Asakusa Tori no Ichi II
Chokokuji 長國寺, 3-19-6 Senzoku, Taito, TokyoOpen-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…
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Hanazono Tori no Ichi II
Hanazono Shrine 花園神社, 5-17-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, TokyoOpen-air market held on the day of the tori (rooster) during November—a tradition that has continued since the…
Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatoro 2023
Arashiyama, Kyoto Togetsu-kyō Bridge, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, KyotoHanatoro (花灯路, Hanatōro) is a 10-day long illuminations that takes place in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District in March and…
Torigoe Shrine Dondo-Yaki 2024
Torigoe Shrine 2-Chome 4-1 Torigoe, Taito, TokyoDondo-yaki is the ritual from the Heian era typically held on the 15 January. New year ornaments, amulets, and…
Nara Setsubun Mantoro 2024
Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社, 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, NaraMore than 3,000 lanterns are lit at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara twice a year—in early February for…
Jindaiji Temple Daruma Doll Market 2024
Jindaiji Temple Jindai-ji Temple, 5-15-1 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu, TokyoOne of the biggest Daruma Doll Markets in Japan, over 300 stalls selling the round dolls gather around…
Nakameguro Sakura Matsuri 2024
Nakameguro 中目黒駅, 1-22 Kamimeguro, Meguro, TokyoNakameguro Cherry Blossom Festival (中目黒桜まつり) is held at the beginning of April and organized by the workers in…
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…
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…