A Shinto festival in Tokyo, the Kanda Matsuri is held in mid-May. The main celebration occurs in odd-numbered years and includes a large procession and portable shrines visiting the shrine.
This annual Kyoto festival, held on May 15, features a procession of over 500 people in Heian Period costumes traveling from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo Shrines.
A Shinto festival in Tokyo, the Sanja Matsuri is held in May at Asakusa Shrine, featuring parades where participants carry large portable shrines through the streets.
A spring festival celebrating Sendai’s feudal history with thousands performing the fan-wielding sparrow dance alongside a grand procession of yamahoko floats and armored samurai.
The Spring Grand Festival in Nikko is a two-day event. It features horseback archery and a large procession of participants in historical samurai armor re-enacting a funeral procession.
An annual festival in Kobe held in May, the Kobe Matsuri features a large main parade with samba teams, along with markets and live stage performances.
A Tokyo dance parade, this festival features 2,500 performers in a synchronized procession through Shibuya each May to celebrate Kagoshima culture with traditional folk dances.
A 14th-century Okinawan festival featuring competitive harbor races in massive fifteen-meter dragon boats to pray for maritime safety and abundant harvests.
