marching bands, Shishimai (lion dances) and Ryumai (dragon dances).

   

Chubu

Port of Kanazawa

• Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival (early June)

  

  Held in Kanazawa this festival features many traditional events, including the gorgeous Hyakumangoku Parade, which have been passed down from one generation to another for 400 years. (The name Hyakumangoku refers to rice production. Hyakuman means a million, and the koku/goku is a measurement of rice production. 1 million koku is around 150,000 tonnes of rice.)

   

• Kanazawa Jazz Street (Setepmber)

  

  Big bands from Japan’s universities as well as top-ranking artists are invited to play at around 20 indoor or outdoor stages in the city in September.

   

Port of Niigata

• Niigata So-odori (Long weekend in mid-September)

  

  This is a festival featuring dances. “Niigata Geta So-odori” is a must-see event. This dance was restored from the legendary dance of 300 years ago.

   

• Niigata Fuyu Shoku no jin (Niigata winter food event) (December 1 through March 31)

  

  Various specialty foods from Niigata are offered at hotels and restaurants in the Niigata region. In “Shoku no jin Tojitsuza”, a food event held in early February, you can enjoy original pot food or donburi (rice bowl) at the food stands.

   

Port of Shimizu

• Shimizu Minato Matsuri (port festival) (summer)

  
  
  Photo Courtesy of Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association.

  This is a festival celebrating the opening of Shimizu Minato in 1947. The So-odori citizens’ street dance is something to behold!

   

• Daidogei (street performance) World Cup (autumn)

  
  
  Photo Courtesy of Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association.

  Held in Shizuoka, this event features jugglers, pantomime artists and magicians from all over the world competing on various stages across the city.

   

kansai

Port of Kobe

• Kobe Matsuri (festival) (May)

  

  This is Kobe’s main festival and is based on the theme “Green, Sea and Love.” Let the Samba dancing on Kyomachi Suji Street take your breath away.

   

• Luminarie (December)

  

  Kobe Luminarie is a light festival held in Kobe every December since 1995 to commemorate the victims of the Great Hanshin earthquake and pray for the restoration of the city. The streets and the city squares are decorated with unique geometric-patterned illuminations. This is Kobe’s biggest winter event.

   

Port of Osaka

• Tenjin Festival (late July)

  
  
  © Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

  This is one of the three major festivals in Japan. Features various events such as Shishimai (lion dances) and Funatogyo (boat procession) during the two days of Yoimiya (the eve) Festival and Honmiya (the current day).

   

• Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (mid September or early October)

  

  This festival is held in Kishiwada City, located to the south of Osaka. In this festival, 500 people run through the street of Kishiwada, pulling danjiri (floats).

   

Chugoku

Port of Hagi

• Hagi Yaki Festival (May and October)

  

  This festival is in fact a lively market, with Hagi Yaki potters and retail shop owners gathering in Hagi city to exhibit and sell their wares.

   

• Kimono Week in Hagi (early October)

  

  This event takes place in the first week of October. People walk through the city wearing kimono that blend in with the elegant atmosphere of the city's streets, some of which date back to the Edo period.

   

Port of Hiroshima

• Flower Festival (early May)

  
  
  Photo Courtesy of Hiroshima Prefecture

  Held on Heiwa Oh-dori Street and at Heiwa Kinen Koen (Peace Memorial Park), this festival features parades and stage performances.

   

• Oyster Festivals
  End of January - February

  
  
  Photo Courtesy of Hiroshima Prefecture

  A typical taste of Hiroshima in winter is oysters. Oyster festivals are held at various places in Hiroshima during the in-season of oysters.

   

Port of Sakai

• Sakai Minato Festival (July)

  

  This festival starts with Tairyo Kigansai (festival to pray for a good catch) and follows a parade of fishing boats equipped with Mikoshi (portable shrine) and Taiko (Japanese drums) along Sakai Suido Waterway.

   

• Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) (April)

  

  Sakura Matsuri is held for 2 weeks at Sakai Daiba Koen (park) where Sakai Minato Lighthouse is located. Boasts 350 cherry trees for your spring viewing pleasure.

   

Port of Uno

• Okayama Korakuen Garden, Genso Teien (mid- July through mid-August)

  

  Okayama Korakuen Garden is one of Japan’s three top gardens. Take advantage of the extended summer hours to enjoy various types of environmentally friendly illuminations and candles lighting up the night.

