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

Kyoto

Ujicha Ceremony

Date: Oct. 7
Event Schedule: 9:00am
Admission: Free

Kyoto

Otsu Hikiyama Festival

Date: Oct. 6-7
Admission: Free

Shiga

Great Tug-of-War

Date: Oct. 7
Event Schedule: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Admission: Free

Okinawa

Osaka Mecha Happy Festival

Date: Oct. 8
Event Schedule: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free

Osaka

Osaka Kitchenware Street Festival

Date: Oct.8
Event Schedule: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Admission: Free

Osaka

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

Date: Oct.7 – 9
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free

Nagasaki

Takayama Autumn Festival

Date: Oct. 9 -10
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free

Gifu

Onomichi Lantern Festival

Date: Oct.13
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Admission: Free

Hiroshima

Saiin Kasuga Shrine Festival

Date: Oct.13-14
Admission: Free

Kyoto

Nada no Kenka Festival

Date: Oct.14-15
Admission: Free

Hyogo

Shuki Taisai Grand Autumn Festival

Date: Oct.16-17
Admission: Free

Tochigi

Goryo Jinja Shrine Autumn Festival

Date: Oct.16-17
Admission: Free

Osaka

Kurama no Hi Matsuri

Date: Oct.22
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Admission: Free

Kyoto

Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto’s Historical Parade

Date: Oct.22
Event Schedule: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: Free

Kyoto

Miyazakijingu Festival

Date: Oct.27-28
Admission: Free

Miyazaki

Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios Japan

Date: Early Sept. – Early Nov
Event Schedule: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Osaka

Karuizawa Momiji Festival

Date: Sept.23-Nov.5
Admission: Free

Nagano

Saga Light Fantasy

Date: Late Oct. – Early Jan
Event Schedule: 5:00pm – 11:59pm
Admission : Free

Saga

“Light of Versailles” Winter Illumination

Date: Late October – Late March
Admission : ¥1,000 (on the door)

Shizuoka

Events Information Source: Japan Cheapo Events