This annual event held at Kameidoten-jinja in Koto Ward celebrates the passing of good fortune into the year…

Shimokitazawa Tengu Festival is a novel variation on the Setsubun theme, centering around Shinryuji Temple with a small…

More than 3,000 lanterns are lit at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara twice a year—on 3 February for…

While setsubun festivals are held at many temples across the country, the rituals at Asakusa’s Sensoji, Takao-san Yakuo-in…

Traditionally setsubun (節分) marks the day before the beginning of a new season, but in post-Edo times the…

What started off in 1950 as community event to display six snow statues made by local high school…

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路, Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi) began in 1999 with the hope…

The ritual of hollowing out a mound of snow and building a small hut like an igloo is…

Until the 1950s, many dying factories could be found along the river near Nakai Station in Shinjuku Ward…

The Saidaiji Eyō (西大寺会陽), more commonly known as the Hadaka Matsuri (“Naked Festival”), gets more international media attention…

One of the biggest Daruma Doll Markets in Japan, over 300 stalls selling the round dolls gather around…

Hanatoro (花灯路, Hanatōro) is a 10-day long illumination that takes place in Kyoto’s Higashiyama in March and Arashiyama…

The Fire Walking Festival (火渡りまつり, hiwatari matsuri) is held near Takaosanguchi Station on the second Sunday of March…

According to legend, a statue is said to have been discovered on the 18 March 628 on the…

The Golden Dragon Dance celebrates the re-construction of the main hall of Sensoji in 1958 after it was…

Nakameguro Cherry Blossom Festival (中目黒桜まつり) is held at the beginning of April and organized by the workers in…

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

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

Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light…

The Kamakura Matsuri is a week-long festival held from the 2nd Sunday of April to welcome in spring.…

The White Heron Dance (白鷺の舞) has roots in a scroll which depicted scenes of a parade praying for…

The Yayoi Festival (弥生祭, Yayoi Matsuri) is held on the 13 to 17 of April each year at…

The Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival (長崎帆船まつり, Nagasaki Hansen Matsuri) is one of a kind in Japan. It was…

Yabusame (horseback archery) has its roots in the Kamakura period when samurai used the competition to improve their skills…