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Oji Fox Parade 2024

Oji Inari Shrine 王子稲荷神社, 1-12-26 Kishimachi, Kita, Tokyo

The 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, Tokyo

The 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, Tokyo

The 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, Tokyo

Daruma 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, Tokyo

This 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, Tokyo

While 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, Tokyo

Traditionally 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, Tokyo

According 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, Tokyo

This festival started in 1988 as a way to remind people of the prestigious past of this area…

Ome Grand Festival 2025

Sumiyoshi Shrine 12 Sumiecho, Sumiyoshi Shrine, Ome, Tokyo

Held 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, Kanagawa

Annual 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, Tokyo

Held 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, Kyoto

Kyoto’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, Tokyo

Tanabata (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, Tokyo

The 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, Tokyo

One 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, Wakayama

Nachi 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, Tokyo

The Kagurazaka Matsuri lasts four days: two days for the Hozuki Market and two days for the Kagurazaka…

Tenjin Festival 2025

Osaka Tenmangu 2 Chome-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka

Reputedly one of Japan's top three festivals, Tenjin Festival (天神祭) is held on 24 and 25 July every…

Koganei Awaodori Dance Festival 2025

Musashi-Koganei Station Musashi-Koganei Station, 6-14 Honcho, Koganei, Tokyo

The true Awa Dance Festival is Shikoku is Japan’s biggest dance festival, attracting well over one million visitors…

Shinjuku Eisa Festival 2025

Shinjuku Shinjuku Station, 1-1-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Eisa Matsuri is a Bon folk dance that originated in Okinawa to honor the spirit of ancestors, typically…

Akita Kanto Matsuri 2025

Akita 秋田駅, 7-1-2 Nakadori, Akita, Akita

The Akita Kanto Matsuri (秋田竿燈まつり) is an annual festival to pray for a good harvest known for the…