Events and Festivals in Japan

March Osaka Sumo Tournament

Mar 9 〜 Mar 23

Six major sumo tournaments (called honbasho) are held during the year—one on each odd month, each taking place…

Hachijojima Freesia Festival

Mid 〜 Late Mar 2025

Hachijojima holds an annual Freesia Festival to celebrate the arrival of spring. The festival began over 40 years…

Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossom Illuminations

Mar 21 〜 Apr 1

Annual light-up of the cherry blossoms in Chidorigafuchi. One of the most famous night cherry blossom events (yozakura,…

Anime Japan

Late Mar 2025

The key expo for manga fans and those in the animation business—almost 150,000 visitors and 200 companies from…

Tokyo Motorcycle Show

Mar 28 〜 Mar 30

The Tokyo Motorcycle Show, also known as nirin-matsuri (二輪祭), is the two-wheeled world’s answer to the Tokyo Auto…

Bunkyo Azalea Festival

Late Mar 〜 Late Apr 2025

One of the five flower festivals of Bunkyo Ward, this time Nezu Shrine takes the spotlight. The Azalea…

Kanamara Matsuri

Early Apr 2025

Kanamara Matsuri (otherwise known as the “Penis Festival” or “Festival of the Steel Phallus”) is an annual festival…

Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival

Apr 2025

The wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神社) were planted during the Edo period and now the purple flowers…

Hana Matsuri

Apr 8 / 10:00 AM 〜 3:00 PM

This event at Sensoji Temple celebrates the Buddha’s birthday on 8 April and is more formally called Bussho-e…

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

Mid Apr 〜 Late May 2025

From mid April through to the end of May 800,000 shibazakura flowers (pink moss or phlox moss) come…

A calendar of all the major events and festivals in Japan. Wherever possible, the link to the event’s official website is provided and visitors are advised to confirm scheduling details on the official website before attending to ensure there have not been any last minute changes.