Japanese events and festivals are celebrated through out the country all year round, there are about 300,000 traditional festivals in Japan. The Japanese word for “festival” is “matsuri (祭り)”, in most cases each festival is sponsored by a local shrine or temple. Most of the Japanese festivals are celebrated over the weekend, big festivals like Sanja Matsuri, roads are usually closed to give way for the celebration.
If you happen to be roaming around Japan or Tokyo specifically, you can easily a spot Japanese events and festivals if you see processions which includes big and intricately designed floats. Of course, that also includes loud taiko drum beats and Japanese people chanting while they carry the traditional mikoshi.
Every season in Japan is accompanied by specific festivals for each area. Popular festivals are Takayama Spring Festival, Awa Odori Matsuri (Summer), Nagasaki Kunchi (Autumn) and a bunch of snow festivals in winter like Sapporo Snow Festival.
Upcoming Japanese Events and Festivals
16th Kyoto Intercollegiate Festa
Date: Oct. 7
Event Schedule: 11:00am – 7:30pm
Admission: Free
Ujicha Ceremony
Date: Oct. 7
Event Schedule: 9:00am
Admission: Free
Otsu Hikiyama Festival
Date: Oct. 6-7
Admission: Free
Great Tug-of-War
Date: Oct. 7
Event Schedule: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Admission: Free
Osaka Mecha Happy Festival
Date: Oct. 8
Event Schedule: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free
Osaka Kitchenware Street Festival
Date: Oct.8
Event Schedule: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Admission: Free
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
Date: Oct.7 – 9
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free
Takayama Autumn Festival
Date: Oct. 9 -10
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free
Onomichi Lantern Festival
Date: Oct.13
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Admission: Free
Saiin Kasuga Shrine Festival
Date: Oct.13-14
Admission: Free
Nada no Kenka Festival
Date: Oct.14-15
Admission: Free
Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival
Date: Oct.16-17
Admission: Free
Goryo Jinja Shrine Autumn Festival
Date: Oct.16-17
Admission: Free
Kurama no Hi Matsuri
Date: Oct.22
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Admission: Free
Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto’s Historical Parade
Date: Oct.22
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: Free
Miyazakijingu Festival
Date: Oct.27-28
Admission: Free
Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios Japan
Date: Early Sept. – Early Nov
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Karuizawa Momiji Festival
Date: Sept.23-Nov.5
Admission: Free
Saga Light Fantasy
Date: Late Oct. – Early Jan
Event Schedule: 5:00pm – 11:59pm
Admission : Free
“Light of Versailles” Winter Illumination
Date: Late October – Late March
Admission : ¥1,000 (on the door)
Events Information Source: Japan Cheapo Events