日本DiscoverJapan

A star festival in Sendai, held annually in August, features large bamboo decorations, fireworks, and traditional performances.

A Tanabata festival in Tokyo, this early August event displays large papier-mâché figures inside a covered shopping arcade.

A summer festival in Hachioji, this event features a procession of 19 carved floats. Other activities include musical float battles, taiko drumming, geisha performances, and a lion dance.

The Fussa Tanabata Matsuri in Fussa City is a festival with large bamboo ornaments, a folk dance parade, and decoration contests.

A fireworks and music festival in Tokyo, this event combines 10,000 fireworks with live J-pop performances held in stadiums against the Shinjuku skyline.

A major Tokyo festival, it features a procession where mikoshi carriers are splashed with water by spectators. A larger version of the festival occurs every three years.

A large dance festival in Tokushima, Awa Odori is held annually from August 12-15. Groups perform choreographed street dances with distinct male and female styles.

A Bon dance festival in Gujo Hachiman, the Gujo Odori spans over thirty nights. It features ten traditional dances, including four consecutive nights of all-night dancing in August.

A fireworks festival in Okutama launches 1,000 fireworks from Mt. Atago. The surrounding valley geography provides distinct acoustics for the display.

A folk dance festival in Minano, Saitama, is held annually on August 14. The event is a formal competition featuring team performances and concludes with a fireworks display.

A lantern festival in Nara, the Mantoro involves lighting over 3,000 historic lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The event is held twice a year in February and August.

The Shoro Nagashi is a Nagasaki festival on August 15 to send off spirits of the deceased. Participants parade handcrafted boats with loud firecrackers, gongs, and chanting.