Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival 2024
Sensoji Temple Senso-ji, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, TokyoThe Crying Sumo Festival (泣き相撲) is undoubtedly one of Tokyo’s more unusual events—and one which has attracted the…
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Fussa Tanabata Matsuri 2024
Fussa Station Fussa Station, Honcho, Fussa, TokyoThe Fussa Tanabata Matsuri has been held every year since 1951 and today sees about 100 food, drink…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Asakusa’s Honzon Jigen-e 2025
Sensoji Temple Senso-ji, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, TokyoAccording to legend, a statue is said to have been discovered on the 18 March 628 on the…
Teruhime Matsuri 2025
Shukujii Park 石神井公園, 1-26 Shakujiidai, Nerima, TokyoThis festival started in 1988 as a way to remind people of the prestigious past of this area…
Akabane Baka Matsuri (All Fools Festival) 2025
Akabane Station Akabane Station, 1-1 Akabane, Kita, TokyoThis oddly named festival was started in 1956 by the store owners in the commercial district around the…
Ome Grand Festival 2025
Sumiyoshi Shrine 12 Sumiecho, Sumiyoshi Shrine, Ome, TokyoHeld on the 2nd and 3rd of May every year the Ome Grand Festival ("Ome Taisai") is—as its…
Yokohama International Costume Parade 2025
Yamashita Park Yamashita Park, 279 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, KanagawaAnnual parade with marching bands and dance teams that takes place during the Golden Week holidays. Check the…
Sanja Matsuri 2025
Asakusa Shrine Asakusa Shrine, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, TokyoHeld annually on the third weekend of May, Sanja Matsuri is probably Tokyo’s biggest festival. It celebrates the…
Kyoto Gion Festival 2025
Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto 八坂神社, 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama, Kyoto, KyotoKyoto’s Gion Festival (京都祇園祭, Kyoto Gion Matsuri) is the city’s biggest festival and one of the most famous…
Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri 2025
Kappabashi Kitchen Town 合羽橋道具街, 3-18-2 Matsugaya, Taito, TokyoTanabata (七夕) has origins in a Chinese festival of old and is celebrated not just in Japan, but…
Asakusa Hozuki Ichi 2025
Sensoji Temple Senso-ji, 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, TokyoThe Hozuki Ichi (ほおずき市, hōzuki-ichi) is a summer tradition that has been held since the Edo period on…
Mitama Matsuri 2025
Yasukuni Shrine Yasukuni Shrine, 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda, TokyoOne of Tokyo’s most popular summer festivals, Mitama Matsuri (みたままつり) at Yasukuni Shrine has been held every year…
Nachi Fire Festival 2025
Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine 熊野那智大社, 1 Nachisan, Higashimuro, WakayamaNachi Fire Festival (那智の扇祭り, Nachi no Ogi Matsuri) or “Nachi Fan Festival” is one of three major fire…
Kagurazaka Matsuri 2025
Kagurazaka Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, TokyoThe Kagurazaka Matsuri lasts four days: two days for the Hozuki Market and two days for the Kagurazaka…
Chiyoda Lantern Floating Evening (Noryo no Yube) 2025
Chidorigafuchi 千鳥ヶ淵ボート場, Kitanomarukoen 1, Chiyoda, TokyoAbout 600 lanterns are released into the water of Chidorigafuchi for this evening event. You can watch from…
Tenjin Festival 2025
Osaka Tenmangu 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, OsakaReputedly one of Japan's top three festivals, Tenjin Festival (天神祭) is held on 24 and 25 July every…