Bake-Neko Halloween Parade 2024
Kagurazaka Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, TokyoBake-neko (literally “changed” or “supernatural” cat) are a common occurrence in Japanese mythology and what better time to…
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Nikko Toshogu Shrine Autumn Festival 2024
Nikko Toshogu Shrine 2301 Sannai, Nikko, TochigiThe Autumn Festival at Nikko Toshogu Shrine is held on 16 & 17 October every year in honour…
Nihombashi Ebisuko Bettara Ichi 2024
Takarada Ebisu Shrine Takarada Ebisu Shrine, 4-10 Nihonbashihoncho, Chuo, TokyoThis traditional autumn festival has roots dating back to the beginning of the Edo period and is held…
Kawagoe Festival 2024
Kawagoe Kurazukuri District 川越市蔵造り資料館, 7-9 Saiwaichō, Kawagoe, SaitamaThe Kawagoe Matsuri is held over 2-days every year on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October. What…
Kurama Fire Festival 2024
Kurama Kurama Station, 191 Kuramahonmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, KyotoFire-festival held on 22 October each year famous for its procession of men bearing huge flaming torches, some…
Kyoto: Jidai Matsuri 2024
Kyoto City Kyoto, Kyoto, KyotoJidai Matsuri (時代祭, "Festival of the Ages") celebrates the foundation of Kyoto and is held on the 22…
Nihombashi-Kyobashi Matsuri 2024
Nihombashi 日本橋, 1-Chome Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo, TokyoIf you know a little about the history of Japan then you’ll have heard of the “Five Routes”…
Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival 2024
Kiyotaki Station 清滝駅, Takaomachi, Hachioji, TokyoThe Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival (“Mount Takao Momiji Matsuri”) is held throughout the month of November every…
Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival 2024
Nagasaki Seaside Park Nagasaki Seaside Park, 22-17 Tokiwamachi, Nagasaki, NagasakiThe Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival (長崎帆船まつり, Nagasaki Hansen Matsuri) is one of a kind in Japan. It was…
Chichibu Yomatsuri 2024
Chichibu Shrine 秩父神社, 1-3 Banbamachi, Chichibu, SaitamaOne of Japan’s greatest hikiyama (float) festivals, the Chichibu Yomatsuri is held 2-3 December every year and attracts…
Sengakuji’s Ako Gishi Sai 2024
Sengakuji Sengaku-ji, 2-11-1 Takanawa, Minato, TokyoThe story of the 47 ronin is one of Japan’s most celebrated and famous. While in English it…
Oji Fox Parade 2024
Oji Inari Shrine 王子稲荷神社, 1-12-26 Kishimachi, Kita, TokyoThe legend goes that foxes from all regions would gather under a large tree on New Year’s Eve…
Imperial Family New Year Greeting 2025
Chowaden, Tokyo Imperial Palace 皇居宮殿長和殿, 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda, TokyoThe traditional New Year greeting by the Imperial Family from the long balcony of the Chowaden Hall. Members…
New Year Firefighter Ceremony 2025
Tokyo Big Sight Tokyo Big Sight, 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto, TokyoThe New Year Firefighter Ceremony—officially called dezome-shiki (出初式)—is a display of acrobatics and other skills organized by the…
Ome Daruma Market 2025
Ome City Hall 1-11-1 Higashiome, Ome, TokyoDaruma are hollow, round, traditional Japanese dolls that are usually weighted at the bottom so no matter which…
Daikoku Matsuri 2025
Kanda Myojin 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, TokyoThe association of Kanda Myojin with wealth and good fortune (it is after all home to two of…
Dosojin Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival 2025
Nozawa Onsen Village Shimotakai District, NaganoThe Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival (野沢温泉道祖神火祭り, Nozawa Onsen Dōsojin Hi-matsuri) is held on 15 January every year and…
Kameidoten Usokae Bullfinch Exchange 2025
Kameido Tenjin Shrine 3-6-1 Kameido, Koto, TokyoThis annual event held at Kameidoten-jinja in Koto Ward celebrates the passing of good fortune into the year…
Sapporo Snow Festival 2025
Odori Park, Sapporo 大通公園, 7-chrome Odorinishi, Chuo, Sapporo, HokkaidoWhat started off in 1950 as community event to display six snow statues made by local high school…
Setsubun at Narita-san 2025
Naritasan Shinshoji Temple 成田山新勝寺, 1 Narita, Narita, TokyoWhile setsubun festivals are held at many temples across the country, the rituals at Asakusa’s Sensoji, Takao-san Yakuo-in…
Setsubun (Bean Tossing) at Sensoji 2025
Sensoji Temple Senso-ji, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, TokyoTraditionally setsubun (節分) marks the day before the beginning of a new season, but in post-Edo times the…
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival 2025
Otaru, Hokkaido Otaru Station, 2 Chome-22 Inaho, Otaru, HokkaidoThe Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路, Otaru Yuki Akari no Michi) began in 1999 with the hope…
Saidaiji Eyo (“Naked Festival”) 2025
Saidaiji Kannon-in 別格本山 金陵山西大寺観音院, 3 Chome-8-8 Saidaijinaka, Higashi Ward, Okayama, OkayamaThe Saidaiji Eyō (西大寺会陽), more commonly known as the Hadaka Matsuri (“Naked Festival”), gets more international media attention…
Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival 2025
Yokote, Akita 横手市民会館, 13-1 Minamimachi, Yokote, AkitaThe ritual of hollowing out a mound of snow and building a small hut like an igloo is…