A dance festival in Sapporo, the Yosakoi Soran is held annually in June. It features teams performing choreographed routines with wooden clappers to folk and modern music.
A religious festival in Kyoto, the Gion Matsuri occurs in July. It features two main parades with large traditional floats, along with evening street events called yoiyama.
A summer festival in Fukuoka where teams from seven districts race through city streets carrying one-ton floats. The event’s final timed race is held before dawn on July 15.
The Tanabata festival in Hiratsuka features large decorations, parades, and food stalls in its commercial district. The event attracts numerous visitors.
A Tanabata festival in Tokyo, the Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri on Kappabashi-dori features a parade, performances, and street food amid bamboo decorations.
A spiritual festival in Tokyo, Mitama Matsuri is held at Yasukuni Shrine to honor war dead. It features 30,000 lanterns, art, and traditional performances in mid-July.
A fire festival in Wakayama, the Nachi Fire Festival on July 14 involves carrying large torches to a waterfall to purify portable shrines in a ritual for returning deities.
A Bon Odori festival in Tokyo, this late-July event at Zojoji Temple honors Jizo statues and features traditional dancing, taiko drumming, and food stalls.
A summer boat festival featuring portable shrines carried down 202 steep steps to lead a marine parade of 100 decorated vessels through Matsushima Bay.
A cultural festival in Tokyo, the Kagurazaka Matsuri combines a Hozuki Market selling ground cherry plants with two nights of traditional Awa Odori dance performances.
