A dragon boat race in Yokohama, this annual championship takes place at Yamashita Park. The competition is a main event of the Port Festival, featuring multiple team divisions.
Sumida Park is a Tokyo cherry blossom site with 1,000 trees along the river. Its festival includes evening illuminations and offers views of the Tokyo Skytree.
A port festival in Yokohama, this June event features maritime activities, live performances, and a finale with lasers and fireworks to commemorate the port’s opening.
An annual festival in Kanazawa, the Hyakumangoku Matsuri commemorates a lord’s castle entry. It features a historical parade, lantern floating, and traditional tea ceremonies in early June.
A shrine festival in Asakusabashi, Torigoe Matsuri features a procession with a four-ton portable shrine. The main event is its lantern-lit ceremonial return to the shrine at night.
A flower festival in Bunkyo, this mid-June event at Hakusan Shrine features 3,000 blooming hydrangeas. A miniature Mt. Fuji replica, the Fuji-zuka mound, is also opened to visitors.
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.