   

• Saidaiji Eyo Festival (3rd Saturday in February)

  

  Also known as “Hadaka Matsuri” (Naked festival), this is one of the three most unique festivals in Japan. Thousands of men wearing nothing but loincloths struggle for two holy sticks called “hoboku” (treasure wood).

   

Shikoku

Port of Takamatsu

• Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Oh-shibai (spring)

  

  Kabuki dramas are performed every spring at the Old Konpira Oh-shibai (familiar name: Kanamaru-za), which is the oldest playhouse in Japan.

   

• Sanuki Takamatsu Matsuri Fireworks Display (summer)

  

  This is one of the largest fireworks events in Shikoku. Variously colored fireworks are set off at Takamatsu Port. Be awed by the reflection of fireworks on the water.

   

Port of Uwajima

• Uwajima Ushi-oni Matsuri (festival of a Japanese monster with a head of cow and body of a devil) (late July)

  

  Parades featuring huge floats in the shape of the legendary monster Ushi-Oni, which is also a charm against evil, wind through the streets of Uwajima. Also features bull fights and fireworks displays.

   

• Yakushi-tani Keikoku Somen Nagashi (flowing somen noodles) (mid- June through early September)

  

  Enjoy the enchanting scenery of Yakushi-tani Keikoku (gorge) and watch somen (noodles) coming down on little streams through rocks of the gorge.

   

Kyushu

Port of Beppu

• Beppu Hatto Onsen (Beppu 8 Hot Springs) Festival (April)

  

  Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival starts on the April 1, which is designated hot spring appreciation day. During the festival, more than 100 hot springs are open to the public free of charge.

   

• Onpaku (Beppu Hatto Onsen Exhibition) (May)

  

  During the month of May, various kinds of programs and events such as beauty and nutrition therapy classes, healing sessions, walks through the city, etc. are held.

   

Port of Hakata

• Hakata Gion Yamakasa (July)

  

  This is a most dynamic festival representing Hakata. Oiyama is the climax of the festival where men wearing traditional costumes dash around the town with festival floats which weigh over 1 ton carried on their shoulders.

   

• Hakata Dontaku (May)

  

  This festivals boasts the largest turnout of people to any festival in Japan. Many people enjoy participating in the parades and stage performances, and a variety of events are held around the city.

   

Port of Kagoshima

• Kagoshima Haru (Spring) Festival (late April)

  

  Held in the city of Kagoshima, this festival features a dance called “Dai-han-ya”. Teams from in and outside of Kagoshima Prefecture participate.

   

• Ohara Festival (early November)

  
  
  © K.P.V.B

  This festival started in 1949 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Kagoshima City Government. As many as 20,000 people dance through the streets of Kagoshima.

   

Port of Miyazaki

• Miyazaki Flower Fiesta (mid March through early May)

  

  This is a regular spring event in Miyazaki, though flowers bloom throughout the year. Note that flower festivals take place all over the prefecture.

   

• Obi Joka Matsuri (festival) (late October)

  

  Let this festival, with its procession of musha samurai warriors marching through Obi castle town (Nichinan City) take you back to the days of the Edo period.

   

Port of Nagasaki

• Nagasaki Otakusa Matsuri (hydrangea festival) (late May through mid June)

  

  Ajisai (hydrangea) brighten up the premises, which includes the ruins of the former residence of Siebold, who originally named the flower Otakusa, the Siebold Memorial Museum, Megane Bashi and Glover Residence.

   

• Nagasaki Kunchi (October 7-9)

  

  A major Nagasaki festival held at Suwa Shrine dating back to the 17th century. Features dynamic dances dedicated to the god of the shrine that can be seen in 4 different locations of the city and on street corners. The dances were influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese culture.

   

Okinawa

Port of Ishigaki

• Ishigakijima Shika-aza Hounensai Festival (summer)

  

  This is a harvest festival conducted in the urban district of Ishigakijima. People give thanks for the year’s good harvest and pray for a good harvest in the coming year.

   

• Tanetorisai Festival (autumn)

  

  This 10-day event is the biggest festival on the island of Taketomijima. It has been designated as a significant intangible folk cultural asset of Japan.

   

Port of Naha

• Eisa (July 13-15 on the old calendar)

  

  Eisa is a form of folk dance unique to the people of the Ryukyu (Okinawan) Islands and performed during the Obon season. In August, large-scale festivals associated with Eisa are held in Okinawa City and Naha City.

   

• Shurijo (Shuri Castle) Festival (late October through early November)

  

  One of the main features of this festival is the Ryukyu Kingdom procession, which flourished in medieval times. Traditional performing arts can also be seen at Shurijo.